Hi, hoping someone can help. Baby is 8 months old now and we’re really struggling with his sleeping routine. Can’t seem to find advice that relates to his nap routine, all Info seems to assume that your baby naps for at least an hour per nap, but our son will only sleep for 30 mins bursts, so he is in a constant cycle of being overtired. We don’t know how to lengthen the naps or fit in just 3 naps a day instead of 4, which is what he should be having now. I’ve outlined some important info on his nap routines as it stands. We’ve followed all advice of white noise, black out blinds etc but it doesn’t help extend the naps.
◦ No set wake time - so this affects what time he naps through the day - should we start sticking to the same times or thereabouts for napping through the day or base it more around how long he’s been awake?
◦ No set bed time as all dependent on what time he wakes from last nap. If last nap is after 5 then bed time is after 8 one day and then 7 the next
◦ Lunch time changes each day depending on naps - not sure if that matters?
◦ Naps are 30 mins each
◦ Will only nap longer if he’s in the car. Napping in the pram doesn’t make a difference to timing. He also has never taken a dummy and don’t want to start that now.
◦ He was starting to nap in his bed but will now only nap in our arms. If he was left in his bed, he would cry and cry until he’s picked out. What do we do at this point as nothing soothes him; should we miss his nap and hope the next one works? We just jump on the medicine ball with him to get him to sleep but this obviously isn’t sustainable long term,and he’s a very big baby.
◦ Has 3 - 4 naps a day. Know we should be hitting 3 naps by now but because he only sleeps for 30 minutes a go he would have to last about 4.5/5 hours awake till bedtime. Currently keeping him up between 2 - 2.5 hours between each nap.
◦ Bedtime is a real issue and can cry for hours - not left to cry it out. Really bringing us down as can sometimes be as late as 10 and then bed time for us and the whole thing starts again at 5am. We know he can self settle as he has slept through 9 hours in the past.
◦ Has got into a routine of waking at 5am for a ‘feed’ but we give in as he goes back to sleep in his bed for 45 mins to 2 hours. If we didn’t do this he’d start his day
◦ Baby does not like to be put down much during the day and prefers to be carried everywhere. Won’t be using as much energy as needed to be tired enough possibly?
Sorry this is so long! Any advice appreciated , thank you