Extending naps...

[Saz467]

Baby is 5 months. I know he can do long naps as he has done 2 hr plus naps since about 12 weeks.

However these have recently gone out the window leaving us some days with 3 short naps - not enough sleep. I've tried extending awake time (up to 3 hrs - after that he just gets v overtired).

How can I extend his nap? Should I go in before he's fully awake and do shh/hand on chest (normal settling method when he needs help). Or wait until awake/leave for a while... blah blah. I've read about wake to sleep which I will try tomorrow, but any other tips appreciated.

For context, he sleeps 11/12 hrs straight at night and can self settle.

Thanks!

Meant to also ask, is there a time when developmentally he will extend the midday nap naturally?

At the moment I am waiting to see if he resettles himself, then going in to do shh / hand on chest, but it's resulting in a lot of crying which is horrible. Having said which, I'm ok with crying short term if it fixes the problem - I know he needs a long nap.

Extending awake time won't work, he'll get more overtired. How long are his 'short' naps, as anything from 30 mins is normal albeit frustrating. I would aim for no more than 2 hours awake time. So nap (however long) awake 2 hours, nap, awake 2 hours and so on x

Occasionally my LO will sleep longer if I lie with her for naps but usually she's done after 30-45 mins. Some are just cat mappers.

Just have a lovely mental image of crazycatlady's DD lying awake in her cot triangulating the neighbourhood moggies

My DD only did 30 minute naps till 8 months old. Keep them frequent, rather than extending awake time, so he gets enough sleep overall.

@cuppaqueen haha! Although DH is deathly allergic to cats, don't know how I could have ended up with someone that can't be near my favourite thing in the world!

How can I extend his nap?

I would do at least one of the naps in the pram to jiggle back to sleep.

My DS can still only be awake for 1.5 hours at just over 5 months. His naps can range from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours but generally with the longer ones he needs a little help getting through the end of his first sleep cycle (after about 30-45 minutes). If i'm napping with him my presence seems to be enough otherwise he just needs resettling. White noise seems to help and a hand on his chest.

Also just to add there's lots of developmental leaps around this time and also the 4 month sleep regression - these could all be playing a part.

Thanks all.

Newmum - sounds similar in the way we resettle, although mine can do 2 hrs now. I think (???!!!) we have come through the regression, but you're right it could be related to that or other leaps.

Will persevere!