Any tips for a catnapping baby?
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Topic: Any tips for a catnapping baby?
Posted By: TeeJay29
Subject: Any tips for a catnapping baby?
Date Posted: 25 November 2011 at 6:36pm
Hi everyone, I have a 9week old who likes to cat nap all day I hardly ever get more than 40mins sleep out of him, and swear Ive tried everything so just wondering if anyone has any tips on helping him to relax more and stay asleep 
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Replies:
Posted By: mummymonster
Date Posted: 25 November 2011 at 8:36pm
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ummm.... no.
this is a really common problem and my advice would be wait it out. 9wks is really really young. Go with the flow, he'll start sleeping longer in his own good time. With DS2 it was about 6mths. DS1 was so long ago I can't remember, but it was older than 4mths, and younger than 9mths. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 25 November 2011 at 8:40pm
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Agree with the above! There is nothing wrong with feeding to sleep, rocking, hugging.
I swear by babywearing- baby was always way more settled and slept longer when wrapped to me, and I could still get stuff done. |
Posted By: MrsMc
Date Posted: 25 November 2011 at 10:51pm
| have you tried stirring him just before he usually wakes? sometimes this is enough to get them into the next sleep cycle |
Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 26 November 2011 at 7:03am
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Both my kids did this (DD does it now) an I learned from DS that she would only change of her own accord so just to go with it. I tried the 'sitrring them awake right before they're due to wake up' thing and it never worked, DS just woke up as usual!
Baby wearing also helped me with DD ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: JessDub
Date Posted: 26 November 2011 at 8:07am
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Sorry, another one here with two catnapping kids. DS1 started having longer naps when he got a bit older and went down to one nap a day.
Catnapping is so incredibly common I've learnt, yet we're supposed to meddle with them and get them to sleep longer - if the books/Plunket are anything to go by. If baby is happy i.e. not a mess because of lack of sleep, relax and go with the flow. It could change any time. ------------- 
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Posted By: nannyabbey
Date Posted: 26 November 2011 at 5:46pm
| pat pat pat pat pat pat back to sleep - either in their bed or on you rocking pat pat pat pat.... |
Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 26 November 2011 at 6:25pm
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I had some success with a dummy - pop it back in when he stirred, and he'd sometimes suck-suck-suck himself back to sleep. But basically, I learnt to live with it, nothing really worked consistantly.
The one thing I've decided this time round is if Bubs catnaps, I'm not going to stress about fixing it (since I wasn't able to despite all efforts last time) and just live with it, it'll save me a lot of stress -------------   
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Posted By: maya22
Date Posted: 26 November 2011 at 6:38pm
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It is bad for your mental health to be trying to do too much about it, much better to accept it as the stage bubs is at.
To be honest, if you have tried everything, the only thing left is to accept it, and get bubs up and hope there is a longer sleep next time. My first child catnapped for exactly 40 mins for NINE months. Nothing I did helped, he sorted it of his own accord. My second child catnapped for a week then longer for a week, again nothing I did helped, he sorted it of his own accord. If your baby is happy, feeding well and alert, then just go with it. Don't be afraid to let bubs sleep in the car, or on you, or in the buggy, so you can get out and about. There is nothing worse for your mental health than sitting in a darkened room for hours with a screaming unhappy baby, rocking and shushing and patting. It does your head in, and it doesn't work for you or your baby. ------------- DS1 July 2007 DS2 Nov 2010 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: TeeJay29
Date Posted: 26 November 2011 at 8:25pm
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Yeah he is happy most of the time, so I have pretty much accepted it as how he is. I just thought Id see if anyone had any different ideas.
I didnt realise it was such a common problem as plunket and the books I had read made it sound SO important that babies have a routine and get as much sleep as possible. Oh well I can live with it  and when he's ready to sleep longer I will finally catch up on my washing haha
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Posted By: Hopes
Date Posted: 26 November 2011 at 8:51pm
Oh, yes - you see, if they don't get enough sleep they grow up dumb and ugly   I've noticed the same thing myself - all the books and experts say it's dreadful and the worst thing out and that it should be 'fixed'... yet most actual mothers I've talked to have tried everything to no avail and all have still raised lovely healthy babies -------------
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Posted By: Tigerish
Date Posted: 29 November 2011 at 3:06am
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Our DS always woke up father 40 mins too but it was usually due to wind. We could often wind him and then get him down again. Something worth trying anyway! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: CrazyCass
Date Posted: 03 December 2011 at 10:40pm
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I hope all this applies to a 3 week old? My boy just doesnt seem to like sleeping during the day, IF we are lucky i'll get an hour here or there out of him but other than that he's wide eyed and alert... Now I just need to break DH's habbit of picking him up as soon as he grizzles ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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