S.M. asks from Livonia, MI on September 13, 2009
Sleep Advice on 4 1/2 Month Old
My 4 1/2 month old son is a terrible sleeper. So I think. I rock him for a few minutes before his naps and then he sleeps like an hour or 45 minutes. He maybe once in awhile will give me 2 hours or more but not often. He will take three naps a day but again never know for how long. He is breastfed and I nurse him to sleep at night. He still wakes up at least once and is usually up by 7 a.m. I just don't know how to get him to nap longer. My daughter was a good napper and she pretty much was on a schedule by now. What do I do?
More Answers
B.V. answers from Detroit on September 14, 2009
I agree with other poster. This sounds normal. My first daughter never really took long naps until she was 1 1/2 and then she starting taking 2 hour naps (and still does) when she was a baby she would only take a few cats naps throughout the day (about 30-45 minutes total). She was sleeping at night..waking up 1 time to feed.
My other daughter is completely different. She has been sleeping about 2-3 hours at a time during the day (several times a day) and sleeping about 5 hours at a time at night (she is only a few weeks old). I think you just have to adjust your schedule to your son.
S.S. answers from Detroit on September 14, 2009
Check out my blog. I talk about scheduling and how long naps should be for specific ages in the first year.
If you have any question I could try to help.
www.shapinglittlesouls.blogspot.com
look at the labels and click on your child's age group or schedule for related article.
G.B. answers from Detroit on September 14, 2009
He sounds totally normal. Every baby is different. My advice is to stop fighting this and spending time and energy trying to get him to fit into your agenda. He'll grow out of it. Whatever his needs are, he's meeting them the best he can. Just be there for him and meet those needs. Welcome to the world of different kids/different personalities!
J.H. answers from Detroit on September 14, 2009
Hello... Well, the only thing I can say is that I am in the same boat. I have a 28 month old son and a 5 month old daughter... My daughter has the same pattern as you... Looking back and what the difference is between my son and daughter is that with my S there was a schedule... With my D there is NOT a schedule.. This week, I am doing all I can to keep her on a schedule and trying to stick to it. Do you have him on a schedule?
R.W. answers from Jackson on September 14, 2009
Sounds like your son is sleeping just fine.
Look at the total number of hours he is sleeping in a 24hour period rather than how long his naps are.
I would suggest that you start dropping one nap if he can tolerate it...that might give you 1 longer nap per day.
S.C. answers from Detroit on September 14, 2009
Hi S.,
A lot of times infants won't get on any kind of schedule until they are 6 months or older. I would just try to go with it and enjoy him at this age. It doesn't last forever.
Good luck - S.
C.M. answers from Detroit on September 14, 2009
Sounds normal to me! BUT, are you nursing him before his nap also? You said you rock him...maybe he is just hungry. A little snack would probably help him sleep longer. Infant sleep patterns are really tied into their eating and growing patterns. Fill him up good before a nap and see what happens.
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