Sleeps through the night, but not napping well during the day?

erjarv

My LO is 8 weeks today. He's started sleeping from about 10 PM to 6 AM, which is GREAT but the last few days he won't nap for more than a few minutes here and there. I wouldn't be as worried about it if he wasn't extremely fussy from being tired. Before that started it was normal for him to do about two short naps in the morning, but would take one very long nap in the afternoon, and all seemed well. Even when he was doing the long naps in the afternoon though he was still sleeping till 6 AM. I just want him to get back to napping normally. 

 Any ideas as to why he's not napping well and how I might be able to get him back to napping? I don't know how long I can take the fussiness. 

juliane2004

After he wakes at 6 am, how long is he awake before you attempt getting him to nap?

erjarv

juliane2004:

After he wakes at 6 am, how long is he awake before you attempt getting him to nap?

 

I try to go off of his cues for when he's tired, but typically about 2 hours.

MeredithML

I have no advice because I am in the same situation. DS sleeps 10 hours a night at 9weeks but has become a horrible napper. It is so frustrating when DS cries from being over tired. I dk why they fight sleep so much!

kpearse99

Have you tried swaddling during the day?

laurenhankey

we were having a similar issue at about the same age where LO would fight sleep.  We started doing the 5 S's (swaddle, suck, sway/swing, side-hold and shush) and it was amazing at how fast I could get her to nap!!  We also do the EASY (Eat, Activity, Sleep, You) and it works well for us.  Here's what we do:  LO eats then we play on the playmat or in the bouncer or on me for awhile.  She is usally awake for 1 1/2 - 2 hrs (my LO is 4 months so yours would be less time) but we look at sleepy cues like yawning or ours rubs her eyes.  Then I would do the side hold (horizontally across your belly with her belly on mine). I'd stick her paci in her mouth and when she was still that little it had to be held in by it resting on my stomach but now she can hold it in herself.  Then we sway and swings side to side while I shush.  She'd fuss for a few mins because she'd be tired and wanted to fight it but after about 10 mins she was OUT!  Then I'd either lay on the couch w/ her or put her in her swing. Once we discovered this worked for us we've be doing it ever since! Hope this helps!

allardr

My LO has done this for the past week. She sleeps 7pm to like 6:30am and wakes up all smiles. However naps are only 30 min here or there throughout the day. I just go with it and figure this is what she needs for now so this is our schedule.

GreenMonkey1

Try swaddling during the day. 

Our LO sleeps great at night, but is not a long napper during the day.  He's more of a cat napper.  Swaddling him during the day helps to stretch a 30-minute nap to an hour or so.

However, I figure if this is how he rolls (he isn't fussy during the day) then at least we have a kiddo who STTN.

buffyverrban1

erjarv:

juliane2004:

After he wakes at 6 am, how long is he awake before you attempt getting him to nap?

 

I try to go off of his cues for when he's tired, but typically about 2 hours.

I think this is probably too long to keep him up at 8 weeks. Try putting him down around 45m-1hr (at the longest). That might help. When they are overtired they are MUCH harder to get to sleep.  

citrarose

We just went through this around 10 weeks. He used to nap so well but then all of a sudden he would fight sleeping and get SUPER cranky and would scream because he was so tired. I tried to put him down as soon as he would rub his face but he would just lay in his crib and eventually cry. I had to try different things to get him to sleep. I swaddled him, held him close, and rocked him with a paci in his mouth until his eyes got droopy. Also driving in the car would get him to sleep. I would suggest trying different things to get your LO to fall asleep. It seemed to be a phase for my son because after about a week of that he is now getting better at napping during the day.