We have a new teacher in DD's room at daycare and since she started DD's naps have decreased to 2- 30 minute naps (during the hours of 8-5:30). We're not sure if this is just a time of transition for DD or if the new teacher is not putting her down for naps enough. She is really tired when she gets home and wants to go to sleep around 6:30.
How many naps and what duration is your 5-6 month old taking?
Re: 5-6 month old- how many naps?
Kaitlyn usually takes 2 naps, on occasion 3. Lately they have been more around the 30 minute mark. Once she is up, I can't get her to go back to sleep. She used to nap 2+ hours in the swing. (she is now in the crib). Yesterday she had 2 half hour naps, the last one ended at 2 and she was up til 6:30 then passed out for the night. I tried to get her to take another one in that time, but it didn't happen.
That's what really annoys me about daycare. DD doesn't get nearly enough sleep b/c a) there's too much to do and see and b) the teacher gets her out of the crib too soon.
My DD will wake up several times during one nap. I still consider it one nap b/c I don't take her out of the crib. She'll wake up, babble a little and fall back asleep. She looks completely awake and alert, but you just have to leave her alone. Or sometimes she'll wake up, babble a little, then start crying. Then I just go in, stick the paci back in her mouth, "tuck her in" and she'll fall back asleep.
I would just have a talk w/ the teachers and hope that your baby gets used to all the activity going on around her and can eventually sleep through it.
My DD takes 3-4 naps per day ranging from 40 minutes-2 hours long. She stays up 90 min-2 hours inbetween naps.
Even my DS who was a HORRIBLE napper as an infant took 3-4 naps a day, but they were short catnaps, like 20-40 minutes, with 40 minutes being a great nap for him.
Two 30 minute naps is definitely not enough for a baby this age. Talk to the daycare about it.
I guess I'm one of the lucky ones as I have a good sleeper/napper.
Our day goes like this:
Up at 6am, nap from 8 - 9, nap from 1 - 3 or 3:30, nap from 6 - 7 bed at 9 and sleeps through the night.
I didn't do anything special to get on this routine, guess I just lucked out. LO goes to a day care that is in someones home and she puts the nappers in a different room so they are not distracted by the others.