Can you make a baby sleep for longer during the day?

[BleedyGonzalez]

DD is 5 months old. She sleeps pretty well at night but during the day she always wakes after 20 mins. Doesn't matter where she's fallen asleep - in the sling, in the buggy, in her own bed. Always 20 mins. This is her current 'thing'.

Solutions, anyone?

I have no solution, would be interested in an answers you receive.

Like your DD, DS falls asleep for 20 minutes then wakes again. By the afternoon he's in tears because he's so tired and then after his bath in the evenings he's so grumpy.

You could try soothing her to sleep sooner, ie after she's been awake for a shorter length of time. Sometimes short naps are due to overtiredness.

My DS does this when sleeping upright eg sling / car if not moving. Some babies need to keep the motion going for longer, although it doesn't sound like that's your problem, OP.

I have been struggling with this recently. My DD is 18 weeks and started only doing one sleep cycle before waking and then being really grizzly all day. So, for her second nap I just began getting her out of the cot and walking her up and down singing til she seemed sleepy again then putting her back in her cot and doing shh/pat. It has at various times taken 20 mins plus and several getting up and walking her up and down cycles but eventually she seems to go off and has then done at least one more cycle sometimes more - so she definiely needs the sleep. And it seems to improve her nights too.

I also got into a bit more of a nap routine - taking her upstairs, blinds closed, saying its sleepy time and walking her and singing until her head drops on my shoulder, then sh/pat in the cot. She has begun self settling quite often now. I take her up after she's been awake 2 hours. If we're out I dont worry too much.

But it only works as long as it works ifyswm! Everything seems to pass, both good and bad!

x

Thanks all for your replies. I've decided to accept that this is how DD wants to sleep - she's a good night sleeper, it's only daytime naps that are short. So today's been fine as I am more comfortable about how she's napping.

Let's face it - in a few weeks they'll change their sleeping patterns, won't they?!

Good luck to everyone with your babies and sleep!