3 month old fighting afternoon nap

[bunglecat77]

My 3mo DS self settles beautifully at night and takes his morning nap in the sling, but we're struggling with his afternoon naps. He does go down, but wakes after less than ten minutes with a wet nappy, and then I find it impossible to settle him again.
Any suggestions?!
He gets very distressed and angry by 3pm and I'm not doing too well either...

3mo is quite early days for such a strong routine - not a bad thing at all, sounds like you mostly have it sorted!

Does the wet nappy wake him? Maybe try a different brand if so - my DS (now 2) was never bothered by a wet nappy, poos yes but not just wee.

Or I'd guess either overtired (you've left it too late, overstimulated him) or not tired enough (not enough stimulation).

My DS routine was more like 3 naps at that stage - 30 mins in morning, 2 hours at lunch and another 30 mins late afternoon. He'd only have the lunchtime nap in cot though, had to be in buggy for the others, which helped burn off the baby weight...

Do you have a little routine before putting him in cot to calm him down? Something simple like a nappy change with you singing to him, a good big cuddle then down. Lights off maybe?

Otherwise, sling for you for a while longer!

A nap routine might be a good idea - I think he must be responding to the evening one. And I'm a bit clueless as to when to put him down for the afternoon nap - I've been trying after his lunchtime feed, when he usually almost nods off afterwards but maybe he'd prefer earlier or later.

He's finally nodded off this afternoon in the sling after a trip to the GP for his jabs - now I don't know whether to wake him or not!