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Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler.

Sleep

Baby sleep cycles getting shorter

15 replies

Hrp86 · 06/10/2020 09:31

Just wondering if anyone else has gone through this or has any suggestions that we haven't tried. Our baby is 7 and a half months and has always been a fairly rubbish napper. He was only napping for 30 minutes at a time and waking screaming as he was clearly still tired but was unable to connect his sleep cycles. This is strange given he does it at nighttime and gets himself to sleep for naps and bedtime. It's now got even worse and some naps are only 20 mins. We have tried putting him down earlier in case he is overtired, putting him down later in case he isn't tired enough, tried sticking to certain timings in case routine helped but nothing works. We have done all of the things suggested on google (dark room, white noise, disturbing him just before he wakes, leaving him in his cot after he wakes etc etc etc). He is at the age where I was hoping we could move to 2 naps but as they are so short we seem to be having to do 4 some days. It's crazy! He is good at night (thankfully) so it's just a day time so issue. I wouldn't mind if he didn't need to sleep but he so clearly does. Any help Hugely appreciated.

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Hrp86 · 08/10/2020 15:38

Anyone with any tips please?

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WillowySnicket · 08/10/2020 15:43

Rats to no replies, I was hoping for some tips! Same boat. Only mine is crap at night, too!

MsChatterbox · 08/10/2020 17:48

The only place my baby can connect sleep cycles is in the carrier. I make sure I go on at least one long walk a day wearing her and she will nap for as long as the walk is. I have a toddler so this walk usually involves about 3 or 4 different parks!!

MsChatterbox · 08/10/2020 17:49

On another note, my now toddler was exactly the same as a baby. His naps just randomly got longer by themselves - especially if they started with a pushchair walk and he was left in said pushchair to sleep.

Hrp86 · 09/10/2020 07:26

@WillowySnicket fingers crossed we get a winning reply! Sorry to hear your little one is rubbish at night too. Sounds tough!

@MsChatterbox thank you - will try a long walk today and hope it works but I know what he is like and is so interested/nosey at looking around at everything when in the sling but we will try!

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MsChatterbox · 09/10/2020 07:34

My son was the same I had to make sure his vision was blocked. He wore sun hates in winter with a warm hat overtop and the beak was pulled down right over his eyes!

FTMJ2020 · 09/10/2020 16:36

Same issues here! The carrier works for us for naps but sometimes I feel like I spend so much time trying to persuade her to nap in the moses basket/cot.

@MsChatterbox - when did naps sort themselves out? Did you implement a schedule or did baby naturally get into a pattern?

MsChatterbox · 09/10/2020 17:08

@ftmj2020 he just started connecting sleep cycles by himself I never had strict times for naps but always watched his awake time. I can't remember when exactly it happened sorry!!

Hrp86 · 13/10/2020 08:54

Naps on walks also not working! Finding it really tough as he is only getting a total of an hour and a half of day sleep (crying after naps as still tired) then so overtired at bedtime that he is asleep at 6.30pm and sleeps approx 11 hours (sometimes less) so waking ridiculously early. Feel like we are in a vicious cycle and no idea of how to get out of it! Today we couldn't even get to 9am for the first nap as so tired and grizzly so down at 8.30 which means bedtime will be even worse!

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FTMJ2020 · 13/10/2020 09:25

I often stress about bedtime if the first nap doesn't go well. Sorry, no particular advice as we have very similar problems....I never know if a doze is going to turn into a nap ... then see baby's eyes ping open and we're back to square one!!! I just try to write off the naps that don't materialise and try again a little later!

FTMJ2020 · 14/10/2020 11:58

How are you getting on op? Two fifteen minute non-naps for us so far today and have been walking for 25 mins with a curious, very awake baby!!

Hrp86 · 14/10/2020 19:36

Oh @FTMJ2020 that sounds rubbish. Did you get a nap out of your little one in the afternoon? What are they like when they are awake for so long? I wouldn't mind but my son is soooooo grizzly when awake for that long and it's so clear he needs more sleep. Exhausting! He had an hour this morning (that hasn't happened in weeks 🙌) but didn't last as then only had 30 mins the rest of the day. Was so tired he was asleep at 6.30pm and so I know it will be a very early wake up time tomorrow!

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anothermamaaa · 14/10/2020 22:26

My son was like this at this age.. it drove me mad! But it was a phase and passed after a few weeks, then he became a good napper. Hang in there

Hrp86 · 15/10/2020 06:42

Thank you @anothermamaaa 🤞🤞🤞🤞

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FTMJ2020 · 15/10/2020 08:00

@Hrp86 we did eventually - she fell asleep after a bit more walking in the end and then continued sleeping when we got home (almost unheard of!) With the short naps she's usually fine in the morning but then gets overtired and grizzly in the afternoon and finds it even more difficult to sleep, if we get a good nap in the morning it tends to go better the rest of the day....

@anothermamaaa that's reassuring! Thanks 😊

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