Daytime naps - short but not so sweet catnaps

[thebunnytail]

My 5mth ds is only awake for 2hrs at a time before needing a daytime nap. I thought he would have grown out of these frequent catnaps by now, but like clockwork, he starts yawning and screaming after 2hrs of being awake (his first nap is just 90mins after waking up). He only sleeps for half an hr at a time and he gets so grumpy in the afternoons. I can see that he's not getting enough sleep and it gets so stressful for both of us, putting him down in his cot 4-5 times a day. Any tips for extending these / keeping him awake for longer? (he was 6 wks prem, so not sure if it has anything to do with that?)

Thanks!

Sounds like you might need this book OP .

My DS was exactly the same. Around 5-6 months he suddenly started having an occasional longer nap. He's now nearly 8 months and most naps are longer than half an hour.

Two hours awake time is a long time for a 5 month old, even now DS gets tired after 2 hours awake time! You could try putting him down earlier before he's ready to nap as he is unlikely to sleep longer than 30 minutes if he's overtired.

HTH

That's good to hear. Thanks for the advice and reassurance.
The book is being ordered immediately!!

Is he going down with a full tummy? I found that DS was waking after very short naps because he was hungry - I started feeding him when he woke up and then feeding him to sleep a couple of hours later and his naps magically doubled.

I put my ds down after he'd been awake for 90 mins until he was about 7 months and this kept him cheery and never overtired. I'd say go with what suits him, it's not forever (sorry if unhelpful!!)

At his age every 2 hours is about right. If you plan it that way and put him down before he starts getting grumpy it might cut down the screaming - having said that my DS only ever sleeps for half hour naps and is now 9m. Am very of those with long sleepers.

I had the same for many months. I tried to push the first morning nap to 9am reagardless of whether he was up at 0530 or not. I didn't mind so much if that was short but it was the midday one that irked me. He ALWAYS woke up crying and wouldn't be soothed back to sleep so we had an ultra-long afternoon and he had another pram nap at 4.00 or so and in bed at about 6.45 for the night, latest.
However, it did all change! At some point around 8 months onwards he started beating the 45 minute sleep cycle wake up and went for 2 hours in the afternoon.
I hope you get there too and I think you just have to give it time.

He doesn't always have a full tummy, so perhaps that would make a difference. It's so bizarre though, as I'm typing this the little monkey is waking from 1hr 20min nap. This never happens!!! His ears must be burning, that or he has been lurking on Mumsnet. Thanks for your ideas and help

The little buggers do catch you out every now and again when you could have got a decent sleep in yourself

Thanks Cravingsunshine. Glad to hear that a change may be on the horizon, especially as I now know he's capable of it.