Catnapping
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=36611
Printed Date: 26 August 2025 at 10:54am
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Topic: Catnapping
Posted By: Hopes
Subject: Catnapping
Date Posted: 10 November 2010 at 10:36am
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After being a brilliant little day-sleeper initially, Jacob's taken to catnapping - his sleeps seem to last 40 minutes (or less). I wouldn't stress too much except that he's got incredibly grumpy lately, I think he's just not getting enough sleep, then waking up still tired and grumpy. It's no fun for him or me!
Any ideas that might work / worked for you? I still swaddle him, so am already doing that. I've tried white noise, but it doesn't seem to help. I have tried feeding him when he wakes up a couple of times without unwrapping him, and popping him straight back into bed awake but dozy. I'm just a bit nervous about him needing that feed to go back down, what do you think? -------------   
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Replies:
Posted By: chocol8
Date Posted: 10 November 2010 at 11:11am
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Hi Hopes, my wee girl was a catnapper since 5 weeks old. 40 minutes is one sleep cycle. There is information on the Sleep Store website about catnapping and a few techniques to try.
The Wake to sleep technique worked really well for us for a few months (until M stopped being swaddled). Basically you go in before they enter the light sleep cycle (at about the 35 minute mark) and tickle their cheek lightly until they move their head, or twitch etc. You don't want them to wake up, but it seems to reset their clock. It might take a bit of experimentation about the right time to do it for your baby - if I did it any earlier than 35 mins it didn't seem to work but any later she would wake up (as was in the light sleep phase). M would still sometimes cry out at the 45 min mark, but would sometimes go back to sleep if I left her. It worked about 75% of the time, so worth a try - sometimes I'd get 10 mins more, sometimes 2 hours! Good luck, it is hard when they catnap because you don't get a decent break. |
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 10 November 2010 at 1:22pm
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We started using a hammock for day sleeps and about 5-10 mins before he'd wake I'd go back and start rocking the hammock a bit. Same as Rilla, sometimes we'd get 10 mins, sometimes another 1 1/2 hrs. We were only have 25 min sleeps and doing that seemed to then later extend it to 45 mins (or maybe it was a coincidence).
------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 10 November 2010 at 8:35pm
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Ditto, this is what I did with a rocker & my foot. As soon as I sensed he was stirring I'd start rocking & it got him through that waking. It also taught him to self settle I think. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: WestiesGirl
Date Posted: 11 November 2010 at 12:21am
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Argh, cat napping is hard. I had one from 9 weeks old after having the perfect 3 hourly baby. Anyways, in the end I just accepted it and he had up to 4 cat naps a day until about 7 months when he put himself into a routine and started sleeping up to 1.5 hours 2 times a day.
------------- Our Angel July 08  Gone but not forgotten
And to complete our family, our princess has arrived 
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Posted By: chocol8
Date Posted: 11 November 2010 at 8:45am
| Hopes, just read your other post about the settling and wanted to send you lots of hugs. I remember with M that it would take us a long time to settle her only for her to sleep 45 mins! It's hard, hard, hard, but I also want to tell you to hang in there, it won't always be like this, and now I put M down without settling her and she'll (usually) go to sleep. In regard to the settling, just do what works for you, if feeding does the trick then go with it. Sending lots of love! |
Posted By: MuppetsMama
Date Posted: 11 November 2010 at 3:34pm
| Could be a feeding problem? perhaps try offering a feed when he wakes up and see if he will take it - if so, give him more at his next feed, and he should sleep longer. my DD1 did this and turns out that once i started offering her the other side she slept properly again. |