3 Month Old Suddenly Off Schedule?

Question

My 3 month old son was on a very set schedule for about 1 month straight. He would go to bed around 10pm, wake up at 6am to eat and then go right back to sleep until 8:30 ish. He would then be down again at 11:30, up at 2, down at 5:30 up at 7:30, and then back down at 10 or so. Over the last four days, however, the afternoon nap has dissappeared, and in its place is the child from hell. He still shows all the sleepy signs; wont maintain eye contact, rubs his eyes, yawns, etc. He takes his morning nap like a champ. The first sign of being tired I put him in his crib awake, and he is out. In the afternoon, however, nothing (and I mean ABSOLUTELY nothing) will put this child to sleep. He screams constantly from about 7:30 until he finally wails himself to sleep around 9:30. I don't know what I am doing wrong here. Anybody have any suggestions or experienced similar situations?

I am not sure if people are reading this correct. He was only taking 2 naps to begin with. A late morning nap and a late afternoon nap. Also, I begin the putting down process at the exact same signs in the afternoon as the morning. In the afternoon he wants to sleep IF you hold him the whole time. During his awake hours we play with him constantly to entertain and tire him out. He is screaming because he is tired, I just cannot get him to fall asleep and stay asleep for this nap.

Answer 1

I would try to delay his morning nap as long as possible. He will be cranky and crying for a while, but your going through that in the afternoon anyway! So instead of laying him down at 8:30, lay him down at 9:30 or 10. Then the next day, 10:30 or 11:00. Soon enough he will be back to sleeping in the afternoon....those naps are the most important!

Answer 2

My problem is kind of similar. My son is 3 months old as well, but his naps are fine. My problem is he was sleeping through the night..anywhere from 9 or 10pm until 6 or 7am. But now, all of a sudden, he has been waking up around 3:30 or 4:00am. My guess is their systems are still maturing and their body is still establishing it's own sleep-awake rhythm. We just have to hang in there and keep doing the same things, just like we were doing. Hopefully they get back on track soon. Good luck.

Answer 3

Many times when a baby's behavior become erratic it's due to a developmental milestone that they are approaching. It could be rolling over or teething. I would try to look in her mouth and see if her gums are swollen (you'll see little raised bumps if they are). If they are you can try giving her a cold wash cloth or teether to chew on. You can also use baby oragel and put some on a pacifier. I wouldnt try to get her on a schedule yet, because she's still pretty young. I'd let her nap when she's tired during the day and try to feed her when she appears hungry. Try to start a bedtime routine (even if she's only sleeping for several hours). Routine can help babies learn that it times for bed and learn how to put themselves to sleep. I would bathe her, change her, and read a book to her all at the same time each night. Then put her down and turn on a mobile or white noise machine and let her go to sleep. Hope that helps! I know its hard when you are exhausted but she'll soon be sleeping more and you'll be like "ohhhhhhh, so that's what was going on!"

Answer 4

Your baby is getting older. He is adjusting to being awake more and in the next months he will lose one if not two of his naps.Accept this as normal. It sounds like he is going to skip the afternoon nap which is also normal. Give him more activities during this time for stimulation . A walk in the fresh air, pattycake, blocks A bathtime in the evening usually calms them down and makes them sleepier for the night.Make this part of his routine. Sometimes when they cry they are really overtired. Laying him on his tummy over your arm and patting his back or back massage is sometimes helpful. some babies like noise to fall asleep like a vaccuum running. I have two new grandsons, both whom have ditched the afternoon nap thing in favour of the duck park.

Answer 5

congratulations baby is growing and why would you say baby is from hell maybe he acts this way because of how you think of him. Anyways just let him do his thing. If crying himself to sleep helps him to get to sleep than that's fine. checkout this website and join for free and ask the experts on here as well. http://www.babycenter.com/ what I do to my son is play with him before bed so he gets really tired like tickle him and anythin gto make him laugh and he'll get tired and start to whine and not laugh anymore than I know when it's time to go to bed. Don't worry about the schedule your son is not in boot camp. Let him do his thing. you are not a bad parent you are just doing your job. you are only stressing yourself out more because you can't accomplish with the schedule thing. the more calm you are the more calm your baby will be and you both can be happy and sleep well at night. trust me a happy mommy brings a happy baby

Answer 6

sounds like he does not want to lay in his crib at that time anymore, I think th older they get the less they nap. He is becoming more aware of the world around him and he wants to be a part of it more. my kid did that. he would fight it and fight it and scream. he drove me crazy. now sometimes he just skips his noon naps and goes to bed a little early. I just try to keep him entertained. He finally stopped screaming when i laid down next to him and read him a book. He absolutely loves it. He can be crying his eyes out and you open a book and he is a different baby. Try it. get a kids book with lots of colors. we have one called "little lessons" it has lots of colors, with little jungle animals and dinosaurs. he has no idea what we are reading to him but it works. Good luck!!

Answer 7

My almost four month old is acting the same way...my guess is that she can't sleep in the evenings cause I think she may be teething. And NOTHING helps. SHe seems to like taking Gripe Water although I don't think it actually does anything...

Answer 8

Are you breastfeeding? It could be that something about the quantity or quality of your breastmilk is not as good in the late afternoon.

Or, it could be that you're waiting a little too long before putting him down.

Answer 9

This is normal.As soon as you think you have the schedual figured out, the baby changes. You go with the flow