Afternoon nap... 3.5hrs and counting.. Should I wake him?!?

[koeda]

DS (5mo) is currently having a mammoth afternoon nap. He has woken up crying about 3 times but each time I pick him up and shush/calm him expecting him to fully wake he drops back off. I am going to assume he needs it but it is very out if character as he normally only sleeps 30mins for his day time naps. He doesn't have a temperature, had a cold a week ago, erm... possibly a bit growth spurty at the mo... Can't think of any other reasons. I think I'm mainly worried that his night is now going to be horrific due to such a long late nap (he's waking every 2 hrs at best at the ment - really don't want it to get worse!).

Are random mammoth naps normal?!

I would think so. All I know is that the more DS sleeps in the day (he is 7 months btw), the better our nights are. He usually does 40 minute naps and wakes a lot in the night. On the days he does have longer naps, he tends to wake much less (but does sometimes take a bit longer to get to sleep in the evening).

Well, he woke at 5.45 without too many tears so I shall wait with baited breath as to what the night may hold...!

Urgh, urgh and double urgh. NOT a pleasant night! Still woke every 2hrs and was almost impossible to settle each time, plus it took ages to get him off to sleep at the start of the evening. I think I'll wake him next time!

Its blooming hard isn't it ? Hope he gets better for you soon

Thanks Tilly, me too. I think MN needs to create a 'tired' emoticon...

I remember when my DS had a phase of very haphazard naps from about 4 to 9 months old. I was constantly worried that if he slept for too long during the day then he wouldn't sleep through the night. And this was often the case! It's hard work but he will grow out of it soon enough.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Julie