12 week old - 3 or 4 naps a day?

[threetwoonezero]

My 12 week old doesnt seem to want to stay awake for longer than 1.5 hours, and is now napping really badly, I dont know if its because I'm stretching her to stay awake too long. What do other babies do at this age? How many naps, for how long and how long awake?? Thanks for any input!

I have started to follow her sleep pattern from yesterday and she is so much happier. And found this, www.nursingtimes.net/news/research-and-innovation/potential-link-between-parenting-books-and-postnatal-depression/7021329.article, fascinating...

Another one saying don’t count naps at this age. Just go with the flow. They nap as they need to. In my experience of three kids, babies don’t nap for that long. Naps get longer as they get older

@threetwoonezero

Our daughter is 15 weeks.

I use an app called 'Baby Tracker' it allows me to track our daughter's sleeping patterns as well as feeding (with options for breast or bottle), nappy changes, and other activities like bath time, and medications. I'm really forgetful so find it extremely useful.

Every baby's normal is different, but if your baby is showing signs of sleepiness just let her sleep. I don't think keeping babies awake during the day improves night sleeping.

With our daughter at least not getting adequate daytime naps means she is even harder to put to bed at night because she's exhausted and has a meltdown then is too upset to go to bed.

Both my Mom and MIL failed at their brilliant plans to get our daughter (at 4 then 6 weeks) on a schedule and sleep through the night. I was nice enough not to openly gloat when it failed.

I’m so glad you asked this. I am very lucky because my boy sleeps from 7.30 til about 6 in the morning..I know, I know, but it will prob change soon! However, in the day he is a bit of a nightmare, he is generally miserable unless I am carrying him somewhere or walking in his pram. He has about an hour and a half tops throughout the day, split into 2 or 3 20/30 mins chunks, and will not be helped to sleep at all. This is ok by me as he sleeps through the night..but is this ok for him?

Yes op, Amy Brown at Swansea is doing lots of research in this area. Durham sleep lab are also doing this (prof Helen Ball.) They have a good baby sleep info site called ISIS (unfortunately!)

https://www.isisonline.org.uk

I would feed to sleep all
The time but mine gets bad wind and reflux so I have to be careful.

Bert it's hard to say but I do know babies are happier after a good rest. Some have to sleep while on the move due to the 4th trimester hence loooong sling and pram walks. 4th trimester is essentially baby still adjusting from being in the womb. And they still need to feel those feelings to feel settled, hence swaddling, white noise, being carried, vibrations etc.

Fresh air definitely seems to help with naps (mine napped hugely while we were in holiday last week and visiting lots of beaches, plus I was able to pop him down in the beach tent far more than I can at home!).

I do enforce a couple a day through the sling and a walk. My eldest was better in the pram but it was winter and I think being bundled up in thick snow suits also helped!

Baby has been a total grump today though, wanting to feed and sleep all day. I think it's a big growth spurt!