Short naps are killing me!

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Baby is 4 months old. Over the last few weeks, day naps have become shorter and shorter. Averaging 30-35 minutes which mean DD is ratty again within an hour because she’s not rested enough. They’re short no matter where she sleeps, although contact naps do last that bit longer as I can shush/pat/rock when she starts to stir. She ends up crashing and burning at 5ish which of course makes her 7pm(ish) bedtime difficult. Is this part of her regression? Do I just need to ride it out? Send help!! (And wine)

It's regression and suddenly forget to link the sleep cycles. Have a look up on short naps with sleep regression as I was the same literally sobbing with regression. People have amazing suggestions.

Be strong! And remember it's a phase x x

4 month sleep regression is a thing. And it's awful. So is the 8 month one. I was so tired with my second in the 8 month regression I forgot it was a thing till it was over and finally got enough sleep to have two brain cells to rub together.

It does pass, but there are a few more to come. I wouldn't worry about a 'bed time' personally. You're in survival mode for now.

Its rough @ChittyBang1987 isn’t it. The non relenting fight, nap, wake, grouchy, fight, nap, wake, grouchy is a killer. Atm we are using black out blinds, white noise, shh/pat/rock to take the edge off things. @suzyscat im glad you mentioned still being in survival mode, had the impression I should have my shit together by 4m old but I definitely feel like most days it’s an achievement to get through!

Yep completely. We slept trained just after 6 months which helped and I was able to get back some sort of sleep back. We're all in sleep debt for many years to come, there's a reason why sleep deprivation is used as torture.

Keep doing what you can and look up some tips, and contact nap if need be to get lo not so overtired. Remember its a phase, Watch wake windows if lo having little sleeps and know you wont be doing at 4 years old. Sorry its Best advice I can give x x x

This killed me too but when I got to 6 months I sleep trained at night and that immediately led to long day time naps with no fussing going down.

From my experience it’s totally normal for babies to go to short naps from about 3-6 months when they then lengthen again. I would try not to agonise over it or worry about it or try and solve it, just accept it and try not to create any longer lasting habits you might regret like always feeding or rocking to sleep (unless they’re sleeping great at night in which case I wouldn’t worry about these habits either). Everyone I know had a few months of 35-45 minute naps then they all came out the other side by around 6-7 months once they start to head towards getting down to 2 naps.

Omg no! There's no way you're meant to have your shit together by 4 months. And progress is never linear either. There's regressions, teething, (which comes with fussing and usually a little fever/ cold, sometimes also with no teeth but they're busy under the gum causing gyp. Although one of my kids teeth were no trouble the other was in agony.)

Full disclosure we didn't do proper bedtimes till probably passed a year, we just cuddled and nursed to sleep both times. One of my kids is a brilliant sleeper and the other is terrible but would go down independently from 18 months. You may need a routine for your own life/ sanity/ whatever which is fine but don't beat yourself up worrying about 'bad sleep habits.' It's a very old fashioned concept. If circumstances allow, your only job right now is snatching sleep and feeding your baby and helping them get some sleep. Clear the diary unless you really want to do something, leave the dishes in the sink and don your dressing gown.

Mine always slept well in the sling, which makes for good multitasking but do rest whilst you can! I promise it gets easier (then harder again, then easier etc)

Night times went to shit for about a week last week. Fight to get down at 7.30 then up at 3.30 for the day. Things have improved, last night she went down at 8, fed at 2, back down till 6.30. If I get a decent run in the night, I'm less inclined to complain about the day. The naps are more for her sake than mine, she's an emotional wreck by 5pm LOL. Agree about just rolling with it, there were things in the newborn phase I thought would never ever end and they just kind of do! (The 15min cluster feeding, oh my good God above I wanted to put myself out with the bins to escape). Sleeping without rocking will be my next challenge which I'm keen to start trying in the next month or so. Then again, if the naps are getting longer, its not AS bad.