6pm naps

[mummyp33]

Does anyone else have a LO who naps after 6pm? My LO is 11 weeks old and is fairly good at napping in the day, there's no schedule but she tends to nap 1
8.30-10.00 then 11.30-2 or round about, the last couple of nights she's been taking a short 30 minute nap around 6pm, so far it's not affected night time sleep, last night she had a quick nap from 6-6.40 then a feed, a bath and feed again before bed.. we aren't trying to instil any kind of routine yet other than the above but no set times.. I keep hearing sleep promotes sleep, I let her nap whenever she wants and don't try to keep her awake for my benefit as I don't want her to be over tired, last night she went down for 10ish, woke up at 1 and 4 for feeds and went straight back down, however one night I let her nap past 6 she went to bed at 9 and woke up at 1 then was awake from 1-5!! I wanted to pull my eyes out, in the end swaddle and gentle rock in Moses basket put her back to sleep.. just wondering if anyone else has a LO who naps after 6pm?

Is there any reason you aren't trying to promote a routine? My 20 week old has been in a routine since 5 weeks, 5pm bath and bottle, 6pm bed. She's thrived from this routine. HV has also agreed that it's certainly not a bad thing to start early.
I try to avoid napping after 4-4.30pm but if it's slightly later I just put her bedtime back a bit to compensate.
Could your little one be over tired?

Yes, have you tried putting her down at 6? . Mine started doing that and it was her deciding when to go to bed. We were worried she would start getting up even earlier but it went the other way and she slept later in the end. She's in bed from 5.30/6 until 6/7 now with one or two feeds generally and the odd sleep through depending on teething etc

I let her have a short nap last night at 6-6.30 then she was ready for bed at half 9, slept till 1, fed then again at 4. So I think it's hit and miss whether it affects her night sleep, she's generally good with naps in the day. We have a loose routine of bath, feed and bed but no set timings as I'm just going with what she needs at the moment x

@mummyp33 it could be her telling you that she needs longer at night. Half 9-4 is only 6 and a half hours with breaks for feeds which isn't actually a lot (if I've read it right)
My baby needs a good 10-12 hours at night whether she's up for feeds or not.
This may be helpful-
www.babycentre.co.uk/a7645/how-much-sleep-does-your-baby-need

Yes, my baby used to nap at this time. He'd be awake at 7pm and then 10pm bedtime.

Now he's 11 months he's transitioning to one nap- but still squeezes two naps in and his second nap is 5pm- 6pm and bed at about 9,30pm

I'm wondering if her natural bedtime is 9.30/10.00pm as I bring her up around 7.00 bath and feed but the feed takes easily 1.5hrs plus, I have to stop it as she'd keep going till the cows come home.. then I tried to put her down twice and she woke up both times. Maybe I'm trying to put her down too early but I just act upon when she's tired.

Your baby is still very tiny and young, I didn't have anything resembling a routine until about 4/5 months and then it was very loose. Just go with your baby for now- let her lead the way a bit and then establish a routine from there. I think it is normal for them to feed a long time at this age too. At this age my baby just stayed downstairs and fed and napped until I went to bed. Do what works for you and baby- don't worry about a routine for now- it will come.