how can i encourage longer naps?

[atinygiraffe]

I think my 8 month old is chronically overtired. She is fussy most of the day, always acting tired, but she fights sleep so bad. She only takes two 30 minute naps a day and is conked out for the night by 6 or 7 which sucks because she only sleeps 8 hours atnight and is up for the day at 4am. I think almost all of our problems would be solved if she would just nap.

Any ideas for getting longer naps out of her?

[baturay]

Babywearing does it for me.

[Shy0717]

Is it possible for you to nap with her? I don't know if it would work for your lo or not but ds used to nap for 45 minute spurts at a time. I work nights 3 nights a week and started napping with him during the day to save my sanity. He now takes two 2 hour naps a day plus an hour cat nap in the evenings.

[atinygiraffe]

I've tried that. Even being worn, she'll only sleep 30 minutes.
I read that babies her age should be sleeping 10-12 hours at night (she only sleeps 8, which is why I'm posting at 4 am, grrrr) and sleep 2-4 hours during the day (she only sleeps 1) which means shes missing 3-6 hours of sleep per day. Poor thing, no wonder shes ap fussy!

[SeekingJoy]

Have you read Sleepless in America? It might help you help her from multiple angles.

If you think she needs a third nap, are you putting her down for one a 6 am (2 hrs after she wakes up for the day)? When are her other naps? What do you sleep rituals look like? What kind of sleep environment does she prefer? I think we need a bit more information to really help.

[Carhootel]

I really don't know if this will work for any other babies but it worked for me

my ds always woke at the 45 minute mark and would look wide awake and alert and ready to get up but if I laid down with him, started the lullaby cd again and nursed him he would go back to sleep after 5-10 minutes. I had to lay down with him and sort of pretend to be asleep myself, it would look like he wasn't gonna go back to sleep but then he would just zone out and then close his eyes again and sleep for another hour or so

[Limabean1975]

Similar to Carhootel. Be aware of the timing of her wake-up, then be nearby for a few minutes before that. At the first sign of waking, go in and do whatever you to to get her to sleep. You might be able, with time & effort, to get her back to sleep - which might, over time, get her taking longer naps without that interruption.

Oh, and I second Sleepless in America. It's not a sleep training program, and it's more aimed at older kids, but you will get ideas from it that are very valuable - things like outdoor time, exposure to daylight, etc.


So little sleep sounds just awful for her and you. Hugs.

[Alisse]

My ds will nap only a few minutes by himself. Long naps are done by wearing him -- he'll be out for a good 2-4hours lying on me.