My little one is a little bit over 2 months old now. I am having real trouble getting her to nap longer than 30 - 45 minutes during the day. She is a great sleeper at night. During the day, she wakes up after 30-45 minutes and just won't go back to sleep. Yesterday, she didn't sleep at all from 2 - 9 PM. We had some things to do so she was out and about with me. Then at 5 when she was giving me the sleep signals I tried to put her to sleep. She just wouldn't. I tried again several times and again after she ate ate with no luck. She was so exhausted she eventually had a melt down (and me too) and then just conked out at 9. I could use some advice....please.

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Lisa (38), DH (39)
IVF Miracle
IVF#3 with TESE and PGD after years of TTC
3 IUIs, 3 IVFs, 2 FETs and countless IF procedures...too many to mention

Lisa I feel for you....you are not alone, I too (and many other moms I've spoken to) had this problem. In fact for many months Mason would only nap in my arms. I remember reading that a baby's sleep cycle is 40 minutes long - and that they need to learn to put themselves back to sleep at the end of each cycle. Mason only had the 40 minute first cycle for a long long time (except at night where he would sleep for 2 to 3 cycles btwn feeds - he was a strictly 4 hourly feeder both day and night till at least 6 months).

Hang in there...I know how tireing it is with a newborn. I remember too well the tears...both baby's and mom's! Keep at it. Routine really helps. Do you have any baby books? I had a couple and found them a great source of suggestions and reminder that I wasn't alone in the difficulties I faced with an infant.

Good luck.

Sending out sleepy vibes to your gorgeous little girl.

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Oh I just remembered that I had a couple of tricks that eventually worked and helped for the next year of daytime naps....

I played a CD in Mason's room - I'm pretty sure it was called Sounds for Silence, and it was for babies. It contained weird loud noises - bit like what a washing machine or a vacum cleaner or mom's heart beat and stomach would sound like from in the womb! It also had some beautiful classical music at the end. I used to put it on loud (as per the instructions) and Mason would go to sleep quickly and stay that way (I'd have it on repeat)....if he started to stir after 40 minutes this "noise" would usually send him back to sleep.

Other ideas are the usual - rocking (Mason was in a basinette) back to sleep or using a paci.

But in the end I do remember 40 minute naps three times a day was normal for his naps - with eventually him having one longer one and two short ones. Then it changed to two 90-120min naps, and then later again to one 2 hour nap (now!). (hmmm does that make sense?)

Routine routine routine. I'll try and find my baby books, I remember there was a great suggestion in one for a routine consisting of play time, relax time, feed time and sleep time.... I'll post it when I find it.

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me again

more advice! Don't forget when Lucy Mae naps, you must take a rest too. I know how hard it is to get things done around the house, but your rest should come first...you'll be much better able to cope if you do this. Of course I remember when Mason was 2 months old, I had to cram a shower, and eating in those nap breaks also! But try and lie down also - this is even more important if you are breast feeding.

Okay, enough from me! teehee

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Thanks for the help. The last few days I have been successful at putting her in her car seat and letting her sleep there. When she wakes up she seems cozier and is able to fall back asleep better. The doctor recommended we give this a try since she thinks Lucy has some reflux issues making her uncomfortable and disrupting her sleep. The only thing was that today the "power of the car seat" started to wear off...Hopefully the magic will be back tomorrow. (Fingers crossed.)

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Lisa (38), DH (39)
IVF Miracle
IVF#3 with TESE and PGD after years of TTC
3 IUIs, 3 IVFs, 2 FETs and countless IF procedures...too many to mention

I'm having the same problem with Aven. He'll sleep for a good 2 hour block either from 2-4pm, or 5-7pm, or 7-9pm, but otherwise he's either awake, eating, or napping for 30 mins or so here and there, and it's usually on me when he's napping. He doesn't seem fussy or anything, and he sleep really good at night (going down around 11:30-12:30 and sleeping until 6:30), so I don't know what else to do. I'm getting him into a routine at bedtime of a small bottle, bathtime, cuddly time, then a big bottle, and bedtime. He seems to be getting the hang of it. As for during the day, if I need him to nap longer because he hasn't gotten a lot of sleep, the car seat trick works here too. Hope things start to work out for you and Lucy.

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Lisa could be that the reflux is a bit of an issue...Mason had some problems with it too - I put tilted his mattress up somewhat by putting a stack of cloth nappies under the head end. He slept slightly raised at the head end for 2 years.

Good luck to both of you Tina and Lisa. I so remember what it was like to have a baby that only took short naps during the day. And again I want to say - this is so common. I've encounted so many momma's with the same problem.... and I have to say that it DOES get better. Their sleep does improve. They will start napping better. Hang in there!

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I have gone through the same things with Ben. He is a great sleeper at night (usually 7:30pm-8am) but naps are impossible. I have finally gotten him to nap for 30 minutes in the morning and about 2 hours in the afternoon, however he will only nap on top of me in the afternoon! It is a little irritating, but I will take it over no nap at all! So really, no advice but I can totally relate! Good luck!

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