Nap Question for a Almost 8 Month Old

You have to teach him to not wake up during the mid-sleep cycle. It will take you some time, but you can do it. What you are shooting for is to be able to go in say "it's bed time," and he rolls back over. Then, they, eventually, will put themselves back to sleep without your help.

I worked on this training with my son at the 3-4 month mark. I would nurse him when he'd wake up, gradually get to the point where I would just pick him up for a moment and then put him back down. If you don't have Pantly's book, get it. So now, at the 6 month mark, he takes two 1.5 hour naps a day. Sometimes I need to change his diaper, but he's so good at putting himself back to sleep I just put him back in his crib, pat his butt and say "go to bed, it's bedtime."

Supposedly the sleep pattern goes to 2, 3, 4. So two hours after waking, nap, three hours, second nap, 4 hours bed. Not all kids follow this progression. My son, for instance, is ready for his second nap at 2 hours, but easily goes 4 hours after his second nap. You just have to watch them. Each kid has a different pattern and need.

Same story here. Both my kids have had the same basic pattern: up for 2-3 hours, then sleep 30-45 minutes. My son did this until he finally dropped to one nap per day somewhere around 12 months old. My daughter is 7mo and shows no signs of changing this pattern anytime soon. I'm not sure what to say about the grogginess, though, as I haven't been through this aspect. How does he sleep at night? I don't have any real suggestions because I tried everything, and it just seemed to be the natural rhythm my kids have. As tired as I am, I couldn't force them to sleep, so I just learned to go with the flow, and luckily my son sleeps 12hrs at 3.5yo!!

My son, for the first year of life... took 3 naps a day.
But as a newborn... he napped/slept about every 2 hours after waking.
For a baby, during the first year, they get tired after about 2 hours of awake time.... for them, even a bath is an 'activity.'

I would not worry about it.
I think that is just his pattern. For Now.
My son, was a great napper since he was born... and still is. He is now 3.5 and he still naps, everyday. It is his pattern. He gets tired. He knows his cues and body. When he is tired, he will even actually TELL me, he wants to nap... and then he gets in his routine.

Again, for the first year my son napped 3 times a day. But as a newborn, more frequently. Then when my son was about 1-2 years old... he napped 2 times a day. Sometimes 3 depending. Then when he was about 2-3 years old.. he still napped twice a day... then it transitioned to 1 time a day. Which it currently is.

A baby, does get tired after being awake, even after 2 hours.

I would not keep him awake, on purpose... and there is nothing wrong with him having a lovey to sleep with. My son, had a lovey from 6 months old. His choice.

Here is a useful link about sleep for babies:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_how-much-sleep-does-your-chil...

About his short naps:
Usually, a baby will during sleep/naps... sort of toss and turn.. and may "Seem" awake... but they are still in sleep mode... if you do NOT interrupt them and this process, they will often go back to sleep. Don't let the baby 'see' you... you can peek in, but try not going in nor picking him up. Let him be... .and he may go back to sleep and sleep longer. My son, was like that... he would at a certain point in his naps, sort of toss and turn and make noises... but he was NOT actually "awake" just a temporary stirring.... so I would let him be, and he would drift off back to sleep again. My son then would nap about 2 hours. That is his pattern.
So go by your baby's cues... don't necessarily swoop right in and pick him up right away... let him be, observe him, and see if he goes back to sleep. But of course, if he is screaming/crying for you to get out of the crib, then go get him.
A lot of times, a Mom will go in too quickly and pick up their baby at any ol' noise/stirring they make... but the baby is not actually FULLY awake... just still in sleep mode. So gauge your baby.....
all the best,
Susan

I'm not sure what normal actually is for this age (it's been a little while--my son is almost 3). I do remember my son had 2 naps a day at that age. One in the morning and one in the afternoon. They were about 2 hours each. My best friend's little boy has never napped for her. Not even an hour a day! So I think all babies are different. I would ask your son's doctor just to be sure. Good luck!

Get the book "Solve Your Child's Sleep Problems" by Richard Ferber. You will be amazed. It saved my life with my kids. Your child is at the perfect age for his strategies to work. I promise it is SOOOO worth it.