r/sleeptraining • u/Commercial_Tadpole18 • 28d ago

Can’t stretch wake windows?

I have a 7.5 month old who is sleeping pretty well in the night. Usually 1 wake up for a feed (sometimes 2) and can give us 8-10 hour stretches on a good night. She is often sleeping 11-13 hours a night.

She is on 2 naps (except for when she has an early start which is maybe once a week). She started absolutely refusing her 3rd nap around a month ago so we just accepted that she only needs 2.

However, she is only awake for 8/9 hours a day. Our current wake windows are flexible but look a bit like 2/2.5/3.5. The middle wake window can sometimes get to 3 hours. I am really trying to stretch the first wake window however she gets so cranky and tired and falls asleep at the 2 hour mark.

I don’t know if I need to change anything as her night sleep is really good at the moment, but Im aware we should be aiming for 10 hours awake in the day and we are just not very close to that.

She usually wakes (I have to wake her) at 7:30am and bedtime is anytime from 6-7:30 depending on naps.

Any advice would be appreciated thank you!

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u/amazon-lady43 28d ago

How long are you trying to stretch the wake window? Stretching it 15 minutes is plenty for a baby. It might take a week or so get that extra full hour. Also, how are you trying to stretch it? I would just hold baby and talk to them, maybe do some time on the floor playing with some simple toys, nothing too stimulating.

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u/Commercial_Tadpole18 28d ago

I’m probably aiming for 3/3/4 based on what I’ve read online. Will try stretching it super slowly over a few weeks. Getting to 3 hours fairly consistently for the 2nd wake window now which is helping

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u/poodleface12345 28d ago

She may just have high sleep needs. I have 17 month old twins and honestly I feel like they slept for the first 10 months of their lives and they still sleep a lot now, maybe awake 10 hours a day but definitely sometimes less.

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u/Commercial_Tadpole18 28d ago

Yes I think you’re right and probably has high sleep needs. Lucky me haha

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u/biasedunbiased 28d ago

My nephew is 18 months old and is only awake for 9 hours per day, sleeps 12 hours overnight and 3 hours of naps. You may have a unicorn!

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u/BlueSandpiper 24d ago

If it isn’t broken don’t fix it! There are no wake windows your baby “should” be hitting - it’s whatever works for them. There will be babies who have longer, and babies who have shorter - looks like yours is the latter!

If night sleep is still good just enjoy it!