9 month baby sleep/nap issues

[VerySleepy2023]

Would really value thoughts on our sleep situation, my son is almost 9 months and I’m struggling with tiredness!

1. naps: my babber has only ever napped for 32 minutes at a time, regardless of location, movement, white noise, darkness, number of naps, wake windows etc etc. He self-settles for naps and I follow his sleep cues to know how many naps to do & when he needs them, usually 2.5 hours after waking and 3 hours after nap 1.

I would love to encourage a longer nap at some point in the day as my house is a tip, the life admin has piled up, and my energy levels are low! How do I do this??

2. sleep: again, he self settles to sleep (after some hefty gradual retreat training around month 3). Bedtime is 7. He’ll then wake 3 times (at 10pm, 1/2am, 4/5am), I breastfeed back to sleep each time, and then he gets up for the morning at 6/7am.

I know that in order to finally get some decent sleep I need to cut down the night feeds but I have no idea how to do this! He guzzles every time so is hungry, but I think it’s a habit-hunger. We’ve tried rocking him back to sleep instead, but he’ll wake as soon as we put him down. We’ve tried sending DH in but he just cries and cries (baby, not husband haha). If I leave him to self settle he just cries until he can’t de-escalate and I end up feeding anyway! It’s hard to know what to do in the middle of the night, isn’t it!

Anyway all suggestions/thoughts would be super helpful, thank you!

Just to add: I have occasionally succeeded in a longer nap by feeding back to sleep after wakeup, but presumably this is likely to just create another habit! Other forms of soothing are futile.

He’s a very happy and active little sweetheart in the day, no issues there!

I’m in the same boat, my 9 month old wakes constantly through the night.
I co-sleep - only way to get any sleep at all. As you’re breastfeeding is this an option for you?

Some babies just are short nappers, annoying but normal. Might get a longer nap when they drop to one nap a day.

I have a 9 month old too and I can't be bothered to change anything. People say feeding to sleep is bad but why? If you weren't feeding to sleep you'd probably be doing something else to get them to sleep anyway.

However if you want to change, check on Lyndsey hookway on IG, she has great advice about this sort of thing.

@Lammveg - yeah I feed to sleep too. It’s natural and soothing for the baby. They love it, not a bad habit but natures way of helping little ones sleep!! It won’t be forever!
Agree Lyndsey Hookway has good advice for those that need/want something different!