When and how do I determine nap times?

[Babyb2013]

My daughter is 9 weeks old (our first) and I am unsure of the best way to make her nap, I have friends with children and they all have advised different ways, Im really confused! I wondered what everyone does? She wakes at 6.30-7am for a feed, and is still having a feed at 2.30-3am. During the morning feed she is more awake, her dad's getting ready for work so we talk to her, and I tend to stay up, whilst I get ready she lays on our bed and I chat to her and we have the tv on. By around 8.30 she's sleepy again. Should I be putting her back in her crib? She only really has 40 mins to an hour. She's still napping every hour and half to 2 hours, for around an hour/ 40 mins. If we are out in the pram she will sleep then too. Is she too young to find a nap time to put her down? Should I put her back down whenever she falls asleep? Sometimes she is in her swing, and I have a Moses basket downstairs and if I see she is sleepy I put her in that. What should I do? She got up at 6.30 today and is now falling asleep on our bed. I feel really bad, not knowing what to do. We have a bath time routine that is working, she has a bath at 6pm when my husband gets home and she then has time with him, and bottle at 6.45, and bed at 7.30pm. She is at the minute napping at 5pm, which I want to change, as it's too late, I am finding it hard to keep her awake though! Can anyone help I'm stressing about it a little!!

Sounds like you are in a good routine already! They have an awake time of about 1.5 hours at this age. A nap of 40 mins to an hour is average as their sleep cycle lasts 45 mins.

You could try getting her up at the same time every day and doing set nap times but it's not necessary. It's up to you really how you want your day to be

yep, nap time every 1½-2 hours at that age is fine.

I watched to see what my sons naturally sleepy times were & went with that. At this age we ended up getting up at 7am, then he'd nap at about 9ish so I took a shower, then he'd nap 2 or 3 more times in the day. I found the EASY routine helped me get my head round it all.

Later it settled down to one morning, middy & afternoon nap with a bedtime at 7pm. I'd suggest to just go with it at the moment & whilst its great for them to be able to nap in their cot, it's ok if they nap in the pram, car, whatever.

Just be aware that its normal that as soon as you think you know where you're up to, they'll change it up on you again! X x x

Thank you all for the replies, I have been panicking that I should have seen a pattern by now and that I was going to end up confusing her! I will just go with it for now, and see how she goes, we have been doing the EASY at bedtime, I haven't really tried it in the day, I will do though. She does though tend to fall asleep whilst I'm feeding her, which makes it difficult, but not so much at night! As for her feeds, I was advised by a friend to feed every 4 hours exactly, she said she fed her soon before he even cried for it, I've tried doing this but as I thought, she doesn't always take it all, most of the time she is ready but not always. What does everyone find best to do? Should I wait? I then panic that I won't be on time for her bottle at 6.45, as at the min I've been doing 7, 11, 3. As you can probably tell I am a bit of a worrier, I'm used to been organised.. Yeah I'm getting that you can't always be! I'm learning slowly haha!

what is this thing about 4 hourly feeds!! it is unrealistic to expect a small baby to go that long without a feed so at that age feeds were every 2.5 to 3 hours depending on when they wanted feeding. I think ds went to 4 hours at just over 4 months but that was down to him, not me.

I agree ilove I struggle to go four hours without food or a drink!

Little and often is better op. You might find she takes more this way.

Thanks, I have always noticed that since she has been on formula she has gone between 3 and 4 hours. I just go on what she wants, like demand feeding when breast feeding, I did bf for a month but I got an infection and after that couldn't. Felt so guilty, and I think that's why I'm panicking more, and want to make sure I'm doing right for her. I need to calm down haha!

sounds like your doing great for your little one. worrying is totally natural for a mum! as soon as I got my little man into a routine he would go and change, he is nearly 6 months now and just got it sorted! he has always fed every 3.5-4 hours, this does change when having a growth spurt and he would have a 40 min nap between each feed. mainly sleeping on me, but we are getting him out of this now. just trust your instincts on what to do and you will be great x

My ds eventually settled into 4 hourly feeds, but it took till about 4 months. (I was part bf till 12 weeks anyway.) I did notice that as night fell he'd want milk more regularly. It was like he knew night was coming & needed to get his calories in beforehand!

I think to feed on demand is the best plan. 4 hourly feeds is 1970's advice really. You never know when your little one will be on a growth spurt & I think to feed than rather than let them cry is the best idea. Some kids wolf down a bottle, others drink in small bursts. You'll figure it out.

Thank you guys. Made me feel better about things. Think I thought I had to have a an for everything straight away and it doesn't work like that! She's been suffering with what we think is trapped wind too, that's been a big thing, listening to what people think we should be doing!! Instead of advice I've felt that I should be trying everything!! Don't know what to do for the best! I'm getting now that I need to do what I think, I've been to worries about what people say! Anyway moan over ha! Thank you all for helping me

Seriously, learning to trust yourself is the biggest thing motherhood has taught me (& 2.5yrs in, I still don't always remember that!)

Thank you