My Son's Naps Are Too Short, 30-45 Minutes

Paxton (4 1/2 months) has the same issue with naps, we thought he was being woken up and think he has become much more sensitive to light and noise. So we put black out shades and a clock radio set to AM static. Now he seems to be able to sleep for longer. It doesn't always work but at least it helps sometimes.

Good luck
L.

Honestly I didn't worry about a schedule. What I did and this worked for me better anyways is that when my daughter started to look tired that was when I laid her down. If she wouldn't fall asleep I wouldn't worry and wait a while and try to lay her down again. I am a big believer in babies knowing when they are tired and hungry and following their cues. Good Luck.

There's a section in the book "The No-Cry Sleep Solution" by Elizabeth Pantley that addresses this problem. Your son is probably waking in between sleep cycles and needs to learn how to just go right back to sleep.

My very favorite sleep book is "Good Night Sleep Tight" by Kim West and Joanne Kenen, but Pantley's book helped me get my son taking longer naps (at least some of the time... he's always been a terrible napper!). He used to wake at 45 minutes unless we were in the car, and then he'd get lulled back to sleep. I put some serious miles on my car that first year! ;)

We always had a fairly loose schedule, but I learned that there are certain times we didn't mess with unless we were willing to totally skip a nap. You'll find the ones that work for you.

Best of luck!

I know how hard it can be to only have a very short time to yourself when your baby only sleeps for 30 minutes. My daughter's both did the same thing at that age and it nearly drove me crazy. You are doing everything right, and before you know it, he'll be napping for longer. Unfortunately, short naps like that are not uncommon and there really isn't anything that you can do about it.

My Daughter was the same way. I found that I was putting her down to late and that she was sensitive to light and sound. So I got some blackout curtains a white noise machine and began our nap time mission. As soon as she looks tired (rubbing her eyes or slouching or tired eyes) i take her into her room put her in the crib draw the shades and turn on the white noise. Sometime she will cry for a few minutes but most of the time she will go right to sleep. She will sleep for about 45 minutes to an hour and then wake up. At that point I will give myself a task to do like wash the dishes or clean the tub (something that takes about 5 or 10 minutes to complete) if she is still awake then I assume she is rested and ready to wake up but most of the time she will go back to sleep for another 30 to 45 min. Now she is 6 months old and takes 2 daytime naps. She also sleeps through the night. Good Luck to you.

I agree with an earlier response that it sounds like your babe is waking up between sleep cycles. My son is five months and does this also during the day. If he wakes up crying I know he is still tired, I just pick him up and feed him (I am breastfeeding) and he is usually back asleep within 5-10 min. This way he gets about a two hour nap with one or two little interupptions between sleep cycles. My husband also does this for him with a bottle. I don't think he even drinks anything, he just needs the comfort to go back to sleep. When he wakes up all smiles I know he's truly well rested and rearin to go.

Good luck!

It sounds like his schedule is too broad. If my kids had an hour time spread for when they took a nap there would be a 75% chance I would put them down too early or too late, which would mess their inner clock up. I really liked the book Secrets of the Baby Whisperer.

Also, I had to start swaddling my son again, after we had not been doing it for quite some time. I had to get a big piece of fabric and sew up the edges and swaddle him quite snugly for him to go to sleep for 2 hours and it worked like a charm. Hint, if this works, try swaddling starting with the blanket square, not diamond. You can get it snugger.

K.

I was having this issue because I wasn't sticking to the system that I know works becuase I was preoccupied with surgeries and healing and my poor son's needs weren't being met in the way that is best for him, or ultimately for me. He was tired cranky and never eating a full meal. He woke up every 30-45 mins during naps during the night etc. I was so tired and frustrated and he was feeding way too often for his age (he is six.5 months) I was falling alseep standing next to his crib. My husband came in and handed me a pair of white noise head phones and told me to go to bed. My son cried, I don't know for how long. As cruel as it sounds we just let him cry. I had to gain some sanity and sleep. But SUCCESS! It only took that night before I saw an improvement my son was happier during the day and I pushed to spread out his feedings and he started taking in a full feeding. He only cried 2 nights, the third night he cried a little and then dropped off after about 15 mins. Considering that you have a hard time letting 5 mins go by you will need to shut all doors and put on headphones or ear plugs. Your son is old enough at 4 months that he will be fine, he just needs to learn to self soothe and work it out on is own. Most often as moms we interpret any screech our baby makes and crying, it generally isn't, they talk that way too. After 5 days I have a new baby. 5 days because night 4 he woke up and tried the crying thing again and when he found it wasn't going to work he just went back to sleep. He sleeps 9:30pm-6am or so. This is much more acceptable to me and to his temperament. He started saying mamamma and is back to the charming smiley baby I first knew he is pleasant during the day and he takes two solid 2 hour naps. (if he does wake up with a soiled diaper or something try to keep the interaction low, keep him in sleep mode so you can just put him back in his crib) He feeds 5-6 times a day nursing and also takes in 3 solid feedings directly after nursing that meal. I cannot stress how much you will love yourself for letting him cry it out. I paid more attention to my first daughter, meaning I let her cry it out from the beginning so it wasn't as dramatic or hard as it was with my son since I was so preoccupied and didn't help him learn till the past two weeks. It works though, my daughter is a well adjusted 4 year old, and a great sleeper. Having just gone through this I with my son I hope you experience the same success and peace of mind knowing you are doing what is best for your son and your family and you in the long run. A few nights of crying and my son still knows I love him. He wakes up happy now and all is well. Best of Luck.

My son did the same thing at that age, king of the 30-45min naps, and super-cranky by evening after 4 catnaps. After 1/2hr he would startle, flail his arms, whack himself in the head, and wake himself up. He started day care at 6 months and they got him in a super-tight swaddle (he always kicked out of mine), and he finally started napping longer.

I read after ~30min of sleeping, that's when people go from deep sleep into REM sleep, I suspect your son is having trouble transitioning between sleep cycles, like mine did. Good luck!

Hey there, don't forget that all babies are different, and 5 mo. may be too early to schedule your little guy. I think it was about 6.5mo when we got our son on a two nap a day schedule. He has never been a big sleeper and loved his cat naps, especially his late afternoon one (this was key to a happy baby in the evening for us). How I got him on a schedule was by spacing out his day time feedings to at least 4 hrs, and naps just followed. At the age of one we are now on a 1 nap a day schedule which will last between 1-2hrs. Some babies need long naps and others need cat naps and down time, both are ok. I think you will both be happier if you follow nature a bit more and I am sure you will have naps figured out before you know it.

I read some of your other replies and it seems most moms want you to just let the baby cry. I disagree. My 4 month old son has not been the best sleeper. But I still never let him "cry it out" that only leaves the baby feeling anxious and lonely as they fall asleep and could end up with worse sleeping habits. What has worked the best for me is just as he's falling asleep or just starts sleeping, I turn on a fan. It's loud hum muffles any loud noises or other noise changes in his environment. The consistency has made it easier for him to stay sleeping comfortably. Also, each baby is different, but for my son, he likes having something on or near his head (his eyes and forhead - NOT nose and mouth). Maybe it's because he's breastfed and likes the comfort of having something near his face. Good luck to you.

I raised 2 children and now just took care of an infant grandchild and another on the way. So I am a bit in tune with the new practices and certainly know the old methods. You are wearing both the baby and yourself out by getting him up too soon. He probably has a dream or need to move some muscles when he cries in such a short time during napping. Relax and let him fuss longer than 5 minutes. I'll bet he'll go back to sleep most of the time. If not, then feed or change him. And believe me, he will not think you love him any less. He will be a happier, rested baby if he gets a good nap. I had an older child who cried about 7 times a night getting us up til we were all like zombies. The periatrician said 45 minutes of crying was the cut off. Wow, I don't recommend that long for this young one, 15 minutes probably means he's serious and wants attention. Good luck and God bless. J.

If you haven't checked out the book "The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems: Sleeping, Feeding, and Behavior--Beyond the Basics from Infancy Through Toddlerhood," by Tracy Hogg and Melinda Blau, you should. I have helped my daughter learn how to sleep through using these techniques.
A couple of reasons why I love this book are that is does not use the "cry-it-out" method and it helps you to understand and help your baby better.
My daughter started taking two 1-2 hour naps consistantly every day and was sleeping from seven in the morning to seven at night within a couple of weeks after I read this book. My only regrets are that I did not have this book until she was ten months old. I will use this from the start with future children. It's been wonderful. Good luck.

I have a four month old. She was taking short naps too. But I found that now that she is older, she likes to play. If I put her in her jumper for a while, she wears herself out and takes a longer nap. Do you have a jumper or activity saucer? Maybe that would help. I agree with the swaddling idea as well. I had stopped, and went back to it and that seemed to help.
My daughter just barely got in to a good routine on her own. Try not to be too rigid with the schedule. Maybe if you wait a little longer before that first nap. Try to follow his cues. And remember, once you figure out his schedule and get it working good, it will all change. :) Enjoy your son. They grow up way too fast.

i think you are doing a great job. most parents don't have the same courage as you do. do you give him any baby food yet? i know the dr's say to wait but sometimes all it takes is just a little. in the morning when he first wakes don't feed him right away, let him play as you get him ready for the day and maybe sit him in the bouncy for a few what ever he likes. i would just start with the rice cereal. here is the point-- use the scissors and snip a larger slit in the nipple and before nap-time when he is really hungry make his formula as normal and then just add a little rice cereal to thicken slightly. this will keep him asleep longer and keep him a little more satisfied. also if you want to start spoon feed him then i would mix the cereal with his formula. does he sleep in complete silence?? you could put a sound machine in his room with running water or birds my kids really loved that and then i could vaccum and clean and talk on the phone without them waking. stay strong and good luck

I'm no expert...or truly experience. I'm going through this as well as you! I have a 5 month old and are wanting her no nap longer and I also wanted to learn how to put her to sleep without nursing. (Specifically for when I'm not here). I am now reading No Cry Sleep Solution. It's a great book with a lot of solutions. She talks about the things you are already doing...Yeah! Check it out
Good luck

Hi P.,
Your son knows you love him.
That said, you have to let him fall back to sleep after he wakes up after only a short nap.Try leaving him for longer than 5 minutes.If he is still crying after 20 minutes,then go in ,calm him down,and put him back down,if he cries for another 20 minutes,then calm him down and try again in 1 1/2 hours.You cant confuse him and by not being consistant.I have just gotten my 3 year old to sleep through the night because i was tougher and consistant with my 1 year old,and now they both sleep great.
Good luck.
M.

I highly recommend the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby. My 4-month old son wakes up at the 45-minute mark; I go in, rub his back, whisper to him to sleep a little more, and then leave. He falls back asleep (sometimes after crying for a couple minutes) and sleeps for another hour or more. I have also found that my son needs to nap about an hour and a half after waking up in the morning; maybe you are waiting a little long before starting the first nap? If you miss that window, it can be brutal to get them to sleep at all! :)
Good luck, you will work it out. Check out that book--it's a good one!
S.