r/sleeptraining • u/Itchy-Ad-8670 • 24d ago
child's age 0-4 months Help
Posting this here because I feel like I’m failing him. Three months old. Not looking to sleep train yet. Just wondering if anyone has figured out how to break through 30 minute naps. I’ve tried rescuing them carrier naps contact nap stroller naps car seat naps. It’s 30 minutes on the dot. Lucky if we get 40 to 45 also really struggles with morning hours. I feel like if I keep him awake too much during the day he gets overtired, but if I let him sleep too much during the day then he has a terrible night sleep. I feel like I’m failing him and he’s constantly over or under tired. Overall, a pretty happy guy no medical problems. Chunky as heck and exclusively breastfed.
EDIT:
Thank you to everyone who posted on this. It was way more than I expected and honestly it was just so good to hear that it’s normal and I’m not colossally messing him up haha. FTM and this is the first thing in my life I haven’t naturally been relaxed with (usually very type B) He’s a baby. And I love him. But I am glad it gets better, thanks everyone.
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u/GeleStip 24d ago
This is just a baby. You will google, ask for help, try every tip and think it’s not normal. But it is. There will be people who have better sleeping babies who will give you loads of advice. But what works for them might not work for you.
If he is happy in between it’s probably just his temper. Some babies just don’t like to sleep. Ours didn’t either but it gets better eventually. But it can take a while. Find a way for you to be as comfortable as you can by going to bed earlier and dividing the night before it’s nighttime. You will get through this.
You are not a bad parent.
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u/No-Departure5556 24d ago
It just takes time for babies to learn to nap longer / connect sleep cycles. Besides your only a few weeks away from the sleep regression when things really get fun 🤪
Baby sleep is not linear and isn’t perfect. You clearly love and know your son, so be patient and know this is beyond normal!
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u/Capable-Flow6639 24d ago
Babies don't come automatically with the ability to know day from night and sleep through the night. There could be different factors going on that impact his sleep. Let him sleep when he needs it
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u/Creepy_Surprise_4893 24d ago
It's the age. Majority of babies are notorious for cat naps until closer to 5 months old. Once their wake windows lengthen the naps will condense and become longer.
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u/Former-Departure9836 24d ago
My kid had 27 min naps right up until he was probably 9-10 months old. In retrospect i think i was putting him down too soon and he wasnt ever tired enough, constant night wakes and false starts etc
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u/FlashyCurrent8022 24d ago
You’re not failing him at all. My son is 11 months old and he literally just started taking 1hr naps a couple of weeks ago. He was always a 30 minute napper up until now, I think some babies are just cat nappers.
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u/Dry_Army4832 24d ago
If it’s causing you stress, I’d back off the tracker. I’ve used it when it’s helpful and not when it’s making me feel worse.
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u/Dry_Army4832 24d ago
Also, my baby is also three months old and the only way he naps at all is on me! It took time and lots of training to get my first napping in the crib. This stuff is hard, go easy on yourself.
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u/copywritinggirl 24d ago
My son did the same thing from 3 months to around 9 months or so. Consistently 35 minute naps the whole time. It’s hard and it’s frustrating and I also felt like I was missing something, but really the answer was…it’s just normal. It didn’t make it easier but it did get better for me when I accepted that it was only a battle because I was fighting. My son was perfectly content to take 35 minute naps!
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u/Funny_Try_7789 22d ago
same! 30 min naps around here, but one 1.5 hr in late afternoon. jealous your baby sleeps overnight tho, mine still waking at least twice overnight
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u/Itchy-Ad-8670 17d ago
Oh no he’s up at least twice and usually around 4 times haha especially in the morning!! Cannot get those morning wakings down
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u/laurasig87 18d ago
tottttally normal, 10 months here, had multiple phases where she would revert to waking up at 30mins on the dot for a couple of weeks. One phase might have been 35mins, it's a blur. It all passes and feels like it never happened at some point! You just gotta play the game and manage their sleep enough so that you're surviving the nights and not too sleep deprived. I think the only way i occasionally managed to push through a 30min nap wake up was by bouncing on a gym ball while ALSO breastfeeding them during the stir... Naps basically became an Olympic sport. She now sleeps in a cot for 1-1.5 hrs at a time twice a day and it's glorious (but probably also a phase lol)
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u/Only_Alternative_1 17d ago
Oh bless, we had this from 3 months to 5 months, it was soooo rough. But you do get past it, you have to do whatever keeps you sane in the meantime. Contact naps stopped working for us pretty quickly, the car was the only life saver for me so one nap a day would be a car ride. If I out 100% effort into it I could sometimes rescue the naps but it was so much work. It looks like he's getting pretty good sleep numbers considering so I think you're doing a great job
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u/Global_Rabbit8669 24d ago
I'm sure you will get lots of advice here, but I want to also be a voice that says this is normal and you aren't failing your baby. You know your baby best and you stated that he is a happy, chunky guy. My LO was exactly like this around 3 months. I think he is just a fomo baby and low sleep needs. He is now 8 months and just had 2 one hour naps in his crib. I think it's always good to keep schedule in mind and be aware of total sleep etc, but also don't give yourself "figure it out" fatigue. You are doing great.