So - Suggestions?
Alright everybody. I'm on child number 2, but as they say, all kids are different, and this one is throwing me through a loop in the realm of napping. So - tell me if I just need to give up or if there's some kind of hope (and the advice that may offer that hope, please.)
My son took fo-eva (ahem - forever) to sleep through the night. We're talking, he was like 9 months old. But, boy, could that boy nap! He took two, two hour naps, everyday, faithfully, from about 3 months until about 18 months (when he dropped down to one 3-4 hour nap). His naps were consistent, were at the same time every day, and were, for the most part, pretty easy. (And he was getting about 10-12 hours of sleep a night as well.)
Fast forward to new little beauty in the house, and she's been a 'knock-em dead' kind of night sleeper since she was about 4 weeks old, sleeping 8 straight hours at night then, and just weeks later sleeping 10-12 after that. (And she hasn't stopped since, knock on wood. Her current night-time sleep is from about 8 pm until 6 or 6:30 a.m. most days.)
BUT - darling daughter is an AWFUL napper. For those of you familiar with Babywise - I'm certain the 45 minute intruder lives at our house.
Her morning nap lasts exactly 45 minutes. She has slept 2 hours or more for her afternoon naps, but never consistently. More times than not they are about 45 minutes.
So to get her through the day we have to do a third nap (yep, we're still doing a 3rd nap -and I'm not gonna lie - sometimes a 4th if we just can't make it to bedtime) in which she sleeps, yep, you guessed it, about 45 minutes.
I don't. know. what. to. do.
At first I thought maybe she was hungry - so we've increased the amount of formula and started feeding food food. I've tried to get her really tired. I've tried to put her down before she's really tired. I've tried getting the room warmer, cooler, darker, quieter, louder (seriously, she sleeps with a sound machine and a humidifier on)... you name it. I'm at a loss.
So do I just need to come to grips that my second child will never be a good day napper or have a consistent schedule... or is there some kind of hope? Please help a sister out!
Re: So - Suggestions?
prior to this week, when nap strike 2011 started, my LO has consistently been a 45min napper. He'll do (4-5) 45 minute naps per day. He also sleeps from about 7p-7a, waking 1x at 5a (maybe) to eat.
Our pediatrician says he gets the gold star for 4 month olds and sleeping. Other than making my day unpredictable and sometimes unproductive, I deal.
I don't really think you have an issue, unless you aren't reading your tired baby's cues. They are a bit young to be on a schedule at this point,.
we're on nap # 4 right now...
DS woke up at 6:15 and napped from 8-9
We went for a walk around 10ish and to run errands...he slept for 20 min (uughh) and we were home at noon
He slept from 1-3 (woo hoo!...this happens maybe twice a week)
it's now 5 PM and he went down around 4:45 and will probably take a shorter nap.
I usually just go by the recommended awake time. He can't stay awake for more than 2 hours without getting crazy. I feel that if I tell this to DH or my parents when they watch him, it makes everyone's lives easier. It all depends on when he wakes up for the day, which can vary day to day.
Rachel and Jeff Married 5.29.05
Jason is 8
Elizabeth is 6
Katherine is 18 months