Baby started wanting to sleep more

[Bubbles021]

Hello everyone!
Just looking for some other experiences really!
My four month old (specifically 19 weeks), has all of a sudden started becoming more tired than usual.
She's usually awake for 1.5-2 hours and then will nap for around an hour. However the last couple of days she will wake up from a nap, be happy for about 20 mins and then get increasingly more grumpy. After an hour she is definitely ready for sleep again. She is still napping for around an hour- an hour and a quarter, but we are having to gently wake her up.
I just wondered if this was a developmental thing? Is it a stage that babies go through? She is teething, so I'm not sure if that's adding to it. It has only been the past couple of days and she is still sleeping as normal at night.
Thank you for your help 😊

Do you always wake her after an hour or so? She might want a longer nap

Why are you waking her up? I think she’d want a longer nap, I’d leave her for 2-2.5 hours

I also think she probably needs a longer nap. I'd leave her and see how that changes things.

@LapinR0se we usually leave her an hour-an hour and half max. This has only been the last couple of days though, she will normally wake naturally after an hour or so. She's our first (living) child so we're still learning 🙈 it's just unusual for her to want to sleep past an hour, but I wondered whether it was a normal part of four month development 😊

Baby sleep is always evolving and changing, it doesn’t sound worrying to me.

I would also let her nap as long as she wants. My current baby has a 2-2.5 hour nap most days. If she’s tired, why not let her sleep on?

Thank you all for your replies 😊 we will try a longer nap! It probably sounds so stupid, it's just because it's a sudden change for her to want to sleep longer! I really appreciate your replies!

4 months old you could expect around 3 naps a day, one up to 2,5 hrs long and the other two more like 40 mins to an hour. It’s great if the longest one is around lunchtime so aim for that! Good luck

I have a 17 week old and he has been similar recently, during day sometimes he's only been awake for 45 mins and he acts so overtired he cries for a nap whereas I used to have to remember to get him to nap after his 2 hour wake window. However I think he's starting the 4mo sleep regression so that may be why! Also I never wake him from his naps unless he gets to 2 hours , usually after 1-1.5 hours he wakes up.

It doesn't sound stupid at all OP

They change so quickly and what they need changes with them. One week they will be able to be awake for 2 hours and if they are feeling unwell, teething or going through a growth spurt they'll suddenly only cope with an hour

My advice is never wake a sleeping baby pre 6-7 months

I think once they are 7 months they are more into a firm daytime nap and bedtime routine and you can decide to wake if needed (eg I woke my 12 month old at 3pm today or he'll never go to bed!)

But at such a young age I would let them sleep when they need it

@CraneBoysMysteries thank you so much, I really appreciate your help and experience/advice 😊 x