6 Month Old Takes Catnaps Not Real Naps

Hi. I have an 8mo. old. and that is what he does. He has done it from the day he was born. I asked his Ped. about it and she said alll children are different. He also sleeps very well at night. I've learned to not let it bother me, as long as he sleeps good at night. It can be aggrivating at times, I know, but they are their own person. He has been taking longer naps here latey, but only because he is sick at this present moment. Hang in there!! I know how you feel.

My little guy did the same thing... what is happening is she is waking up right after that first stage of sleep... it is totally normal! We read a book that really helped us understand babies sleep patterns and how to get your child to be a great sleeper. I loved the book and my son sleeps through the night and takes his two solid naps a day now... instead of 5 catnaps like he was doing. The book is Healthy sleep habits, happy child by Marc Weissbluth.

If she was not sleeping through the night then I would be worried. Also, she does not seem cranky then she is probably getting enough.

My 8.5 month old was taking three 30-40 minute naps a day until this week! He would fall asleep when I fed him, like clockwork, 2-3 hours after he woke up from his first nap. Now, he takes a 1-1.5 hour nap 2-3 hours after he wakes up in the morning and another 30-60 minute nap 3 hours after he wakes up from the morning nap. He is now at the point where he has stopped taking his third nap. He only sleeps 10-11 hours a night (never has slept longer than this) and every once in a while he'll "crash" and sleep for 14 hours a night or take a three hour nap. I try not to overthink it... my mom always reassures me that he'll sleep when he wants to... his body knows what to do. Since he is also an extremely active and happy little guy, I think she's right (she usually is!). :) Talk to your doctor if you have concerns... mine reasurred me months ago that all babies have different sleeping patterns and not to worry. That definitely made me feel better! Hang in there!

I totally don't think 4 naps a day is unheard of at this age. She may just be a kid who needs short naps. If you're putting her down when she's sleepy, she falls asleep easily and still sleeps 12 hours a night-you're in good shape and doing the right thing. It's really easy to question yourself, but my advice...and this is why I'm still a sane first time mom...first is to stop doing that...and second is to put the books away and trust your instincts! My son likes to sleep frequently and even though all of his little friends take 1 or 2 naps a day, he does his own thing. I have tried to change things around and it was a nightmare. My pediatrician told me it would happen too. :) You're no dummy so I'm sure you know there's all kinds of things you can do to adjust her schedule. I say don't do it unless it's a real problem for you day to day. It sounds to me like you know your stuff so you should take comfort in your decisions. :)

This is totally normal despite being different from the books you read. If your child sleeps well at night, is not fussy, wakes as if she's received enough sleep, then she probably has. Not all kids are going to follow the books (unfortunately for us sometimes) but it sounds like she is following what her body needs just fine. The amount of sleep is adequate for her, it just might not be as convenient for you. She very well may change her habits too and take fewer, longer naps. You just have to wait and see.

Totally normal! My daughter was taking 3, sometimes 4 naps at the same age. She eventually went to 3 naps up until age 12 months. At 12 months she went to 2 naps and by 14 months she was down to just 1 nap. Sometimes around 6 months she napped from 5-6pm and then went to bed at 8pm. She's always slept through the night (since 7 weeks) and she now sleeps 12 hours at night and almost 2 hours for her nap. Don't stress...some babies just need more naps. Heck, I'm an adult and I need a nap but I never get one! Imagine how cranky I can get!

My (now 11 month old) daughter also took 4 naps a day at 6 months. Around 6 and 1/2 months she switched to 3 naps basically by herself. What happened was that the naps just got longer and she would wake up from her third nap about 2 hours before bedtime. She then switched to 2 naps at about 9 months and is still taking 2 2 and a half hour naps a day. She sleeps WAY more than the books say she should but I think she's the happiest and most active baby when she is awake. I would think about your daughter's eating schedule. Perhaps if she goes to sleep "full" she may sleep for longer and be less likely to wake up due to hunger. The bottom line is, if the 4 naps are working for you and your life, and your daughter is happy, active, and alert when she is awake, I'd leave it alone.

For your daughter to sleep all night, for the most part, is a blessing. If she's rested and happy, then don't worry. Put the books away! It's hard as a first time mom not to read everything. However, your child is unique in her own way. If she only naps a short time, but is happy and rested, then that's all she needs. Not all babies take long naps. Each is their own, and as she grows you'll find more and more, the books don't know your child, they can only give advice, which may or may not apply. It's only advice, just like this is. Let you daughter tell you when she needs more rest. You'll know!

The same thing happened with my son; it almost sounds as if you were describing him. Around 7 months though, all of a sudden, he switched to 2 naps that were an hour and a half long. One day he just changed and never went back. I asked my pediatrican at the time and he said it was fine (especially since my son was sleeping 12 hours a night as well). I think they just go through sleeping stages.