Nap Time Woes with a 9 month old

[jewel1288]

My nine month old seems to be transitioning from three naps a day to two and sometimes even just ONE nap a day. This does not seem like enough to me, judging by LOs seemingly worn out behavior later in the day. On the flip side, as mobility has increased, it seems my baby thinks there is too much to see and do and nap time is one something to "see or do." Sometimes nap time only lasts 30-60 minutes and occurs anywhere from one to five hours after waking in the morning. 

I am absolutely confused about what to do. We had been going to be around 10pm and would wake around 8-9am. As my little one began crawling, the nap time schedule seemed to lose its consistency. Now, my little one will wake between 9-11am, naps up to just an hour after waking or not until well into the afternoon and sometimes will take a second nap at 7 or 8 pm, sometimes even 9pm! Of course, these late naps do not aid in creating a good sleep schedule, especially for me.

Any suggestions advice? Is this just likely a phase because of increased mobility?

[Taos Mountain Mama]

Well, this isn't going to help you much, but I just posted pretty much the same thing, but regarding sleeping at night. I also have a 9 month old, and ever since she's been able to crawl and pull up (about 3 weeks now), our nap and sleep schedule has gone out the window. She still sleeps twice daily, but usually only for about 30-45 minutes (sometimes only 15 minutes), and she wakes up about every 1-2 hours at night. OH JOY!

As far as I can tell, there's not much we can do besides just wait it out. With all the new movement, teething, and separation anxiety, I think there is just way too much going on in their little brains to slow down and conk out like they would when they were younger (and, hopefully will again in the future......? I really hope so!)

The one thing I have noticed is that better sleep during the day makes for better sleep at night, but since your little one is not sleeping during the day, that probably doesn't help you much:(

So, I know this isn't too helpful, but at least you know you're not alone! Hang in there! I'm CONVINCED it will get better!

[MPsSweetie]

We are in the same place... Ugh

[jewel1288]

So good to know I'm not alone in this. Thankfully, LO seems to have quickly worked back into a bit of a nap schedule. I'm so relieved it was a short phase, at least for now. haha I realize next week may bring an entirely different routine. I am very happy to share we are at two naps a day with an earlier bed time.... three days now! Wahoo. :) Nap times vary from 30-2.5 hours which was a shocker, because my LO hasn't napped for that long in quite some time. 

Taos Mountain Momma: YES! So much is going on in their sweet little minds. I love watching my LO discover new things, but naps are so so good for myself and baby! Hoping this phase is short lived for you and yours too! Thanks for sharing your circumstances. I was so relieved to read I am not alone in this. :)

[LM96]

My little guy is doing this too and I remember my older 2 going through this phase.  *yawn*  Almost every time he wakes at night, I find him sitting in his crib.  It's a bit hard to sleep while sitting up!

I found with the other 2 that as they became even more mobile, they would wear themselves out more and then sleep better.  I'm actually hoping the baby starts crawling even more so that hopefully his sleep will get better again! 

[~Adorkable~]

yeah I'm not sure what was more of a bummer, to have them always wish they were able to get upright but be stuck on their backs, or now my girl can sit herself up and i find her like that all worked up. yesterday she started pulling herself to her knees (they are 10m / 9 adjusted), I'm so in for it, i think i have to lower the mattress in the crib they nap in, ouch my back already hurts from the thought.

[gemasita]

We are in the same boat!  DS wakes at 9am, usually is tired by 11 or noon but often only naps for 30 minutes.  Then the afternoon nap...who knows...it could be any time between 2:30 and 5 and if it's earlier, we never know what to do about the third - try to get him to sleep or not?  He goes to bed around 9.  Crawling and pulling up for about 3 weeks now, like many of you.  I can handle the inconsistency but 30 minute naps?  Just don't seem like enough.  I've recently resorted back to him napping in the Ergo on my back.  Sometimes that'll get him to go a little longer. That's where he is right now (while I enjoy typing with BOTH hands!)

[gemasita]

My son also wakes up and sits up or starts crawling immediately!  I do a lot of chasing him around the bed in the middle of the night!

[LM96]

I went ahead and lowered the crib mattress all the way down today.  It was about half-way down, but his chest was over the top rail and I just didn't feel comfortable with it anymore.  He refuses to sleep with me in my bed (although, I haven't tried for a bit--I should try again) and I spend most of the night holding him while in my Lazy Boy chair.  It's not the best sleep for either of us.

Today he was up at 5am, 30 min nap in the car during school drop-off and 30 min nap in the car for school pickup.  He's asleep again now (fell asleep in the car again) and has been for about 10 min.  I am guessing I will get another 20 min.   

He is just completely overtired now and can't sleep well so it is a vicious cycle.

[jewel1288]

What time is bedtime for you all? Once in bed for the evening, how long does your LO sleep until waking to nurse and then waking for morning?

We are at three naps throughout the day. Times varying, depending on AM wake up time. Bedtime is between 11pm-12am :-/ AM Wake up anywhere from 9am-11am. Nighttime feedings are at midnight-ish, around 3am, around 6am, and then again around 9am.

[~Adorkable~]

Bed for us is 8-9pm and the wake around 11:30-12 for nursing (that's usually are cue to get ourselves to bed too) lately nursing at 3am, 5:30 and finally up 8:30-9:30.

Nap at 10 or 11am depending on wake time. Nap again at 3pm ish.


Rinse and repeat.


One of only goals right now is to rid my life of that 3am feeding, my health and sanity are on the brink.

[Neela0207]

Oh, I feel you!! Here's our experience...

We were in a pretty similar place. DD is just shy of 9 months and easing out nap #3 was challenging. Because she's typically a 30 minute napper on her own, I wear her most of the time. Then I know she'll sleep for about 60-90 minutes, and then I know she'll stay awake for 3-4 hours between naps. It just makes for a better day for both of us!

She typically goes down around 7:30 or 8 pm at night, but wakes every 30 or so minutes until I go to bed too. Then she sleeps until about 7:30 or 8 in the morning, with anywhere from 2 to 6 wake-ups (sometimes to eat, sometimes for teething pain, sometimes to just to make sure I and the boob are still there, lol). 

I had so many nap frustrations for so long and FINALLY gave in to the universe and try to focus on going with the flow, even when it disrupts my day or plans I had for us. She sleeps when she sleeps!! :-) So I just watch her for cues. What worked best for us is that I put her in carrier around 2.5 hours after she last woke up and do some errands around house, walk dog, etc. That gives her some wind-down time and she usually passes out about 30-45 minutes later. Or we'll lay in bed and quiet play/nurse at 2.5 hours until she falls asleep and I lay with her, or read, or knit, or start dinner. If I leave, though, she'll only sleep for 30 minutes and will NOT go back down!

So that's us!!  I know every baby is different, but I also know how much it helps to know that other moms have similar challenges and get inspired by some of things they've tried!

LOVE!!

[jewel1288]

Originally Posted by ~Adorkable~ 

Bed for us is 8-9pm and the wake around 11:30-12 for nursing (that's usually are cue to get ourselves to bed too) lately nursing at 3am, 5:30 and finally up 8:30-9:30.
Nap at 10 or 11am depending on wake time. Nap again at 3pm ish.
Rinse and repeat.
One of only goals right now is to rid my life of that 3am feeding, my health and sanity are on the brink.

I'm so sorry your health and sanity are on  the brink. :HUG: How do you rid a feeding? 

I normally sleep through my LOs night feedings unless LO is fussy from teething pain or gas. Are you unable to sleep through it? We also co-sleep though, so that nursing is easier. Plus, we just love to cuddle. :)
 

[~Adorkable~]

well night feeding is a bit more difficult with twins, i can't usually fall too far asleep because i have a second one waiting for me to roll over!

i have no idea how i am going to rid my nights of the 3 am feeding, its just my dream,

yeah i do a combo of having them sleep in a sidecared crib and in bed with me, again much harder with twins

i think that without that one the nights would be pretty good. you have to keep in mind that feeding two babies in a 2.5-3 hour loop and of course having them slightly staggered means that I'm up for about 1 hour minimum out of every 3. i have a tracker that i wear on my wrist some nights and it tells me that between midnight and 9 am i usually get about 3-4 hours of sleep. at that pace i can actually feel my cognitive functioning failing me. and most importantly, my mommy skills are going down hill with the rest of my brain!

Edited by ~Adorkable~ - 11/4/11 at 6:27pm

[jewel1288]

Originally Posted by ~Adorkable~ 

well night feeding is a bit more difficult with twins, i can't usually fall too far asleep because i have a second one waiting for me to roll over!

i have no idea how i am going to rid my nights of the 3 am feeding, its just my dream,

yeah i do a combo of having them sleep in a sidecar red crib and in bed with me, again much harder with twins

i think that without that one the nights would be pretty good. you have to keep in mind that feeding two babies in a 2.5-3 hour loop and of course having them slightly staggered means that I'm up for about 1 hour minimum out of every 3. i have a tracker that i wear on my wrist some nights and it tells me that between midnight and 9 am i usually get about 3-4 hours of sleep. at that pace i can actually feel my cognitive functioning failing me. and most importantly, my mommy skills are going down hill with the rest of my brain!

Oh wow, I didn't notice you're a momma of multiples. Now I see they're in your picture. I swear... I used to be much more observant, lol. 

You certainly do have your work cut out for you. I'm really impressed with your commitment to BF and co-sleeping (although, with twins, I don't know how else you would get ANY sleep otherwise)! :) What a super mom you are in so many ways. I can imagine how often you're up. I used to think it would be awesome to have twins, which I'm sure it is, but with just one... I don't know how I would manage BFing,co-sleeping, and baby wearing with TWO. I've only nannied for multiples and loved it, but it's a whole new world when you have them nearly 24/7/365.

I'm feeling less exhausted these days, but in my LOs newborn days and eating more frequently during the nights days... I would always try to remember it would soon pass. And it has. Mayeb remembering that will also be helpful for you, too? 

Again, kuddos to you for being such a committed mom. :)

[~Adorkable~]

thanks, you know sometimes it just feels really good to hear that. yes it will pass and i will miss it I'm sure and yeah that keeps me going. i dont get to do some of the things i would like to do. (cloth diapers i gave up on till I'm changing less than 12 diapers a day!) and some things i wish i could just do more of (baby wearing) so the things i  can manage with twins, (good long nursing relationship) i do and even ended up doing some things to be closer to them that i didn't think i would do at first (cosleeping)

as for dropping that 3am feeding, i have started to switch back to bottles at night of pumped milk, this is so i can disconnect the snuggling with the feeding, i think with two i need to address those needs and wants separately. So once i have them adjusted back to the bottle (seems like it is going smoothly) I'm going to start watering down the bottle. i figure two things will happen, the will adjust their calorie intake to be more durning the day so there by not actually needing their 3am and hopefully eventually 6am feeding, and they might just stop waking to feed if what is offers is not so darn yummy!

and as a good extra they will get used to having a water bottle or zippy cup around for them to use whenever they wish, since i feel like that can just be left for them in their crib or bedside as they get older, heck i still sleep with a glass of water, a good habit for once! this will be better for their teeth too.

that my plan anyway, mostly i just need to avoid as much as i can long streches of one babe fussing too loudly as i help them fall back asleep without the boob, since at that point i start risking having two to help back down