What is the best way to get my four and a half month old to take longer naps during the day and sleep at night

Question

I am working at night and I am really exausted during the day. I do not neglet my daughter so dont think that, i just wish she would take a least one of the supposed two three hour naps she should be taking. is there anything i can do to help her take longer naps? i think the reason she has trouble sleeping at night is that she is not sleeping as well as she should be sleeping during the day. Someone help please!

These answers are helping. Here is some more info. She sleeps from 8pm-2am eats sleeps from2-4 fusses when my hubby wakes up and then goes right back to sleep. sleeps from about 4-7:30 wakes up when i get home and eats and we play then falls asleep at 9:30 - 10:30 then the rest of the day is 20 mintue cat naps every two hours or so. Is this normal? SHould I stop worrying because she sleeps well at night and not worry about the days! Help the doc says she should be sleeping 18 hours total for her age

Answer 1

With young babies, I find the best way to get them to take naps when they resist -- and most of them do, is to take them into a dark, quiet room and feed them and rock them. Hold them until they fall asleep. Often they will fight sleeping. Just firmly hold them and keep on rocking and making soothing noises. If they get upset, stop and try again later.
The most important way to get proper sleep is to establish routines and stick with them. If a baby gets used to eating and going to sleep at certain times, he/she will more readily be put down to bed.

Answer 2

My son is 5+ months now and had started taking nap in the afternoon for 3 hrs recently ..so urs too would get into routine of taking longer naps. Keep her tummy full and make her sleep almost the same time everyday and when she wakes up after a short nap rock her to sleep again. First couple of days wont work but gradually it does work. Patience !

Answer 3

With our kids, we have noticed that late afternoon naps hurt night-time rest while early to mid-afternoon naps don't.

Keeping the kids physically active and exposing them to different environments each day (yard, walk, playground, library) seems to engage their minds and their bodies in a helpful way.

When kids drop from 2 naps to one or from one to zero, it can be hard for the parent to accept it if they were counting on a bit of peace and quiet or they planned to get something accomplished. But fighting that trend is not productivity. Kids naturally need fewer naps as they age. As the naps lessen, the night-time sleep should because longer.

-David in Alaska

Answer 4

Two three hour naps? If you're lucky, she'll sleep an hour at a time during the day and two hours at a time during the night.

Not exactly what you want to hear, I know, but it's more accurate to expect that. It's also why new parents such as yourself are expected to be exhausted.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Goodness! Your baby is on almost the *exact* same schedule my son is right now. He gets up at 1-3 though & fusses, but other than that they sleep the same LOL how weird! I wish I could help ya cuz those couple hours that he fusses in the middle of the night is so exhausting. If you try something that ends up working good, let me know please lol

Answer 6

Fresh air. A stroller walk outside.

At 4.5 months old they don't sleep long periods that I recall. By about 8 months old they seem to like longer naps.

Answer 7

The best way to get a baby to sleep is to carry her. If you don't already have one, get a sling. You can wear baby while you go about your workday...uh...worknight!!...and she will sleep better than anywhere else.

During the day (when you are sleeping?), the same is true. Put baby down next to you on your bed (see sources section below). Nurse her to sleep. Fall asleep yourself.