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Baby won't sleep in afternoons

9 replies

MrsNormanBates · 10/11/2013 19:46

First of all I just want to say this is by NO means a stealth boast whatsoever.

Dc1 was an appalling sleeper up until 6.5 months and would wake every 2 hours during the night, and not nap at all in the day - not even in pram, leading to a hysterical screaming baby. The worst it got was waking every 45 mins and taking 2-3 hours to settle at night so I was averaging 90 mins or so of broken sleep most nights. I understand what real horrendous sleep deprivation is as I used to wonder the streets in floods of tears everyday from it screaming baby in tow, while strangers often tutted on shops and informed me baby was obviously hungry (rolls eyes).

I was hoping to get some advice re dc2. He's 11 weeks old and since 3 weeks old has been sleeping through the night 10 hours solidly. He now does 12 hours solidly, although every other night I will dreamfed around 11pm as I feel it's too long for a baby his age to go without milk. His weight is no problem.

After 2 hours of waking in the morning he gets tired and I put him down for a nap with the white noise machine. He will sleep for 3-4 hours.

He then doesn't sleep from 2pm-7/8pm so we're taking 6 hours of no sleep. He becomes overtired and screams until bedtime when he will happily go to sleep on his own, no problem.

But those 6 hours are hell, poor dc1 has to listen to non stop screaming and no matter what I do nothing gets him to sleep. It would help if he even had an hour just to take the edge off. He will sometimes fall asleep in the carrier if were out, but only for say 10-20mins.

Any advice is appreciate.

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Cnix · 10/11/2013 20:11

Just a stab in the dark but maybe his first nap is too long? Maybe cut it down to 2 hrs and see if it makes a difference? I always remember it being so hard to get my dd to sleep in the afternoon when she really needed it to see her through to bedtime.

Sunnysummer · 10/11/2013 20:13

Can you try a nap in the sling or pram in the afternoon? It's usually the trickiest nap time, DS has always needed a bit more help for that one Smile

girliefriend · 10/11/2013 20:14

Morning nap is too long. Wake him after an hour max and then aim to put back to bed about 12pm for about 2 hours.

MrsNormanBates · 10/11/2013 20:14

Thank you cnix I'm so worried about waking him up and then him not sleeping at all until bedtime(!) I thought sleeps breeds sleep, but after 2 hours of waking from morning nap he's tired again, yawns sleepy cues etc, but just wont sleep at all.

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cantthinkofagoodone · 10/11/2013 20:18

At 11 weeks he needs lots of sleep, you're probably missing the sweet spot to get him back over. Try settling to sleep after 90 minutes awake and limit naps to 90 minutes. Should be 3-4 naps a day ideally.

MrsNormanBates · 10/11/2013 20:52

Thank you cant will try that...really reluctant to wake him at this age esp as he's not sleeping all afternoon. Will try putting him down after 90 mins instead of 2 hours and see how test goes.

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cantthinkofagoodone · 12/11/2013 13:13

How did yesterday go?

MrsNormanBates · 12/11/2013 14:22

Really well! Put him down after 90 mins and hr slept 2-5pm! Then bed 7.30pm-7am. Trying it again today!

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MrsNormanBates · 12/11/2013 17:39

Didn't work this afternoon but he was already overtired as we went out and he didn't nap properly.

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