https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 19:45:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-baby-to-nap-longer#post-285513 Fri, 07 Sep 2012 01:52:27 +0000 looch 285513@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I had the same problem with the cues, did you happen to see the schedule that's floating around, with the max awake times per age? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-baby-to-nap-longer#post-283751 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:06:33 +0000 meredithNYC 283751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I say just keep working at it and it will click. I am sure that LO is starting to absorb/respond to the routine, but sometimes it takes a while. You are doing great and it seems like you are committed to being persistent. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-baby-to-nap-longer#post-283742 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 09:01:21 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 283742@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm so sorry. It's totally the age. We just had to put him down a lot, even if he would only nap for 40 minutes at a time, and basically wait him out. It got better on its own around 6 months, when he was better able to self-soothe. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-baby-to-nap-longer#post-283734 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:57:50 +0000 winniebee 283734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks so much! I feel like a crazy person fighting him back to sleep, getting worried about his naps, etc. I also have a hard time catching his sleepy cues before he starts yawning/eye rubbing. Generally, I try to start trying to get him down for a nap an hour and a half after he woke up. He's almost 4 months and that seems like not that much awake time?</p> <p>I just downloaded that Healthy Sleep book to my kindle..... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-baby-to-nap-longer#post-283730 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:53:03 +0000 stiffaknee 283730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm having a similar problem...If I get a good nap its usually the morning (because I'm able to get her down for that first nap before she gets overtired), later naps are a little bit of a crapshoot. I started keeping a log of when she slept the longest and her sleep cues (amazingly, when LO is overtired she gets the hiccups-once she gets the hiccups I can almost guarantee she won't take a substantial nap) and have started scheduling her naps around her natural sleep cycle. </p> <p>It goes against what most books will tell you (EASY, eat/play/sleep) but its helped us. I also wake up every morning and tell myself that I wont stress myself out being a nap nazi, I will accept LO in all her nap resistance and I will do my best to make sure she has enough sleep as well as enough activity (so if she takes 5 30 minute naps, so be it).</p> <p>In the end, the most important thing to remember is you're doing a great job...sometimes babies just need a little time to figure out what works for them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-baby-to-nap-longer#post-283722 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:48:40 +0000 mediagirl 283722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow, I had no clue rubbing eyes and yawning was too late. I have been using that as a sign that M is ready for a nap..... ooops. </p> <p>@winniebee - have you tried white noise? I find that helps keep M asleep longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-baby-to-nap-longer#post-283707 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:39:52 +0000 looch 283707@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my son was that young, our problem was that I was waiting too long between naps. I kept him awake way too long and we were already at the yawning/rubbing eyes signals which is a cue for overtiredness. </p> <p>To this day, we're still at 2 naps most days, with the first one 3 hours after he wakes up in the morning and the second 4 hours after he wakes up from the morning nap. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-baby-to-nap-longer#post-283693 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:33:18 +0000 meredithNYC 283693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The only thing that helped us (per "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child") is paying super close attention to LO's sleepy signs. Apparently, by the time they're rubbing their eyes (or whatever your LO's particular sleepy sign is) it's too late. The book recommends to watch for a gradual slowing down/spacing out/staring into the distance/communicating less from your baby. It's extremely tough to notice in the beginning, but gets easier! As soon as LO starts exhibiting any of those signs, I pick her up and walk her around for a bit (like, 2 minutes maybe), speaking softly to her and rubbing her back and then I put her in her crib, turn on her white noise machine and drift back out.</p> <p>Now, it depends on how you feel about CIO. Personally, I will let her fuss/do her tired cry for up to 5 minutes before I go and comfort her. Nine times out of ten she will quiet down and pass out. If she doesn't, I'll take her out of the crib, comfort and play with her and try again a bit later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/getting-baby-to-nap-longer#post-283679 Thu, 06 Sep 2012 08:12:05 +0000 winniebee 283679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since about 3 months old, T will take a good morning nap but then the rest of his naps suck. First nap is in the swing (I know I know) and will usually be 2 hrs. Other naps only 30-45 minutes despite if he's in the swing, rock n play, stroller, or car. Sometimes, he will sleep for longer in the stroller or car, but it's rare. I'm determined to get him sleeping better at night (he sleeps 10 hours with 2 wakeups at he moment) and during the day. Anyone else have this problem around 3 months? What did you do to improve the problem? He's now almost 4 months so he hasn't outgrown it yet. </p> <p>PLEASE share your tips on how you got your baby to nap well during the day. I know some babies need less sleep, but he's actually been more cranky since 3 months and I believe it's because of poor napping. </p>