https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 02 Jun 2026 19:45:27 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/length-of-naps#post-2143821 Tue, 14 Apr 2015 15:10:46 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2143821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MenagerieMama: any tips about that very gentle training? Sounds right up my alley! I wouldn't be so worried about all this but I have to go back to work in 6 weeks (gulp :() </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/length-of-naps#post-2143711 Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:58:52 +0000 MenagerieMama 2143711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO's naps didn't get longer until she learned to self soothe and settle herself back to sleep, and then once she could get past that 45 min wake up then she often wouldn't even wake up and would just cruise through 1-2 hrs for a nap. Good luck! I think this happened around 3-4 mo. We did veeeeery gentle training for falling asleep, I don't even think it was really training! And some luck :) Granted she doesn't sleep as well at night as your LO does now so who knows! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/length-of-naps#post-2143701 Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:53:36 +0000 Adira 2143701@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is Logan, except his naps tend to be only 20 minutes, with maybe one long nap during the day. He wakes up cranky, but as soon as I go to get him and try to get him to go back to sleep, he's happy and just wants to be up! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/length-of-naps#post-2143650 Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:28:33 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2143650@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsF: so is it normal for them to wake up a total cranky sleepy mess? I guess within a few minutes he's better... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/length-of-naps#post-2143629 Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:18:09 +0000 MrsF 2143629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is very typical for this age. My 4.5 month old's naps are 40 minutes on the dot. At this age their sleep cycles are 30-40 minutes long and if they don't know how to put themselves back to sleep then they're up - whether they were ready for it or not. I'm trying to be really "good" about not nursing him to sleep during the day. If he falls asleep while he's nursing I'll walk him around for a minute and sing to him before putting him down, just so that he's not fully asleep when I put him down. He hasn't really started taking longer naps yet, but my DD was the same way and she eventually figured it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/length-of-naps#post-2143591 Tue, 14 Apr 2015 13:01:58 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2143591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My almost 4 mo old sleeps pretty well at night in his crib (average 10-12 hours with 2 wake ups, first stretch 7 hours). Naps are another story. I nurse him to sleep and it is working for us at this point. However, length of naps is not! Typically, when I put him down, he wakes up after about 30 min. That's usually 30 min from when I put him down, regardless of how long he had been sleeping in my arms before that! He's done maybe 2-3 long naps ever. I know for some babies, short naps are the norm and they gradually increase the length as they grow and nap less times in the day. The problem is when he wakes up, he's clearly still sleepy and cranky. Usually what I do is nurse him back to sleep and hold him, and he'll sleep much longer. If I feel brave, I'll set him back down in crib, but he almost always wakes up immediately the second time. </p> <p>I know if length doesn't improve I need to work harder at putting down drowsy but awake, but for now I am pretty set on continuing to nurse to sleep. But what my question is (if anyone's made it through this long post) is how long does he need to nap? I feel like he would keep sleeping forever in my arms. The only time he wakes up is when I move too much or try to grab something. Or of course, set him down. I am trying to achieve a wake up that's not a completely cranky fussy baby. </p>