So now he is napping, how do I extend the naps?

[beela]

Having spent the last couple of months persuading my DS (6mo) that cot naps (or any naps at all really) were the way forward, we are now having - usually - 3 naps per day :)

However, he rarely goes for more than one sleep cycle, i.e. 40 minutes or so. Sometimes he manages 1hr +, but this is the exception. I know he can self settle during the night, and usually has at least one stretch of at least 6 hours, so he can do it... but doesn't during the day.

How can I extend them, or do I just need to wait for him to do it in his own time?

Also, any tips on transitioning from 3 naps to 2, as his awake times start to get longer? (and are these two qns related?!)

I don't know but let me know if you find an answer. DS is just getting the hang of self-settling but can't do longer than 25 minutes precisely in the day!

For me it was leaving her after the 40 mins and letting her have a moan/protest, if she really needed the sleep she would go back to sleep, sometimes it would take up to 20 minutes, now I will sometimes hear her shout out but its not for long - she seemed to get the message that it wasn't time! Prior to this I would go to her at any sound, so I didn't give her the chance to go back to sleep. Just to add that I never ever leave her with an escalating or distressed cry. Partly because I don't believe in it but also she would just get in a right state.

I read a lot about this though and another suggestion was to gradually extend wake times. For me it is a fine balance between putting her down too soon and too late = sleep fighting. Some have had success doing pupd for naps at the 40 minute mark and getting baby back down again

My DS also does 3 naps a day but all of no longer than 30 minutes. Even out in the pushchair or car he wakes up after one sleep cycle. I have tried re-settling him, putting him down earlier and later but nothing seems to make any difference. Occasionally he will sleep for longer; up to 1 1/2 hours for no apparent reason

It seems some babies will only power nap in the day. Apparently sometimes they grow out of and start sleeping for longer. I am living for this day

I have given up trying to change things and getting stressed about it and just accept his naps as they are.

I hope that you can find the magic solution for your DS. Good luck

DD1 also did power naps, but hers were 45 minutes. She did grow out of them around, ooh, I think it was about 11 months. She went to two 2-hour long naps then. We didn't know what to do with ourselves. It was fantastic. We used to put her down for her morning nap on a saturday morning at about 9.15, and DP and I would go back to sleep for a couple of hours too. It was bliss. Wishing you all nap-extending vibes.

I have also heard from friends with babies a little older, that longer naps are something some babies grow into. Otherwise I sometimes have some luck with resettling just before LO would usually wake - change position, stroke face, put mobile on, etc. it is hit and miss though, I am growing to realise I have a power napper, and I just need to get used to it.

I've been lurking on the napping threads OP! my dd (7 months) will only nap for 30 mins max (on the odd occasion, out of the blue, 1.5 - 2 hours, but 99% 30 mins). I've been getting so utterly frustrated that yesterday, and just now, when she's woken SCREAMING from her 30 min nap, I've gone in tried to settle her (nothing works AT ALL) and then just left her to it. both times (she's currently asleep now) she's screamed and screamed and screamed for upto 5 mins and then just conked out. I hate leaving her screaming but I have tried everything and I am trying to convince myself upto 5 minutes isn't going to scar her for life. just checked on her and fast asleep. I'm going to continue to do this and see if she learns to just put herself back to sleep in the day. she does it find through the night so I know she can.

I'm not sure about the transition from 3-2 naps. currently my dd has a 30 min nap at about 9am, then 12ish (the one I'm trying to extend) and then another 30 mins later in the afternoon. Presumably she'll eventually grow out of the first one?

Good luck!

Now some may disagree, but I reckon 5 mins screaming is nothing to worry too much about. I would leave her to it stick. It really isn't going to harm her. If she drops off after just 5 minutes, she's not really, really distressed. If she was, she would keep crying.