Longer naps?

Question

Any tips on extending naps past 30-60 mins? My LO sleeps up to 6 naps a day because they’re all just so short. It doesn’t help that daycare doesn’t have time to help him back to sleep if he wakes up after a short nap, and I KNOW I’m not helping by holding him for his at home naps, I just feel like I never have time with him! I put him in his crib this am for a nap and only got 30 mins. I waited 10 mins to go get him (he was happy and playing) and he never self soothes to go back to bed, unless it’s true night time. He then sleeps about a 6 hour stretch, after that 6 hours, sometimes he’s up every 2, but I think this is just part of the 4 month sleep regression. Any tips welcome, but for the record I’m not ok with doing any form of cry it out!

Answer

Personally I hold my son for naps and since doing so he has slept much longer. He used to nap for 10-13 minutes and it was driving me crazy. Now it’s more like 45-90 minutes and sometimes I’m only hold him in the beginning and then he is sleeping on the sofa while I sit next to him watching tv. If the only time you get to spend with him is nap time then by all means mama hold that baby!  And do not feel guilty about it! Moms and babies both benefit from cuddles and they’re only this little once.

Answer

Sometimes if I catch him right when he wakes, I can paci/shush/rock him back to sleep but its hit or miss. Sometimes we’ll put him in his swing to try and extend the nap. He LOVES napping in his swing or car seat but it isn’t always feasible to let him do that😩

Answer

Do you swaddle him for his naps? I find that helps tremendously with my daughter. She takes her morning nap in the swing and then I swaddle her for the afternoon nap in her bassinet. Her two naps last 2-3 hours each. I also swear by our hatch baby sound machine. I always turn that on and she's out. And some people may think this is a bad habit (it works for us) but I always nurse her right before a nap which puts her right out.

Answer

Oh, also make sure it's dark where he is napping! That really helps.

Answer

Try to make sure LO is having the proper awake time before the nap. If they are too tired or not tired enough I’ve noticed it effects naps.

Answer

Wish I had the answer to this but I’m also trying to figure it out. I’m trying to do certain techniques to help him nap better but nothing too drastic bc he’s sleeping 10-12 hours at night and I don’t wanna screw that up haha.
One thing I did try that worked today was I let him nap in the bedroom in his doc a tot as opposed to downstairs in the living room. And I didn’t put him to sleep. Usually I would let him fall asleep in my arms

Answer

It takes time. They often start extending after four month regression is over. Brain needs to develop. Best you can do is put them down for naps completely awake. They’ll learn to self soothe.

Longer naps?

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