When do naps become more routine? And how much sleep needed?

[Sparrowlegs248]

Having had a terrible napper and sleeper with ds1, I am really hoping to do vetted with Ds2,". He does sleep and settle better already, and would be MUCH better were it nor for his reflux. He's 7 weeks old and I feel once again like I'm winging it a bit, so am hoping someone can educate me as to when to expect his naps to fall into a bit more of a routine, when do they start napping three times a day in general etc?

Currently he gets up when I do at 6-6.30. He'd probably sleep longer but by this time I am having to hold him upright to sleep. Ds1 gets up so we all do. An hour or so later we try for his first bap and this is usually successful, not today though when he wouldn't give in for over two hours despite my best efforts and only had half an hour. We went out then and he slept a good chunk in the car and supermarket then in the car again. I.am aiming to have him nap at a set time at lunchtime along with ds1. Afternoon and evening he is harder to settle and ds1 disturbs him more easily than earlier in the day.

Any words of wisdom? Just want to.know what I should aim for.

Hi,

7 weeks is probably still a little early for a proper routine. And just when you think you've nailed a routine, something happens!

We always fed on demand let him sleep when he needed it and that worked for us.

Don't put pressure on yourself to stick to a routine as you'll get yourself worked up when it doesn't go to plan. Maybe just let them eat when they're hungry and sleep when they need it? For obvious reasons maybe not let them sleep too late in to the afternoon/evening.

Hope this helps a little?

At 7 weeks I was doing
Wake and BF 7am
Nap 8.20-10am
BF between 10.30 and 11
Nap 12-2.30
BF between 2.30 and 3
Pram nap 4.30-5
BF 5.30
Bath
Bottle feed at 6
Story and into bed at 7pm
Dreamfeed at 10pm
Small feed at around 4am which some days she skipped.

It's a developmental thing, rather than an age thing. Once naps are longer then there will be fewer naps per day so it easier to routine 2 or 3 naps a day.

My 2 children who were "sleepers" (one EBF one EFF) were having long, 2h plus naps by this age so had already move onto 2 nap days which were routined and structured.

My 2 children who were "not sleepers" were we're having short, 40ish minute naps until around 6 months. I can't remember when DC1's sleep changed (12 years ago), but I know DC4 moved from short, frequent naps to fewer, longer naps at around 5 months old.

You can still, feasibly, put some predictability into your day at this age. Following EASY, or any other repeating cycle of events, means you can at least predict (to a degree) when baby is likely to need a sleep and work it so that it fits in with your day.

I followed easy as described by fate until 7 months and then did a by the clock routine putting down at the same time every day.

By 10 weeks we definitely had a routine of sorts though with bed at 7pm etc. The last nap was always in the pushchair and the first always in his cot. All other naps were in his cot unless we were out.

OK thank you. I am trying for a bit of routine, for myself and also so ds1 knows what's what. He seems to be catching on that I get a bit of time spend with him.during that first nap of the day.

I guess I will see how it goes then. Really hoping he can settle better in the early hours so I get more than 3 hours sleep....