8 month old 20 minute naps - help!

[Chazzy19876]

Really struggling with my DDs naps. Now I really shouldn’t complain as she does sleep through the night 6:30-6:30 and is the sweetest happy baby in the day.

However, her naps are horrendous and to be fair always have been. So she wakes at around 6:30 and I have tried to put her down for her first nap at 8:30/9/9:30 and after some tears she usually sleeps for 30 mins (40 on a good day, 20 on a bad day).

It’s her lunchtime nap which is the worst. She goes down at about 12:30 and will only nap for 20 mins, I’ve tried extending it but she just won’t sleep for any longer! I bought the just chill mama course and the emphasis is on the long lunchtime nap but it’s not happening after about 2 months of trying.

So now DD has woken up at 12:50 and will not make it to bedtime and likely will not nap at 4ish.

Has anyone got any tips or any experience that this will just pass? Before 6 months I just accepted the short naps as developmentally appropriate but now she’s a bit older I would expect them to lengthen. She has done the odd longer nap (once did 90 mins that was heaven) so she can do it.

[Dillybear]

Just wondering if this is a problem for your DD? Is she otherwise happy? Can she make it through to bedtime? If so, I’d carry on as you are, accept she’s not a great napper and be delighted by the night sleep!

[Woollysocksneeded]

Some kids just don't nap that much. My two were never great with their naps. The youngest went down to one 30-40 min nap a day by 8 months and dropped napping altogether by the time she was 2.

[Yaty]

Where is she napping? My 6 month DD will nap but only if I'm laid on the bed with her. It's not ideal but at least she is getting the sleep in and I'm hoping it's just a phase she'll grow out of. Also I'm still getting a break/nap myself. I realise if I had more children this would not be sustainable. She also sleeps well overnight so I'm just focusing on the wins at the moment!!!

[Chazzy19876]

@Dillybear yes I think you’re right I’ve got to thank my lucky stars!

@Woollysocksneeded I think I’ve got one of those too!

@Yaty she’s in her cot - she was only napping on me until about 5 months so had to coach her out of that so want to keep her in her cot tbh.

[Dillybear]

My DD will only sleep so much in 24 hours - she has around 13 hours. She has around 2 hours in the day and 11 overnight. It might be that your DD is getting what she needs. You could possibly get more day sleep if you cut down night sleep... but why would you want to do that?! I think if she seems happy and generally well rested on what she’s getting just let her carry on as she is!

[Chazzy19876]

Thanks @Dillybear yes I think you’re right - she ends up with 13ish hours sleep in a 24 hour period which would be about right for her age. I’m just worried she’s not getting the right amount of sleep in the day for her development. Perhaps once she’s mastered crawling it might help.

[Phenom1234]

This is my son exactly! What happened with this?