Needing Naptime Help

Please read "healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth, MD. His intense sleep studies give great insight into the development and sleep cycles of children from infancy to adolescence.
5mo babies need sleep and simply don't "decide" they don't need naps (barring a medical problem.) He has a window of opportunity wherein you can soothe him to a drowsy state and he will sleep well. Beyond that, he is "overtired" and cannot maintain a sound sleep. You would need to give a lot more detail in order to elicit more helpful answers, but I strongly suggest Weissbluth's book.

Good luck

Hello E.,
My guess is you are not putting him down soon enough. I know my daughter use to go down for her first nap 2 hours after she woke up. I would try putting him down as soon as you see sleepy signs. I would work on putting him down drowsy but awake also, but start with an earlier nap/bed time first.
best of luck,
C.

My son (6 months) did the same thing for a few weeks. he's back to 1.5 - 2 hour naps now (and I started partially swaddling him from time to time). They're so into everything that's goign no, learning now things. As annoyign as it is, espeically when you KNOW they're still tired, it'll pass.

Have you tried bringing the car seat in and trying to have him nap there once you get him to sleep? Maybe he likes the position and being kind of snug. I remember one of my friends who had a baby that would sleep better in the car seat. Just a thought!

My 2nd (of 5) did this, where she took 2 10-minute power naps a day, that was it. I was exhausted! But she slept well through the night. She just did not need the sleep, but she did after a couple of months go back to 1 nap a day for about 1/2 hour. She's very energetic, but a great night sleeper. I think it was just a growing period for her. Keep going, but be consistent about whatever method you use. We used cry-it-out on an individual basis, when we felt that method was appropriate at that time for that child, consistency works better than trying several different things and confusing the child. Even though that is toughest for us moms.

Good luck!

Hello E.,
My suggestion is something like Catherines. My daughter was the same way and went down for a nap after 2 hours of being awake as well. Once she turned 6 months her naps got shorter. So I let her stay up a little longer only because of the fact that she was growing and her brain was little more active. I think as she started getting older it went from 2 to 3 to 4 hours from wake up before a nap. She is now 15 months at naps every 3 1/2 - 4 hours.
T.

I second the recommendation to read "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth, MD
It has been a lifesaver for me. My first daughter started the exact same pattern when she was 5 months old, I remember it vividly (she's now 5-1/2yrs). With the help of this book I was able to turn her around in no time. Also, the book helped me avoid many of the same issues with my second & third. All are now excellent sleepers!
Good luck!

Your son is at the age where he's doing new things almost daily, and he's very curious about his surroundings. My son did the same thing, but he went back to good naps soon after. I got a LOT of insight out of The No-Cry Sleep Solution!!!!!

I found the 4 hour eating & sleeping schedule in The Baby Whisperer Solves All Your Problems very helpful, as well as the section in the book about sleep issues.
Best of luck,
C.

Get the No-Cry Nap Solution book by Elizabeth Pantley - it gives all sorts of great suggestions including how to prolong the nap after you lay him in the crib. I've used her suggestions with great success! My little one used to only sleep 20-30 minutes at a time. Now she goes 45 minutes to 2 hours!

The thing I like about the book is that you don't have to read the whole thing - you can go straight to the chapter that addresses your particular issue.

Good luck!
Cassie

Hi
Congratulations on your baby. I had the same issue with my daughter..who got in the habit of taking 30 minute power naps!
I think it was a combination of a short lived (thank god) phase and me putting her down too early.
Good luck!
n