DS only did 40 min naps from 6 weeks old, so was having 4/5 a day. When he was 5m, the first nap extended to at least 1hr 20 (2x sleep cycles) very consistently. When he turned 6m we had a glorious few weeks of 2x long naps (at least 1hr 20 for both morning and lunch nap), plus an afternoon catnap of 40 mins, depending on how long the lunch nap was and when he woke up from it.
DS is now 7m 2 weeks and we are back on 40 mins for EVERY nap. Won’t be resettled. Is yawning as soon as he’s up and grouchy/whining all day. I have tried playing around with wake windows. He is yawning an hour after getting up in the morning, but I can’t put him back to sleep so soon so try to at least stretch to 1hr 45, although all the books say his wake windows should be at least 2 hours. He can self settle although funnily enough I’ve actually found when I give him a bottle before his lunch nap and he falls asleep he actually sleeps longer?! Naps are in cot, white noise, blackout, sleep suit. Will sleep in car/pram but only for 40. I dedicated a lot of time and effort to extending his naps in the cot and thought I’d cracked it.
Could it be his teeth? Feeling unwell? Developmental? He is not crawling, can only roll one way and can only just sit up unsupported.
I know it sounds dramatic, but I was only just starting to enjoy motherhood, knowing I had the predictability of those naps. I could plan my days and know he was getting the rest he needed. I now feel back at square one and very low about it. Night sleep also not as good.