14 week old only taking catnaps

chloeval

So my 14 week old has been sleeping through the night now for 4-5 weeks from 8pm-7am but his naps are usually short. They are at least predictable now and i know what time he will usually get tired and need a nap which is new. But when he's getting tired all of a sudden he gets fussy and I have to calm him before he passes out and i put him to bed. I've tried laying him in his crib when I know he will get tired and usually needs a nap but he just lays in his crib smiling and sucking on his hand he won't actually fall asleep. So I have to pick him up and hold him for a few min until he falls asleep. Other times he falls right to sleep. It's frustrating to have to calm him when he's squirming and crying in my arms before he passes out to only sleep for 30 mins. Any suggestions on how to help him possibly take fewer catnaps and maybe just two longer naps? Thanks

jmo866

I am just lurking, as DS is not 3 months yet, but thought I'd pass along some info I learned with my older son. I read soooo much about sleep when he was little, I think I was a bit sleep obsessed lol, but he took cat naps too. His were actually 45 mins, you could set an egg timer by it. But a few things-- short naps at this age are normal and expected. It sucks when your LO doesn't take long naps like other babies, but totally normal. It is something they are supposed to grow out of it by between 4-6 months *I think* (this info was all 2 years ago, so a bit foggy). My DS stopped the day after he turned 5 months, no joke. He suddenly went to a 3 nap schedule over night, after taking 45 min naps for months. What is happening when they take short naps is that they are waking at the end of the sleep cycle, and unable to make it to the next cycle without being helped or soothed in some way. You can try nap lengthening, there are a ton of supposed tricks, but I tried them all and none worked for us. And it was exhausting. It is just something their brains will sort out.

Also, I read that naps shorter than 40 mins are because they are overtired, which is sounds like from your description. I know it seems like it is working waiting until he is fussy because you can get him to sleep, but it's too late. Try 15 mins earlier. You said you put him down when he "should" get tired but he's just awake and happy. Most kids this age are too involved in the world around them and won't just nod off, even if given the right environment. My son was a nosy little guy, just like yours, would look so awake, be happy and loving the world, then snap, he was pissed and tired. What I had to do was take him into his room, before the fussy point, and while swaddled, with the room dark, I'd stand and rock/ jiggle him next to the crib, white noise on, for just a few mins. If you catch the right time, hopefully he won't have hit the fussy stage and will get drowsy. The big thing everyone talks about is getting them down "drowsy but awake" that is the key.

Anyways, sounds like you have a good night sleep, be thankful for that. If you can't get past the 30 min thing, just know, this too shall pass! Sorry for jumping in and for the novel!!

Edited for typo.

chloeval

Thank you so much for that helpful info!!!!

LisaLisa1980

I've learned that babies sleep patterns change all the time and they go thru phases. He'll get back on track soon

kmkaull2

Night sleep regulates before day sleep.  Catnaps are normal at this age and sleep should fall into a pattern soon. I would not stress at all if your LO is sleeping through the night!

Do you swaddle?   That might help.  How about the swing for a few minutes until your LO is drowsy? 

steelerbaby29

My son is 16 weeks and also take catnaps. He usually takes one good nap for almost 2 hours in the morning and for the rest of the day he takes like 4 small naps anywhere from 20-45 minutes. He sleeps from 8pm to 6am in his crib at night, but for his naps it's a different story.If he is in his swing he will sleep more towards the 45 min length, but I am trying to get him to nap in his crib. I try to put him down about 15 minutes before I know he is going to be tired, but he still fusses and puts up a fight. After he sleeps for the short time he will want to be awake for like 20-30 minutes and then be ready for another short nap. I am trying to soothe him back to sleep without picking him up when he wakes up knowing he is still tired but he usually just cries and cries. I am open for suggestions or any helpful tips from other moms that have had this problem.

VPGIRL06

cat naps are fairly common around this time.  However, 30 minutes can mean over tired. Also, if your LO is happy when you put him down-why don't you leave him there? He could just surprise you and fall asleep

Rushmore

I have had success with wearing him in a sling (the Baby K'tan to be exact). I went shopping one day at IKEA and wore him. He slept the entire shopping trip (2 hours plus). I was amazed, as this was way better than when I took him out shopping in his stroller/bassinet. 

I decided to try the sling for naps at home. His most difficult period for sleep is in the afternoon- he's just a crank pot. So I decided to wear him in my sling during the afternoon. Sure enough, he falls asleep for 2 hours+ (might fuss a bit, wake up, but goes back to sleep). It's awesome because soothing him initially is easy- I turn on some music, walk around/dance around the house, and within 10-15 minutes he's out (sometimes sooner)- All with little effort and crying. Using the sling while bouncing on an exercise ball has also been fruitful.

I've been able to transition him asleep  from the sling to crib/rnp a few times. He's gone on to sleep 45 minutes in his crib after taking him out of the sling.

trudibell

My son is like this too, the only time he takes legit naps are when he's either in the stroller or car!  He's got MMS syndrome - Might Miss Something haha.  I don't have any advice, just that  you're not alone.

katfaz

Ha ha, I love that - MMS syndrome.  My LO has the SAME thing and we joke about it all the time.  She is so afraid of missing something!

steelerbaby29

My son totally has the MMS syndrome too! It is reassuring to hear I'm not alone. You read in books and online how your baby should be sleeping and napping a certain amount of time. I'm always thinking my son isn't like what the book says! I'm thankful he gets as least one 2 hour nap a day and if catnaps for the rest of the day is what he's gonna do then I guess that's how it's going to be for now. It would be nice for one more long nap a day so I could get more things done though!

AlexisLA

LO takes 30-40min naps throughout the day, she isnt up for more than 2 hours before she starts getting cranky and glassy eyed. She will only nap in her swing. Sometimes she'll sleep longer (1 hour+) if she falls asleep nursing on my lap. She doesn't sleep well at night either.

chloeval

Ok so I'm feeding every 3 hours even though I know he can go longer but that way I can feed 730,1030,130,430,730 and then to bed. He's Stilll do cranky at night and he's been taking catnaps again averaging 40 min naps. He goes down for nap about 2 hrs after waking. So nap Arouvd 820-9 am, then again 10:45-11:30, 1:45-2:30, 5-530 then bed Arouvd 7:45. Anynore suggestions on how to get him to take longer/fewer naps? I think any awaje time over 2 hours is just too long for him. I can't even get him to sleep In swing or car anymore. He even starts to cry in car! He won't take a pacifyer and can't find his thumb so I have no way to calm him besides rocking him.

katfaz

chloeval said:

Ok so I'm feeding every 3 hours even though I know he can go longer but that way I can feed 730,1030,130,430,730 and then to bed. He's Stilll do cranky at night and he's been taking catnaps again averaging 40 min naps. He goes down for nap about 2 hrs after waking. So nap Arouvd 820-9 am, then again 10:45-11:30, 1:45-2:30, 5-530 then bed Arouvd 7:45. Anynore suggestions on how to get him to take longer/fewer naps? I think any awaje time over 2 hours is just too long for him. I can't even get him to sleep In swing or car anymore. He even starts to cry in car! He won't take a pacifyer and can't find his thumb so I have no way to calm him besides rocking him.

IMHO you may be expecting too much at only 14 weeks old.  My DD is 5 months and we are on a similar schedule to yours.  Everyone keeps telling me that catnaps aren't forever and that eventually naps will consolidate and lengthen but as it stands now, her wake time can't go past 2 hours or else she is overtired.  I think as long as you are paying attention to her cues and putting her to sleep when she needs it you are doing the right thing.  It's difficult not to over analyze it, believe me I'm in the same boat.  Sounds like you are doing a great job, keep it up!

chloeval

Thanks so much