Keeping baby awake as napping too much during the day

[helenlouisey]

Hi - am trying to get my little boy (3 months old) into more of a routine during the day, as he seems to spend much of the afternoon asleep, waking during the night and difficult to get him to settle until 9pm ish. If we try to settle him before 9pm then he just isn't tired enough as he has slept too much during the day . I know he is sleeping too much during the day, and cat napping rather having good naps duing the day, but I don't know how to keep him awake so we can get more into a routine. Any tips on keeping baby awake, as seems very cruel when he's obviously sleepy, as just a vicious circle at the moment ? Thanks

Hiya, It is classed as normal for babies in this age group to sleep for up to 17 hrs each day and wake through the night. There was recently a post on the 2/3/4/ sleep pattern as a good aim for your baby. In the morning when the baby wakes up they stay awake for 2hrs then go to sleep. Wake and stay awake for three hrs then sleep. Then stay awake for 4 hrs before going to bed. None of my children have gone down for the night at that age any earlier than 8.30 and were generally much later. The only method of keeping them happily awake that I found was giving them a bath.

Good Luck.

KKQx