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Nap changes

1 reply

ChickenMayo · 08/10/2024 15:39

Hello :)
My LO has just turned 5 months. He’s a really good sleeper at night, sleeps through, goes down to bed with little fuss. His naps were good too, he was having 2-3 hrs in his cot in the middle of the day (with me nearby and using a monitor) and he’d have 2-3 naps either side.
As far as the 4 month regression goes, his nighttime sleep hasn’t really been affected which I know we are very lucky (unless it’s still to come 🫣)
His nighttime sleep is still good but he has started to wake from naps after 20-30 mins in his cot, crying and clearly not ready to wake. He’s getting overtired as a result as hasn’t been able to have that longer, more restorative nap. I’d try to resettle him but he would seem awake, but only last 30 mins or so before getting fussy with tiredness.
He woke after 30 mins again today, I rocked him and he went back off to sleep in my arms, I’m just holding him so he sleeps now, and he is snoring away.
I contact napped with him a lot previously, but he got to the point where he was sleeping a lot better in a quiet room, in his cot. Now he seems to be the opposite.
Can this be normal and something that just happens? I don’t mind, but I just want to make sure I’m not introducing or creating bad habits by letting him nap on me to ensure he gets enough sleep, after a point where he had been napping ok in his cot. Will this confuse him?!
He’s my first baby and when I feel like I’ve cracked it, something changes!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
mewkins · 08/10/2024 16:00

Hi OP, a few things I'd suggest/ things to consider.

If you can be a bit more structured with the timings of naps then you should get to the stage where he has decent length ones. 30-40mins after falling asleep is when he goes from one sleep cycle into the next. If he is undertired then he will struggle (and sometimes when overtired too- helpfully!). A way of solving this is to be more consistent with timings.

From memory, mine could go approx 2 hours from waking before the first nap so eg. Wake at 7am then first nap at 9am for an hour. Quite quickly this wake window extends but I moved the nap to 9.15/9.30 and stuck to a nap of no more than an hour. Then next nap at 12 or 12.30 for 2 hrs ish. Then a half hour nap at 4.30ish.

Awake for 2 hours and then bedtime at 7 or 7.30.

Some sleep guides suggest you do anything you can to establish these so even if you have to walk for miles (i did 😄 ) to guarantee an extended nap then this will get them into the routine of a longer nap.

Of course, you'll crack this for a month and then weaning will start and all bets are off again 😬

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