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Behaviour/development

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

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Original poster

Daytime naps difficult at 13wks, won't do a long nap

14 replies

boozybird · 18/12/2006 17:22

DS is 13wks and still needs quite a lot of sleep. he's fine at night - sleeps from 7 - 7 with a feed at 11ish and at 4ish. But in the day as a general rule he will stay awake for 1.5 hours max before needing to have a sleep, and will then only sleep for around an hour at a time. it's not hunger that wakes him, he eats fairly regularly every 3.5/4hrs. he's not usually in his cot for this midday nap as he tends to fall asleep in his buggy when we go for a walk in the morning, and i am reluctant to wake him when we get home so i leave him in it. maybe i should only take him for a short walk and make sure i'm back before he falls asleep and he might sleep better in his cot? is it usual for him to only manage to stay awake such a short time? how do i encourage a longer nap midday? will he just grow into it himself?

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christmasangel · 18/12/2006 17:27

I think it's normal. My dd (5 months) only started having one 2 hour nap (morning) and 2 shorter naps at lunchtime and aft at around 18 weeks. I had previously tried encouraging longer naps but wish I hadn't bothered, it didn't work and she fell into them of her own accord. Don't worry.

purpleturtle · 18/12/2006 17:29

I think you're a bit early to establish a longer daytime nap, tbh. what you're described sounds pretty good to me. Only being awake for about 1.5 hours sounds normal. I think you'll find that as he grows older he'll move to a longer nap or two in the day.

lori21 · 19/12/2006 21:39

My lo rarely has a nap longer than 30 minutes so 1hr would be great!!! Occasionally I can extend his nap if I go in before he really wakes and shhhh him and stroke his head but this is very hit and miss and I often have to do this for another 30mins.
Sounds to me like your lo is doing fine, if he is not grumpy at other times then I would not worry.

cruisemum1 · 19/12/2006 21:53

boozy - Hello again! I would love to have my ds napping for an hour or more! He usually maxes at 30 mins which is so frustrating as you cannot get anything achieved in that time let alone grab some much needed R and R! He is 14 weeks and his limit for being awake is around 1.5 - 2 hrs too. He is a terrible napper and will not settle in his cot at all (I think I mentioned this on another thread). The car seat is usually best for naps but I don't put him in it unless we actually have to go somewhere. I have put him, with limited success, in his flat lying buggy for naps and sometimes this works. Actually, some days I feel quite desperate about it. . IMO you need not worry (harder said than done I know as I worry about EVERYTHING!)You are doing really well
Christmasangel - how did your lo get into the regualar napping thing? I would love to know!!!

lori21 · 19/12/2006 22:06

I know how that feels cruisemum1. Another mum (whose lo has 'perfect naps' and 'perfect sleeps') asked me how I get the house work done. Well I just don't seem to get anything done in the day as even getting a 30min nap can take 30mins and if I resort to bf him to sleep I only have 20mins before he is wide awake again aaaarrrrggghh.... My motto is to try and go with the flow but thats not easy when dh says 'what have you been doing all day?' when he gets home.

Sorry for the rant boozybird I hope someone comes up with some good ideas for you.

cruisemum1 · 19/12/2006 22:21

lori - my ds wants to be bf to sleep too! It is getting really desperate in teh eves as he falls asleep at the breast about 7pm but if i dare put him in his cot he wakes and we have to start all over again. This goes on until around 9 - 9.30 every evening. It is so demoralising/ exasperating. I have dd - 9 yo next month and it is so unfair on her. I dunno what to do to break the cycle. You got any tips?

TwinkleInSantasEye · 19/12/2006 22:40

Yep, we have naps of 30 mins max here too. Then he wakes up wide-eyed and bouncy again. I can't remember the last time he had more than an hour. DS is 20 weeks. Trying to get some rest in after a bad night is a complete nightmare - I've normally just got off when DS wakes up again. Housework has to get done when DS is awake which used to be OK, but now he's reached the clingy stage where I can't put him down anywhere for more than 2 minutes before he starts crying for me.

Weegle · 20/12/2006 07:44

Another 30 min napper here!

Boozybird - I would really recommend just going with the flow. I spent the best part of a month trying to extend LO's naps when he was about 4mo. It was a complete and utter waste of time and made us both miserable. As soon as I accepted that's just the way he is we've both been much happier. I run around the house getting things done like a mad thing when he's asleep but unfortunately there's no time for me to "rest" but hey I'll do that when he leaves home!!!! Also 1.5hrs sounds about right at that age, it will gradually extend. My DS now does 2.5hrs between naps and he's 6.5 mos.

lori21 · 20/12/2006 17:52

cruisemum - your evenings sound like mine although i don't have another lo. we have a machine that plays white noise and ds likes that. it calms him then helps him fall asleep. just occasionally stroking his head and ssshhhing him will make him fall asleep but he often needs the volume of the white noise machine. It used to be the hoover I have the book 'the no-cry sleep solution' and that has some good ideas but no miracle cure!

sleepy thoughts to you all

maewestyemerrygentlemen · 20/12/2006 20:39

My 20 wk old DS is still a power napper. He needs a nap about every 2hrs or so or he gets really wired which then tips into whinging. I deal with it by going out with him in the buggy at 'nap' times as am frustrated staying at home trying to get him to sleep (don't have a car during the week, but this usually sends him off). I'm I'm at home I generally bf him to sleep and then try and put him down whilst I rush off to try to do housework. I know I'm supposed to rest when he does, but how else do pukey babygros get washed .

My mother assures me that he will start napping better when he gets mobile and so more physically tired. Fingers crossed.

Original poster

boozybird · 20/12/2006 20:52

wow, thanks for all those responses - i feel pretty lucky with the naps i'm getting after reading all that!

cruise - have you tried a dummy instead of bf to sleep? it took a while for ds to take a dummy, but i perservered (gimme those props!) and when he's grizzly at bedtime i give it to him and he gets off to sleep with that. obviously i have to go back in a couple of times when it falls out, but once he's into a deep sleep it doesn't seem to matter that it falls out. it's easier than cuddling to sleep as then he often wakes when put down...

also, for daytime naps does it help to take the nipper out for a walk? sometimes works to get him to sleep, then you can leave him in it sleeping when you get back home?

OP posts:

firststeps · 21/12/2006 11:23

my lo didn't take a long nap until he was 6 months and weaned - before that it was 30 mins to the second - you could set the clock by him! now (almost a year) he has 2 hours+ at lunchtime which seemed unthinkable when he was 13 weeks! hth

mama30 · 21/12/2006 17:28

Yet another 30 minute napper here!!

It´s good to see I am not the only one. Ds is 4 months old and you really can set your clock by his 30 minute naps. It doesn´t matter whether it´s in the cot, the pram, buggie, car seat. Nothing makes him go any longer. He wakes up happy and full of the beans but gets grumpie/tired easily....Not fun.

As others have said it´s impossible to get anything done...can´t wait for 2 hour naps.

cruisemum1 · 22/12/2006 20:00

Wow - we really are all in the same boat!
Lori- ditto the housework taking 2nd place. I have to do everything while lo is awake! I do a running commentary which makes me sound quite insane but at least keeps him happy Where do you get the white noise sound machine and what age did you introduce it. ds now 15 weeks so maybe it is too late???
Twinkle - oh crikey! I remember the clingy phase from first time round. my ds was like a limpet! Amazing how you perfect the art of doing everything leaning to one side with only one hand!
Mae - hope your mum's theory is right. I seem to remember dd1 settling down around weaning time. But then we weaned at 4 months not six (she is almost 9)so it was not so long to wait. Maybe there is a case for earlier weaning?.......
Boozy - Dummies!!! Don't talk to me about dummies! I would love love love ds to take a dummy (I know it is not the trend these days but it works!) I have bought 10 of the buggers, all different sizes/ shapes/ textures and he will not take them! I have tried 9million times but to no avail. I am certain that if he would take one then he would nap/sleep better all round but alas and alack - 'tis not to be . Incidentally, I never bf him to sleep in the day as I try to do the baby whisperer 'EASY' method during the day which seems to work well.
Mama and firststeps - ds also is 30 mins to the second. Grrrrr. Am longing for the two hour naps to come along - sigh.
MERRY CHRISTMAS

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