Overtiredness or undertiredness??

[Deduct37]

My 4 month old has always been a rubbish sleeper day and night, but has recently started doing a longer stretch at night. He goes to bed after his 6pm bottle and has been sleeping until 3/4am which I think is great for his age. When he wakes, he just talks to himself. I give him a bottle which he usually drinks (4-6oz) then change his nappy and put him back in his cot. 9 times out of 10 he doesn't go straight back to sleep, he just lies there talking to himself. This can go on for about an hour (was 2 hours one night). He isn't upset at all. Doesn't particularly need anything. But just doesn't want to sleep. He does go back over eventually for anywhere between 20 minutes to 3 more hours, but it is just usually a short sleep where he wakes and does the same thing again. This morning for example he woke at 3.40, had 4oz out of a 6oz bottle, popped him back in the cot, he talked until 4.30 then slept until 6.40 which is amazing. Yesterday he woke at 4.10 had 5oz, talked until 5, fell asleep until 5.30 then it startled again (at which point I put him in bed with me where he slept until 6.50). So I'm wondering does this sound like he's had enough sleep at this point and is almost ready to get up! Or does it sound like he is overtired and is struggling to fall back asleep independently when he's in light sleep? Naps are generally rubbish through the day. Unless I'm holding him he will only nap for 20 minutes or so at a time, even in the pram and car. Has anyone got any advice please?

[FATEdestiny]

If he's not grumpy he's not over-tired, but neither would I suggest you get him up.

I would be inclined to move around your daytime naps, maybe adding in an extra teatime nap, then make bedtime closer to 8pm-8.30

10-11 hours sleep at this age is more or less sleeping though, it's just not at an appropriate night time. Make bedtime later by rethinking the timings of daytime naps should make a more reasonable 8/9pm bed and 6/7am wake.

I'd go for something like 9-10am nap, 12.30-2pm nap and 4.30-5.30pm nap then a later bedtime.

[Deduct37]

Thank you for your reply. We don't have set naps at the moment because they are generally short so have to let him sleep more frequently. Id love to have a bit more structure like you suggest, but it's hard to get him to take longer naps especially because I have a toddler that I need to amuse also. Any suggestions on lengthening baps at all?

[FATEdestiny]

I did daytime naps in the bouncy chair until 6 months. This allows for naps to be more easily extended by bouncing back to sleep. Also means your hands are free for the toddler.

[Deduct37]

Thank you , but unfortunately my little one won't fall asleep in the chair or his swing. He just sees it as playtime ! He won't even go back over in the pram, if walked for 2 hours plus and still only got 20 minutes! And he can travel in the car for an hour and not sleep at all