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Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

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Original poster

How to make short naps longer for my very tired dd? All ideas welcomed.

26 replies

everymum · 23/04/2009 13:34

After many weeks of trying I have finally got my dd to nap in her cot. So far so good but sadly she will only sleep for about 30-40 mins. In principle this is fine (and a hugely welcome respite for me) but she is waking up still tired and then gets irritable in the afternoon.
She's 7 months and I've heard of babies sleeping for up to 2 hours at this age. Has anyone had any experience of extending naps at all and can give me some advice?
Much appreciated.

OP posts:

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billyog · 23/04/2009 14:45

When she wakes up after 30 min do you go in and get her up? I'm in a similar situation with dd, 22wks. When she wakes I go in and shush, pat,rock or feed her in a bid to get her back to sleep. Thought we'd cracked it and she was sleeping for 2 plus hours but then we went away for a while, didn't bother with regular naps and now i'm back to square one. Today being case in point.... after to hours of encouaging her to go back to sleep (after 15 min nap) she's sleeping beside me in the bouncy chair. But I tried and I'll try again tomorrow and hopefully in a few days we'll crack it again. Just keep with it.

MrsMerryHenry · 23/04/2009 14:48

It's hard to handle, but you should be aware that her over the next 2 years her nap times will change of their own accord, everymum. That said, I'm sure there are things you can do to help this as well.

ChocOrange05 · 23/04/2009 17:36

everymum I had the same problem with DS (now 23 weeks), someone advised me to use static radio so I put it on before his lunchtime nap (quite loudly) and it stays on throughout. Nap time has gone from 30-60 mins to 2 hours minimum and I wake him (apart from a couple of off days). My house is finally clean again! HTH

Picante · 23/04/2009 17:39

I put ds on his tummy to sleep at 7 months as he was doing exactly the same thing - it's the length of a sleep cycle. The very first time he went on his tummy he slept for an hour and a half! I just think they feel less vunerable and are able to go into a second sleep cycle.

chandellina · 23/04/2009 19:06

my DS also favours a 30-40 minute nap, and won't settle back again once he wakes (though he will take the odd 1.5 hour nap - heaven!)

Does she take an afternoon nap too? I find that even two short naps will keep my DS in pretty good spirits.

lou222 · 23/04/2009 20:02

my ds has a 10 min nap in the morning and a 10 min nap in the afternoon!! but he's never cranky, very happy little boy.
might be a daft question but is static radio when it isn't tuned in properly? might give that a go.

babyphat · 23/04/2009 21:33

i was going to suggest on your lap or in a sling, but if you've just got her into the cot would be a step back. sometimes i can get dd to resettle by rubbing her back...

StarlightMcKenzie · 23/04/2009 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

ChocOrange05 · 24/04/2009 08:52

static radio is where you don't get a station (you need an old fashioned dial radio, not a digital one) and it sounds like a fly buzzing. Its worked wonders for us, I just hope he doesn't need it when he's 30!

lou222 · 24/04/2009 10:39

right the static radio is on - let's see if he goes longer than 10 mins !

lou031205 · 24/04/2009 11:01

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/sleep/740336-My-8m-son-rarely-sleeps-longer-than-45-mins-at I've just answered on this thread, but the answer fits your situation too, hope it helps.

Original poster

everymum · 24/04/2009 13:44

Thank you everyone.
We have a water noise cd running throughout her sleep but maybe I will try static instead and I will try putting her on her tummy - she normally hates this but anything is worth a go. Will also try shush/pat/rock. Will try anything!

OP posts:

ChocOrange05 · 24/04/2009 14:00

how did it go lou222??

herbgarden · 24/04/2009 14:11

Didn't have time to read all the posts sorry but everymum, have you tried putting your dd in a buggy (in the house) and when it gets to the time she usually wakes, rock the buggy to get her off again for another "session" - babies have that 45 minute body clock so their bodies come into a light sleep after that time. If they can't re-settle, they will usually wake up. If you get them before the light sleep you might be able to encourage her to go. I had to do this with DS and it worked after a week or so and then I didn't have to rock the buggy but he slept inside the house in it for up to 2 hours. DD is sooo different. She loves to nap for ages without trouble. She does not have my genes . You might find once she can do the 2 hours or so she'll happily go into her cot to do it.

I presume you're also talking about a nap after lunch?

lou222 · 24/04/2009 20:57

1 1/2 hours - couldn't believe it!
am hoping it's not a fluke, will try again 2moro
thanks chocorange !

MoooCow · 24/04/2009 23:44

Thats great lou! just read your post in the sleep section and was very drawn to it as I have had v similar experience.
My LO is almost 10 months. The first 6-7 where a NIGHTMARE! She would not sleep in the day for love nor money, it drove me mad! Seriously, I had a 5 yr old just started school and this tiny babby and I think in the early days it was v hard.
All I wanted her to do was get into a 'routine' but babies arnt normally up for that!
What I wanted to say is that, now, 10 months on, having had a v hard baby, things are getting easier1! Hooray! They will do for you too x

ChocOrange05 · 25/04/2009 08:47

Yay lou I am really happy for you - hope it continues to work!! everymum have you tried it? It does need to be on quite loud - louder than if they were crying IYSWIM?

And lou's success yesterday is a testament to the fact my LO isn't just a wierdo!!

lou222 · 25/04/2009 10:45

ok day 2 just put in him in his pram for a sleep.
lets see how he goes - was going to ask about volume aswell i've put it on normal volume i'd say.
he's also started sleeping better at night, finally put him in a cot !
It all seems too good to be true .

chumpbaby · 25/04/2009 16:38

Everymum - I currently have the same problem. My 6month DS goes down for a lunch time nap very easily but wakes 35-45mins later. So...this is what I am doing. Put him down, then at 30 mins (after I have eaten lunch), I creep in with my cup of tea and sit by his cot. As soon as he starts to move/twitch/make a noise, I put my hand on him. Sometimes it takes a bit of patting but this seems to get him through the 35-45min sleep cycle change over, and then then he settles back into a deep sleep for another 40mins or so. I have been doing this for a week and yesterday I was only in his room for 10mins, whereas to start with I was there for half an hour making sure he was asleep. I am hoping that if I continue to do this then eventually he will sleep through by himself.

littleboyblue · 25/04/2009 16:40

My ds1 used to do the same, he'd sleep for an hour and started waking but was still tired, so I went in just before the hour was up and woke him, then settled him back to sleep, was only a few days and he started sleeping 2 hours (sometimes it's 4!)
Don't know how it worked or even if it was this, but that's what happened here

lou222 · 25/04/2009 18:42

TWO HOURS !!
It's amazing!
especially as he's getting more sleep at night!
think i am now a sleep expert

ChocOrange05 · 25/04/2009 19:24

Am I allowed to smile with pride lou222?? Even though it wasn't my invention!

Original poster

everymum · 26/04/2009 21:53

White noise is working quite well for us - she is going off to sleep really easily. Our routing went to pot a bit over the weekend as usual but tomorrow I am going to try the patting after 30 minutes.
Lou - 2 hours! I dream of 2 hours....

OP posts:

lou222 · 27/04/2009 18:48

You can smile and puff out your chest with pride. Might not have been your invention but it was your suggestion !
he did another 1 1/2 hours this afternoon so that's 4 days in a row - not a fluke!

why does it work though you'd think that noise would agitate them!

everymum believe me i was amazed and envious of anyone whose baby had more than a 10 min nap - i still find it incredible that he does!

ChocOrange05 · 27/04/2009 20:08

lou222 I am chuffed for you! I think it works on the basis that its similar to the sound they heard in the womb - the waters whooshing round (if you ever listened for the heartbeat when you were PG you would have heard that, waves crashing on a beach, type sound). Also I think its about consistent noise so they go to sleep with it and then when they come into a lighter sleep its not a different environment: louder, quieter etc.

Anyhoo - I could be making this up, but who cares if it works!

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