My 5 1/2 month old was a pretty good napper. Up until a month ago, she would nap for 1.5-3 hours in the morning and then go on to sleep another 1.5-2 hours once or twice more in the afternoon and evening. Recently, she suddenly started doing 30-45 minute naps. All the time! No matter what I do, I can't seem to extend them. I don't mind, even though I get less done. I just worry she isn't getting enough sleep. She has continued to sleep through the night (from about 9:45-7:30 - sometimes waking up once or twice for her pacifier - is that bad?). Is anyone else dealing with sudden 45 minute naps? Do they eventually go longer again?

Kelly Ann - posted on 01/23/2009

ohh and aidan has had his teeth for about 2 months now but he still does that!

Kelly Ann - posted on 01/23/2009

aidan usually only sleeps 30-45 minutes too. every once in a while ill get a 1-2 hour nap and thats amazing!! he sleeps from around 6 at night til 530 in the morning. then mick gets up with him. he usually takes anywhere between 2 and 4 naps per day though. i think its just a matter of wanting to be awake to see whats going on!

Stephanie - posted on 01/22/2009

THANK YOU ALL! I'll wait it out a few more weeks - see if any teeth pop up! I might also invest in a humidifier. I hear that the white noise they create helps soothe babies. In the end, though, I'm prepared for this to just be our schedule!

Chessa - posted on 01/21/2009

My son started doing that when he was teething.  He's back to his 1.5-3 hours naps about twice a day again now and he is 8 months.  I usually take him into his room when he is showing signs that he is tired and make sure there is nothing on so it is calming for him.  I rock him, then put him in his crib.  Sometimes he puts up a fuss, but I leave the room quietly, listen with the monitor, and he falls asleep on his own. James actually finds the pacifier in the middle of the night and puts himself back to sleepThere is nothing wrong with a pacifier at this age!  It has been documented that pacifiers reduce the risk of SIDS by more than 75%!  ! 

Kate - posted on 01/21/2009

We are having the same problem with our 7 month old. About a month ago he started sleeping for 20-30 min. in the morning and then at most, 45 min. in the afternoon. He sleeps from about 7:30p-6:30a at night. My child care provider brought up the connection with teething. I'm hoping as soon as those teeth come in he'll return to the longer naps. Just in general, we have used a modified version of the Ferber method for nighttime sleep. It hasn't worked too well for naps, but 11 hours at night is great.

Jessie - posted on 01/21/2009

This same situation happened with my little boy. He is now 14 mos. and he went through the same spell as your little girl. He was taking long naps and then went to 30-45 min. naps every 2-2.5 hours. I had no idea what had happened. Nothing else had changed with his routine. He did that for a few months, and then he went back to naps that ranged anywhere from 1.5 to 3 hours. Granted now that he is 14 mos. he sometimes only takes one long nap, but sometimes he'll take 2 naps of about 1.5 hours each. Good luck!

Dorothy - posted on 01/21/2009

Oh yeah, the 30, 45 and the worst 20 min naps...I totally know what your going through...it is so hard to get anything done and you feel like your entire day has been spent making sure that she gets some good sleep in. She is now 8 months old and still throws in a short one every now and then...the only thing I would say is don't let it get you down...if she is sleeping well at night then that is great! They do get longer but if it is like my daughter it will randomly phase out.

Deangela-Deanne - posted on 01/21/2009

Welcome to motherhood. These babies grow up. They become adults in a few years. In this process they leave naps behind quickly. I had one mother that had her 12 year old daughter napping. She had one child, no friends, no life and no fun, and that is both of them.

Let her grow. Let her change and you adapt and meet her needs where they are. You are the boss, but you must understand what your child needs to help her grow into a healthy adult fro here.

No more long naps.

Casey - posted on 01/20/2009

its totally normal,my son started having only 30mins to an hour max when he was about 9mths.hes 15mths now and still only sleeps that long.he sleeps through the night.the night sleeps are plenty on there own.i wouldnt worry.some days she might sleep more or less.just like us it varies!

Maggie - posted on 01/20/2009

my 5 1/2 month old is weird like that, too. Her doctor and I are fine with it as long as she accumulates 12-14 hrs in a 24 hr period. Some days she cat naps in am and pm with a 2-3 hr midday nap. Some days NO NAP!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!! As long as she gets enough accumulated and is happy I don't worry.

Lynda - posted on 01/20/2009

Stephanie: If nothing else has changed in your daily routine to effect the baby's naps, I would go with the short little spurts of downtime. It may be all her little body needs to recharge until the next nap! Your baby's solid 10 hour nighttime sleeps are golden and seems fairly consistent from what you posted. I'm assuming that you are a new Mom and the most important thing I can tell you is that EVERY child is different and you go with what work for you and yours. If she is happy, healthy and otherwise rested, it's all good!!

P.S. Adorable pic!

Christine - posted on 01/20/2009

My 4 month old has just started taking only 30-45 minute naps during the day also!  I have a 2 1/2 yr old as well, so I feel like nothing gets done.  I'm a stay at home mom, so when my husband comes home from work, he looks at me like what have you been doing all day!  Which that just adds to the stress.  I love when he is awake, but now it seems like all he wants is to be held.  He doesn't want to be in his swing or his play gym.  However, I envy your night time schedule....mine usually falls asleep around 10 and wakes up around 2 or 3 a.m. for a feeding and then wakes up again around 6-7 a.m.  I can't seem to get him to sleep thru the night without wanting a bottle and he stopped using his pacifier after having an ear infection a few weeks ago.  My pediatrician said that he is getting enough sleep and that he will continue to sleep less during the day as he gets older (I've also been told by them that a pacifier at night is safer for the baby because it keeps their tongue upward in their mouth, even when they spit it out, apparently it helps prevent SIDS).  I do know that my daughter would take 1-2 naps a day when she was younger and they would both last for about an hour at a time.  She is almost 3, so some days she doesn't nap, but for the last year or so, she would take a nap around 2 pm and sleep for about 2-2 1/2 hours a day.  I'm sorry I'm not that much help, but I feel better knowing I'm not alone! lol.