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Is my 5mo under tired or overtired?

2 replies

PepsiMaxLime · 14/12/2023 09:52

DD has just turned 5 months. Was a great sleeper and bang on 4 months, the sleep regression hit.

The nights aren’t too bad (which I’m grateful for!) but naps and bedtime are a struggle.

If we’re having a good day, she can maybe nap in total for around 2.5 hours, made up of a few 30-40 min naps, occasionally an hour nap if in my arms.

she can settle herself to sleep, and is actually best at this during the night after a waking.

Bedtime is a killer though, last night she finished a 30 min nap at 5pm, total of 2hrs40 nap time for the whole day, then bath just before 6 and into her crib at 6:20 after a feed. She was rubbing her eyes so I thought I’d caught the sweet spot, but no.

Took 40 mins of shush/patting to get her to fall asleep, awake 5 mins later. 10 more mins of shush/pat…awake 10 mins later.

Finally got her back down for her to wake about 30 mins later, then she cried and resisted sleep for about another 30 minutes no matter what we did. Finally fell asleep with the Misty Mountain song from The Hobbit playing on repeat!

I can’t work out if she’s over tired from the cat naps or whether she was under tired because i put her down about an hour 20 after her last nap. She can’t really go longer than 1 hour 30 between naps.

does anyone have any advice, hats off to you if you’ve read this far!

OP posts:
Brightandbreezey · 14/12/2023 15:48

It so hard isn’t it?
I would be tempted to give her a bit longer before bed. From what I’ve read and my own experience with 10 month old, baby’s wake windows go longer throughout the day. So maybe (big maybe - you know your baby better than anyone so if this doesn’t fit don’t do!) 1 1/2 in morning, 1 3/4 or 2 hours later in day and 2 or 2 1/4 in evening.
2 hours 40 mins nap time seems reasonable for a 5 month in the day. I think about 3 - 3 1/2 is about right so you’re not far off and all babies are different so it doesn’t have to be exactly what is recommended!
30 - 40 minutes naps are normal as that’s the baby sleep cycle. If you want her to do longer try and time when the cycle will be up and help her connect her cycles e.g. if in pram or sling rock her or if in cot shush her back etc.
All I can say is try not to stress too much. As long as your baby is happy generally she will be getting enough sleep! Everything is temporary!!

PepsiMaxLime · 14/12/2023 16:31

Thank you so much for replying @Brightandbreezey shes had a few longer naps today so will leave it a bit longer before bed tonight & keep my fingers crossed!

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