How can I get my 6 month old to take longer than 45 minute naps?

Question

My 6 month old daughter has been sleeping through the night since she was 6 weeks old and used to take 2 2-3 hour naps a day. In the last 6 weeks she has been only sleeping for 45 minutes at a time during the day which makes it hard to get things done. I know I should not be complaining because she sleeps so good at night (11.5 hours). I am just wondering if this is just the way she is or if there is anything I can do. She takes a nap about every 2 hours still as well. Thanks.

Answer 1

more breast milk

Answer 2

wake her up everytime shes taking a nap for a while and she'll take long naps maybe every 4 hours.

Answer 3

You are very lucky. My daughter is 6 months too. She sleeps about 9 hours at night. I am lucky to get two 30min. naps out of her during the whole day. You are blessed to have such a good sleeper. She is getting bigger and unfortunately she isn't going to start sleeping more, she will prob start sleeping less during the day.  

Answer 4

You could try lengthening the time between naps and maybe that will help for her to sleep longer.Sleeping every two hours during the day is quite a lot. Taking a morning nap and afternoon nap could do the trick and longer naps at each time.

Answer 5

keep her awake longer...when shes ready for a nap entertain her so she will not fall asleep just yet. the longer she stays up and gets more tired the longer she will nap

Answer 6

It sounds to me like she's transitioning to a different nap pattern, which might not be the news you want to hear! But it's also possible that there's something going on with her, like teething or learning to crawl or pull up, that is waking her up earlier than usual or making her excited to be awake and practice her new skills.

Has she gone from two 2-3 hour naps to three short naps? If so, maybe you can try keeping her awake for a little more than 2 hours from when she wakes up from the first nap. That might help her to consolidate back down to two.

Good luck!

Answer 7

maybe its too quiet for her to sleep or too noisy! try playing music to keep her sleeping something soothing!

let her play or watch television take her for a walk !

Answer 8

U are one lucky duck if your kid is sleeping 11.5 hours at night.

Answer 9

I know a couple who just had a baby last month, and they let him take naps in the living room sometimes, and when he is in there they make a little bit of noise on purpose to get him used to it.

He sleeps through a lot more now.

Answer 10

read to her, maybe?

Answer 11

honestly i would not keep her awake and let her nap at her own length of time. i get things done around the house at night when my baby goes to bed or early in the morning when she is swinging or in her jumparoo.

Answer 12

make her stay awake longer try give her a bath before she takes a nap give her warm milk

Answer 13

Use the same routine you use at night to an extent. For example, cuddle with her, read her a book, give her a bottle. She may be ready to spread her naps apart a little more.

Answer 14

give it a lot of milk 1 hour before sleeping and theen let it tire itself out

Answer 15

Make sure her room is cool, not cold but not warm, warmth wakes us all up. A quiet, darkened, cool nursery is best. A window opened with a cool breeze is ideal. Mabey the sound of a quiet humidifier would keep her sleeping? [first ask the doc]. Don't let her get too cranky or stimulated before nap time some babies can't calm themselves down.

  A late morning walk in her stroller should make her sleepy also. I used to do that everyday w/ my baby.