Is my baby not napping during the day because she is getting to much sleep at night?

Question

Is my baby not napping during the day because she is getting to much sleep at night?

She is 3 months old and is a very good sleeper at night (I know I am very lucky) but she does not like to sleep during the day and Im having a really hard time getting into a routine because she fights sleep so much. I will try and put her down for a nap and she crys or plays in her bed and it ends up taking about 2 hours for her to actually get to sleep. Im lucky if she has 2 naps a day (an average of half an hour each). By the end of the day she is cranky and falls asleep at around 8 pm. She sleeps until any time between 7 and 9.30 am (usually waking for one quick feed during the night) and then is up all day again. Do you think that i should try and decrease the amount of hours she sleeps at night so that she will take better naps during the day time? I could try keeping her up longer and waking her in the morning? or should I just let things be and quit complaining?haha. I would just really like to have more structure to the day but its hard getting a routine going when the baby refuses to sleep. what do you think?

22 hours ago - 3 days left to answer.

Additional Details

22 hours ago

and I am not into letting her cry it out yet as she is only 3 months

Answer 1

I am having the same problem w/my baby.  He's almost 4 months.  Some days I might get two - three 45 minute naps.  Some days it's one or two 20 minute naps.  Those are not fun days.  I wouldn't do anything to change your daughter's night time sleep.  Enjoy it.  What has worked for me (when I have the time to do it), is I take a nap w/him in our (my hubby's and mine) bed.  He still cries initially going down, but he sleeps longer (today I was able to nap w/him and he slept for over 2 hours!)...he's not only a happier baby, but I'm more rested too!  I am only able to do this in the afternoon when I'm even able to do it, but it has helped a little for us.  Hope this helps...And if you find a magic key to all of this...let me know!  :)  Good luck!

Answer 2

My son is now 10 months old and initally I found it hard to get a balance between having a routine but not being too structured as all that does is send you slightly mad trying to do everything at a specific time. He sleeps 12 hours at night and his daytime napping abilities can vary between, the good, the bad and the OMG!!

However, one thing that works for me is to stick to the same time for bedtime and morning wake up, i.e 7pm to bed and wake up between 7 - 7.30am. At least then it means that you can plan ahead and each day isn't so wildy different in terms of naps.Your bub will change her own nap times as she gets older. She is ONLY 3 months old so is still getting her head round the whole sleep situation.

Watch for her signs that she's sleepy, yawning, rubbing eyes, far away look, and combine these with how long she has been awake  about 1 1/2 hour wake time and that's a rough guide for nap times.It'll get longer as bub gets older.

As a rule if my bub doesn't get off for a nap after 20 minutes then I get him up and we try for the next nap.

Generally decreasing night time sleep will not increase the day time naps.

Any new routine will take about a week to start of with.

Hope that's of help to you....good luck!  

Answer 3

At her age she should probably be sleeping a little longer overall, maybe try change her routine so that she wakes up a bit earlier in the morning and will get sleepy during  the day at some point.  

Answer 4

I would let it be. You never know when she will change her schedule on you again. Enjoy your sleep at night. Just have to rearrange your schedule to fit hers during the day. I only wish my Daughter would have slept thru the night. I was up every couple of hours, but she slept two 3 hours naps a day at that age.  

Answer 5

It is possible, but decreasing her sleep at night may just bring her to exhaustion, which means she will cry more during the day because she won't understand the feeling. I didn't like the cry-it-out during the day routine but finally tried it at 6 months. At your daughter's age I just turned off any music or tv, closed the blinds and usually rocked her.

Don't worry she will get to a better schedule eventually!

Answer 6

my baby is only 1.5 months and she is up alot during the day too with only 1-2 naps and she gets up every two hours during the night to eat.  However, now that im using formula she is sleeping alot more at night 3-4 hours at a time and i love it!!  Today she slept alot the whole day and even during the night but other days she is mostly up for a long time like your baby.  If ihad to choose i would let her continue to sleep at night and have her up during the day.  Im going back to work and im on nights so it will be hard on me b/c i sleep in the day. But id rather have her sleep at night so that my mom doesnt have a hard time babysitting her and can get her sleep.  I bought a swing for my baby and use it alot!  She loves it and it relaxes her during the day. I also put her in a bouncy chair too. Imove her intot he same rooms im in while she is in the bouncy chair.  I also have a musical mobile in her crib that i use too.  She fusses at times and gets bored and its hard but thats what i do. I also have a snuggly adn have usedthat but im cutting back on that b/c then she never wants to be out of your arms and i have another child.  I cant always hold her.  You are very lucky that she sleeps through the night and you are breastfeeding her!!  That doesnt usually happen.  Oh, i forgot, I also take some time for myself and get a sitter for a couple of hours wheni need to get away from the baby especially on days when sheis very fussy.  My son stays at home too so he tells me how the babysitter was with the baby. SHe is excellent and im lucky.  I hope thse tips help you out.  Its hard at first with an infant isnt it?

Answer 7

She sounds like a, the term is "wakeful baby".

My son's Brenton and Kota never took a nap during the day. At night they fell fast asleep as soon as I layed them down. Of coarse they didn't sleep through the night till they were at least 8 months old, but they slept deeply.

My youngest son Camden has always had a harder time falling asleep at night(he'd fall asleep within 30 min to an hr, not right away like my others), he didn't sleep through the night till around 8 months as well. He took naps up until the age of 3.

Every child is an individual. You could offer a nap, but don't expect it. Always keep her stimulated during the day.

If you really want her to start napping~Try a "Quiet Time", this can start the napping habit and will give you a break whether she sleeps or not at any age. Put her in her crib or room for 30 to 45 minutes after an afternoon feeding/lunch at the SAME TIME, EVERYDAY. She'll cry the first few times, but she'll get used to the new routine.

heres a cute article on wakeful babies who can't sleep well through the night, for anyone who might need the info. - http://parenting.ivillage.com/baby/bslee...

You know what, I agree with all ya'll.

I never really let my boys cry it out until they were about 6-8 months. Your daughters too young for that; definitely, holding and rocking, or that 20 min wait... :)

Answer 8

You need to change her schedule to yours.

Wake her up in the morning for her feeding.  Change her and do all the happy play stuff while bottle is warming.  Feed, burp, play, change diaper and play some more.  Some where along the line she'll be ready for a nap.

You need to realize she's getting older, more observant to all that is going on around her.  Activity is what she needs.

She gets more activity and it doesn't always have to be the one on one, she can learn to occupy herself for a short time, but you can get things done, talk to her while you're doing things, etc.  

It'll get to the point where she'll have her naps during the day and you'll be able to keep her up longer in the evening and she'll still sleep all night.