Help with daytime napping

[sjow123]

Does anyone have any suggestions for improving my 5 month old's daytime naps? He has always been a good sleeper, 12 hours at night from about 3 months and used to be great in the daytime too, nice long naps of 1.5 to 2 hours. However for the last 2 weeks he has suddenly decided to only sleep for 45 minutes at at a time and I'm not sure how to persuade him to lengthen them! Does this sound like the 4 month regression and therefore do I wait it out? He always puts himself to sleep on his own with no sleep aids and I have tried a few things so far without success (a bit of cry it out, going back in to try and resettle him, shortening/extending wake times etc.). Thanks!

Has anything changed, for example have you introduced solids?

I did introduce solids about 3 weeks ago yes.

It sounds like the 4 mo sleep regression and to be honest, you've had it incredibly lucky so far with sleep. You can't really think in terms of always when a baby is so young, it's barely the blink of an eye time wise.

You can't persuade him, just ride out the new pattern.

Please don't leave him to cry

In your experience how long does the regression go on for? His 45 minute naps seem to be becoming more like 30 minute naps so I am guessing it may get worse before it gets better!

It could also be the solids, are you offering solids more than once a day? If so, I'd it back and see if thongs improve.

The No Cry Nap Solution is supposed to be very good too

He has a little bit at breakfast and a little bit at teatime. I could definitely try just milk for a few days to see if that helps. Thanks!

ummm, in all honesty, he didn't ever do well at naps unless on me until about 12 mo but he was awful overnight too
It's only since night weaning at 21 mo that he's ever slept through and since about 2y 4mo, when we stopped naps altogether as it just made 'bedtime' take until my own bedtime

But I was worse as a baby so................

He's so little I would just wait at the moment. I wouldnt increase food or do any sleep training methods especially not cry it out with a 5 month old. Just concentrate on trying to establish good day time routines and go with the flow.

Does he seem exhausted and irritable for sleeping less?

He's definitely crankier for less sleep and I can tell he needs more because he when he wakes up he cries as opposed to waking up cheery which he used to do. It's definitely not hunger, I think he's getting the right amount of food and he's eating happily. I guess maybe it's just a phase, hard to watch when he is miserable though. He's also desperately trying to roll which seems to be frustrating him.

I think it just sounds like a developmental phase keep trying to support him to sleep as much as you can but I wouldn't leave him if he's upset and crying because then he'll start to have really bad associations with it. I did do sleep training with my son but not till he was 12 months old so I do understand about supporting them to sleep but I think five months is a tricky age because they are changing and developing so much.

Do you always put him down to sleep in the cot or does he sleep well in the pram or car seat?

I only tried letting him cry twice and only for a few minutes and I don't really want to have to do it again I must say!

He does generally sleep in his cot for his naps assuming we are at home but he will sleep in his car seat too, he always seems to fall asleep when we are driving.

It definitely does seem to be a tricky age, everyday is a new adventure!