Nap Length?

justkeeptrying

I'm just curious how long everyone's LO's are napping for. DS is 9 weeks and he will nap for 1 1/2 - 2 hours in my arms. But if I lay him down his naps are only 20 minutes. I think 20 minutes is way too short so then I rock him to sleep again and usually just keep him in my arms. What is everyone else's LO's doing?

ali0608

My son takes a short nap in the morning...30-45 minutes. Midday he takes a 2-3 hour nap. Then he may have 1-2 other short naps.
He will fall asleep on his own if I lay him down before he falls asleep. Awake but drowsy. I'm not sure how. My first son didn't do this at all. But it's awesome.
Just keep trying to put him down. Someday it may work!

justkeeptrying

I successfully put him down today! He's been sleeping for almost an hour on his own!! I figured out last night that he likes putting his right hand in his mouth (all the time not just when he's hungry). So I left his arm out of his swaddle and he's now sleeping with it by his face I had tried this a couple of weeks ago with his other arm and it didn't work. Apparently he only likes his right hand to eat. Haha!! But hey - it's working so far!!!!

justkeeptrying

I successfully put him down today! He's been sleeping for almost an hour on his own!! I figured out last night that he likes putting his right hand in his mouth (all the time not just when he's hungry). So I left his arm out of his swaddle and he's now sleeping with it by his face I had tried this a couple of weeks ago with his other arm and it didn't work. Apparently he only likes his right hand to eat. Haha!! But hey - it's working so far!!!!

ali0608

It's always a guessing game! I'm glad you found something that works!

jc0n15

ahhh I'm trying to get somewhat of a schedule here but everytime I try to put her down she wakes up. First time big sister woke her up, second time damn dog woke her up and third time she only lasted 3 minutes before waking up....in the process of rocking her now and seeing if the fourth times a charm. I had this same issue with my first and chose to hold her all the time and she never napped good, so at 7 weeks I'm fighting to keep that from happening again

odawg

My LO wants to nurse to sleep:( and she gets real pissed at pacifiers! So most naps end up with me but she tends to give me a good 2 hr or so afternoon nap

kerriam26

I would love to hear more on this. My LO only wants to nap in my arms, the stroller, or in my Ergobaby wrap. When I put him in his rocker or the crib he naps for only 20-30 minutes. Yet he's never had a problem at night - sleeps like a champ 7-8 hours straight in his crib!

Those that got their LOs to nap in the crib, was it something that just happened? Or did it take a lot of trial and error before they finally got it down? And do you darken the room or keep it lit for naps?

rileysmama2007

My 8 week old takes a 30 minute nap in the morning, 2 1/2 hour nap around noon and a catnap around 4:30. I started putting him down when he's drowsy but not fully asleep around 3 weeks. Sometimes he fusses a little before going to sleep but we never let him cry for more than 5 minutes before rocking him enough to calm him down and put him back down in the crib.

justkeeptrying

@kerriam26 - sounds like we are in the same boat. DS does great at night (although not as good as your LO by the sounds of it). He will usually do a 4-5 hour stretch but has done up to 7.5. But during the day we struggle with naps unless I'm holding him. I do keep the room dark during the day but I rock him to sleep in a room that is somewhat lit and then lay him down in the dark room in his bed. Haven't yet tried the approach of putting him to bed sleepy but will probably do that soon.

Most days I end up just holding him for his naps. I would rather he get the sleep he needs than me getting anything done. But I really hope this doesn't continue. After my success the other day I haven't had any other successes so that was disappointing. But I will keep trying!!

OlgaN15

My LO sleeps great at night (8-9 hours), but is terrible during the day unless in his wrap or if I'm just holding him. He can be completely out, I put him down, and he's awake within 5 minutes. It's really frustrating. I too would appreciate any tips. Fortunately I work somewhat from home, so when I go back tomorrow I still have the option to wear him for his naps.

Knottie76365376

I know it is unadvisable by the company, but I put my DS to nap on his back on the Boppy. The shape of the Boppy hugs him and it must feel to him like he is still in my arms. I either do it on the floor or in the middle of the bed and I am always within eyeshot. He will not nap in his crib for more than 5 to 10 minutes, but he will sleep 3 to 4 hours on the Boppy! (Please don't roast me! It works, and I swear he is safe!)

Caileybug

Also not advised- belly sleeper over here. My DS naps for a good 2 hours in the morning, then he's up for an hour or two. He typically goes for a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon and then a cat nap in the evening (usually 30 minutes). All his sleep happens in his crib unless we are out and he's in the moby or playpen at my parents house. He's been in his crib since 2.5 weeks and he's now 12 weeks old. During the day I keep the window shades open so it's very bright in his room and I typically don't close is door so there's usually noise. At nighttime we close the blinds and have a small nightlight on his monitor on. He sleeps for 6-8 hours at night, wakes to nurse then goes back down for 2-3 more hours.

borntorun17

Caileybug said:

Also not advised- belly sleeper over here. My DS naps for a good 2 hours in the morning, then he's up for an hour or two. He typically goes for a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon and then a cat nap in the evening (usually 30 minutes). All his sleep happens in his crib unless we are out and he's in the moby or playpen at my parents house. He's been in his crib since 2.5 weeks and he's now 12 weeks old. During the day I keep the window shades open so it's very bright in his room and I typically don't close is door so there's usually noise. At nighttime we close the blinds and have a small nightlight on his monitor on. He sleeps for 6-8 hours at night, wakes to nurse then goes back down for 2-3 more hours.

Do you belly sleep all the time? I've decided to start belly sleeping for naps. I'm going to only do it when I'm in the room with him so I thought this was a good start until I get more comfortable. My Lo has excellent head control plus I have a snuza. I would love to do it overnight too but I'm such a worrywart

rae430

My DS usually has three big naps a day with a catnap or two in between. He usually does an hour or so in the morning, a big three hour nap in the afternoon, and another 45 minute - 1 hr in the late afternoon/early evening. His bedtime is around 9- he absolutely will not sleep for the night before it gets dark! He likes being on his belly, but I usually only let him do it if he's on my chest. When he rolls, I think he'll definitely be a belly sleeper. When he's in his pack and play, he sleeps really well in the Merlin's Magic Sleepsuit- highly recommended!

Caileybug

dm28 said:

Caileybug said:

Also not advised- belly sleeper over here. My DS naps for a good 2 hours in the morning, then he's up for an hour or two. He typically goes for a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon and then a cat nap in the evening (usually 30 minutes). All his sleep happens in his crib unless we are out and he's in the moby or playpen at my parents house. He's been in his crib since 2.5 weeks and he's now 12 weeks old. During the day I keep the window shades open so it's very bright in his room and I typically don't close is door so there's usually noise. At nighttime we close the blinds and have a small nightlight on his monitor on. He sleeps for 6-8 hours at night, wakes to nurse then goes back down for 2-3 more hours.

Do you belly sleep all the time? I've decided to start belly sleeping for naps. I'm going to only do it when I'm in the room with him so I thought this was a good start until I get more comfortable. My Lo has excellent head control plus I have a snuza. I would love to do it overnight too but I'm such a worrywart

Yeah, he only sleeps on his belly. I was worried at first but I have to do what works for us, and this works. I've tried putting him down on his back but his startle reflex always wakes him. He does like being swaddled but it's too warm now and he's so comfy on his belly. I don't worry so much anymore

toddabunny

I took LO to a family bbq last night, she fell asleep at 6:15 I had to wake her at 12:30 to get her fed and in her PJs and then she slept till 7:45 I'm sure that's not normal, she normally naps 30-45mins at a time

erin79

Naps at home are usually 40 minutes on the dot.  Every couple of days we'll get a 1.5 hour nap, but it's not consistent.  The majority of babies don't consolidate their naps until 4-6 months, so don't feel like you're doing something wrong.  My first started taking longer naps at 4 months without us doing anything different to help him.  It's just something that will develop with age.

justkeeptrying

Thanks @erin79! That's encouraging to hear. I was dreading the thought of having a LO that only takes 20 minute naps!!! Hopefully this improves over the next couple of months.

Kae42

My little lady rarely naps in the daytime... She is up from 8am-8pm usually and gets up about every 3hours in the night. Sometimes she passes out for 5-10 minutes in the day, and I will often put her in her crib for a period of time but she doesn't fall asleep. Since she isn't cranky about it, I'm not stressed out about it. Though I do wonder what we'd be doing if she was the second child

justkeeptrying

Not to sound critical @Kae42 but your LO is likely very overtired which might be why they are waking every 3 hours at night. Babies under 3 months need 15-16 hours of sleep in a 24 hour period. Totally your call how you do their schedule but I would encourage you to push naps during the day a bit more.

Kae42

If she was symptomatic of overtired-ness I would definitely be concerned! And I have been on the watch for signs of it to guide us to alter our routine.
As it is, my LO has one of the most cheerful dispositions I've ever seen in a baby. She has active and alert cycles followed by quiet and alert cycles. She usually hangs out in her crib twice a day for "naptime" which usually means being very still and looking at the ceiling or her mobile for an hour or so until she's hungry or playful again (playful stays in the crib longer than hungry)
She is meeting milestones, growing and outputting appropriately. At night time she is completely out, and only half wakes every three hours to breast feed which takes 10mins tops, which is within normal.
My baby just sleeps below average (most days anyway) in this stage of her life. My mother tells me I was exactly like this as an infant, and that I started napping no problem around a year old

I do appreciate your suggestion and concern though!! @chambersbaby2015

stephv18

My LO is a cat napper, usually does about 4 45min naps during the day and sleeps 11 hours a night. We are starting to make sure she is in her crib for naps instead of in our arms. Has anyone looked up sleep training, we started doing some of (no CIO) but some of the ideas really help! We started Saturday and have been very successful, I think she just likes shorter naps during the day, which I'm fine with since she does 11 hours a night.

fwhittaker

My LO, 10 weeks, is the same regarding her naps. If I put her down, it is 20-30 minutes. I've been holding her and she has been sleeping a total of about 2.5 to 3 hours during the day. At night she usually sleeps pretty well with 5-7 hour stretches then another couple of hours after feeding. I always get nervous when she sleeps a lot during the day, but I've read sleep breeds sleep:)