My 5 month old used to take great naps, and now is only taking 30 minute naps. She wakes up crying all the time and I try to help her fall back asleep (rocking, walking, bouncing, nursing) but nothing seems to work. She falls asleep quickly and quietly at night and sleeps through. Has anyone out there managed to consolidate 3 or 4 mini naps into 2 longer ones?
Thank you everyone for your advice. My daughter actually cut TWO teeth this week and all of a sudden she's going back to her old napping self. It looks like more teeth are not far behind either. My son didn't get teeth until he was 7 months old, so I hadn't expected them so quickly. She was constantly chewing on everything but what baby doesn't?? All of a sudden after about a month of craziness, she settling back down. Thanks again for all the kind words, it really helped me calm down a bit.
Babies (and children), as they grow, go through cycles of needing more or less sleep. Your baby isn't growing as fast right now, so she needs less sleep. You'll notice that she'll also go through cycles of eating more or less. This also has to do with growing. Don't sweat it. Just keep her schedule as consistent as possible and let it be.
Ditto Christy Lee!
And be thankful she's sleeping through the night! None of my three did that until they were a year old :(
Those are normal nap times you're getting out of your baby. My eldest daughter would take cat naps during the day and sleep like a rock at night as a newborn until she started walking, which was when she decided NO MOAR NAPS EVVARRRRRR! HA HA HA HA! It's just how she was. Since I got to sleep at night and she got most of her calories during the day with only one night feeding, I didn't complain. Turns out she's ADHD.
With my other two babies, they napped well and slept well at night. We were blessed.
My brother's baby girl has always napped horribly for him. She's predictable, but naps 15 minutes here and there and sometimes for half an hour. When she stays the weekend with me she sleeps for 2 1/2 hours. There must be something in the bed feathers here. :-)
when my 91/2 month old was that age he did the same thing it was just a faze he went through for about a month or two then went right back to taking his 2 naps and they are about 1-2 hours each time..and sometimes he will only take one and its for 3 hours and then be up and cranky until bed time...
Between 5-6 months is when my kids really had a change in nap routine. Previously they would nap anywhere, anytime and be happy, but right about that age they started needing more structure. I had to figure out what was the best time and I started putting them in their crib during those two nap times and it worked well for me. Possibly you are doing this now, but if she is still taking 3-4 naps I think you'll have to just keep her awake and occupied until the mid morning and then put her down. Then do the same until after lunch and that might help.
Not sure i can give you any advise because my 11mo has been napping like that forever and still does. My other boys would nap way longer. Each child is diff though and he still doesn't sleep all night!! Good luck!!!
