My 8 week old baby has recently (within the past three weeks) started napping for only 45 minutes. She only takes three or so naps per day and is obviously still tired upon wakening. She becomes fussy and overtired within a few minutes of waking up. I've tried to soothe her back to sleep and have even let her cry for 5 minutes upon wakening but she will not go back to sleep. I've tried feeding her after she wakes up thinking that was the reason but she's not hungry. Because of these short naps, her awake time is limited and she tires very quickly (cannot stay up longer than an hour without becoming fussy). Most of the time she falls asleep for her naps on her own in the crib if I catch her at just the right time. In the evenings she is extremely fussy because she is over-tired. After getting her to sleep, night sleep is not an issue as she is sleeping 6-7 hour stretches. Is there anything I can do to extend her nap time? Any reason why she is doing this?
2007-03-15 09:36:20 · 10 answers · asked by TC7236 1 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
warm milk right before going down... put your baby down and rub/massage her little forehead so she feels completely relaxed. and have soft soothing music play... also have the room smell of light lavender or chamomile
2007-03-15 09:39:28 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
First off, congrats on your little angel! It's great that she's giving you great nights too! That in it's own tell you that she's eating enough during the day. Continue what you are doing for that because it's working great. She might be awake too long before her naps and when it's time for her to go down she's over tired. Is she over stimulated between her naps? At 8 weeks she shouldn't be up for no longer than an hour to an hour and a half between her sleeps/naps during the day. Have you tried going into her room maybe at about 40 mintures and try and soothe her before she wakes? sometimes that works too and encourages babies to stay asleep longer. Continue trying to get her to fall asleep when still sleeping but not quite asleep. This technique is really showing her how to soothe herself to sleep and will be great for her in helping her stay asleep longer too.
I wish you the best of luck and better sleeps soon!
2007-03-15 10:49:05 · answer #2 · answered by Allie D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds a bit like my son, who will be 8 weeks on Saturday. Although, he won't sleep for 6-7 hours at time at night. It's up every 2-3 hours to nurse and then fall back asleep.
Even though it can be a pain in the neck, I rock and hold and cuddle my baby until he falls asleep. I'm pretty sure I'm setting us up for some trouble in sleeping later on, but with my hubby in Iraq, there's really not a whole lot else I can do!
Good luck to you, though. I know what you're going through with the fussy and over-tired baby!
2007-03-15 09:53:54 · answer #3 · answered by sylviakennedy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She might be fussy from the lack of sleep, but she may also be fussing for another reason, which is causing her to not sleep. cover the basics as best you can - feeding, changing, helping her to get rid of gas etc. If nothing seems to help and she's still not sleeping, then call doc to rule out an ear infection or something else that may be causing her to not sleep.
2007-03-15 09:50:06 · answer #4 · answered by chicchick 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try darkening her room, like at night. Is there alot of outside noise. I know it can be frustrating, but babies change so much. This month she's not sleeping, next month will be different. Along as she's eating, playing and interacting for an 8 week old, take a deep breath mom and enjoy. Before you now it she's 19 years old like mine is and then there's a whole new set of problems.
2007-03-15 09:47:01 · answer #5 · answered by barbi 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, thank your lucky stars that she is sleeping 6-7 hours a night at 8 weeks! My doctor says you can't sleep train until 4 months. You can make sure she is not overstimulated before nap time and just try to eliminate as many distractions as you can. Then let you little one adjust to her own schedule.
2007-03-15 09:43:02 · answer #6 · answered by zzmama 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can't. She sets the rules unfortunatly, when it comes to sleep. Try putting her to bed earlier if she is fussy. It sounds as though you've done all you can to help her sleep. She may get over this and her sleep patterns will stabilize better around 3-4 months.
2007-03-15 09:42:03 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
She ought to no longer choose the nap. If she's slumbering all nighttime, then she is high quality. My daughter is attempting to absolutely cut back out her morning nap, so be chuffed your's might even take one, even no remember if it extremely is in basic terms 30 minutes.
2016-10-02 04:32:30 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like she sleeps enough, but play with her more and take her out. The more tuckered out you get 'em the more they sleep.
2007-03-15 09:39:49 · answer #9 · answered by ☺SDgurl☺ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give the kid a white russian baby bottle.
2007-03-15 09:45:06 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋