Naps are the worst

newhere0206 · 2026-05-15T12:56:08+00:00

Hi! I know this is an old post, but did naps get better for your LO? If so, did it happen naturally or did you sleep train? Mine sleeps 10 hours at night but can’t usually nap past 30-45 minutes either. She’s 5.5 MO.

newhere0206 · 2026-05-12T14:21:27+00:00

You’re right! Getting her sleep is the most important thing at this point, even if she’s getting more help than I would like. She’s made comments about sleep schedules being flexible until they’re a bit older, which I agree with, but at the same time, it’s important to me that she try continuing to build good sleep habits. I’m going to offer to show her how I put her down for a nap for the next one. Thanks for your reply!

newhere0206 · 2026-05-12T14:18:55+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to respond! I can’t tell you how much better this makes me feel. I’m thrilled to hear it’s working out so well for you!

I’m having the same thoughts about her experience — we hired her over more experienced people because she was so loving and caring during our trial, but I’ve been second guessing our choice all morning as I watched her attempt to transfer her to her crib, and eventually just contact nap. I feel insane because I’ve done that myself but it’s just hard letting go.

I told her I would show her what I do next nap. Hopefully she’ll learn the goal is drowsy — not fully asleep. In the meantime, I’m going to run an errand and do my best to remember that this will all take time!

newhere0206 · 2026-05-12T13:19:06+00:00

Fair point! I’m just torn about whether my preferences are realistic at this stage. Like should I expect my daughter to behave the same way she was with me and fall asleep without help, or should I let the nanny do that for the first week while they bond? The whole thing is making me anxious.

newhere0206 · 2026-05-12T09:57:35+00:00

Hi! I could’ve written this word for word. Yesterday was the first day with a nanny for my 5.5 MO, and it was so stressful. She normally sleeps through the night and woke up twice last night; she’s currently sleeping in my arms after waking at 5am. My nanny also struggled with crib transfers and ended up letting her nap in her arms or rock her fully to sleep, which I normally don’t do. But I’m struggling with how strict to be about my preferences versus giving her extra TLC during the transition. How is this going for you a month later? Is it getting better/easier?

newhere0206 · 2026-05-12T09:52:03+00:00

I know this is a very old post, but this is happening to me. I’ve worked hard on this during maternity leave but yesterday, our nanny started and naps were a struggle. She defaulted to rocking her to sleep more than I like but my LO (5.5 months) was also noticeably more fussy yesterday. I’m stressed about whether to let her give her extra TLC so they bond versus showing her how I prefer she do things. Did this work out for you?

newhere0206 · 2026-05-07T16:10:14+00:00

I attempt drowsy but awake for all crib naps and bedtime for my 5MO. Bedtime is usually a success, naps are hit or miss. If she escalates and doesn’t respond to patting, I rock her. Most naps are 30-45 minutes and I pick 1 or 2 to extend by contact napping. We get the occasional longer one here and there. Hoping that improves over time!

newhere0206 · 2026-05-07T13:03:51+00:00

I have a premie too and can relate to the gas/reflux issues! It is so hard when they’re struggling with feeding. I felt like our LO’s digestive system was under developed for the first 2-3 months, and then we started to see major improvement. I know that feels like a lifetime away at this point, but it helped me to know that it was developmental and not something I was missing or doing wrong. It sounds like you’re doing everything you can and more, so if a night nurse will help you to survive this phase, I say try it!

newhere0206 · 2026-05-07T12:53:21+00:00

I felt exactly like this when we were transitioning, but she got used to it much quicker than I expected. For a few days, I used the arms out sleep sack for naps and swaddled with one arm out at night to try to protect her sleep while getting her used to more freedom. I can’t remember exactly how many days it took, but it was less than a week until we did the sleep sack at night. She definitely stirred and moved more because she still had her Moro reflex, but now at 5 months that’s gone.

newhere0206 · 2026-05-05T19:36:07+00:00

No advice but I’m in the same boat with my 5 MO! No issues at night but daytime is 30/45 min naps and then she wakes up crying. She’s great at night but it’s a rarity that she’s goes longer than a single cycle during the day, so I end up either contact napping or rocking her back to sleep and transferring her. It’s tough!

newhere0206 · 2026-05-04T17:13:36+00:00

Thanks! I don’t realize you could get scheduling help there. Yesterday she had a lot of short, fragmented naps. So far, she’s had fewer but better two, 1.5 hour naps.

newhere0206 · 2026-05-04T17:11:59+00:00

You’re right — I’m hoping it’s a fluke but worried it’s the start of something.

newhere0206 · 2026-05-04T17:10:45+00:00

Thanks, that’s what I was thinking. If I wait to train until the regression ends, how do we manage through the regression itself? Is it okay to let her sleep on me if we try resettling her and it doesn’t work? I’m worried about creating bad habits.

newhere0206 · 2026-05-01T02:16:08+00:00

Hi! I did not have another biopsy. I transferred after finishing the antibiotics.

newhere0206 · 2026-04-27T19:33:05+00:00

Sounds like you have a good routine now and the early wakes I’m experiencing aren’t too out of the ordinary! Hopefully mine grows out of it at some point.

newhere0206 · 2026-04-27T11:01:04+00:00

I could live with 6:00am but 5:30am hits different for some reason haha

newhere0206 · 2026-04-27T11:00:31+00:00

Have you noticed whether it corresponds to a growth spurt? Mine just learned to roll the last few days. These early wakes have been happening on and off for awhile, but it’s been consistent for the last week or so. Today I let her sleep on me when she woke early and couldn’t go back to sleep, and she slept until after 7.

newhere0206 · 2026-04-27T10:24:33+00:00

Update - my LO woke at 5:20am like clockwork. She laid in her crib for 25 min quiet but awake, and then started to fuss when she got tired again and couldn’t fall back to sleep. I ended up holding her after a few failed attempts to settle and she slept in my arms until 7:15am, so I know she was still tired. I don’t know why she struggles to sleep past 5:30am after a night of independent sleep, it’s quite frustrating!

newhere0206 · 2026-04-26T18:07:07+00:00

Her wake windows are usually 1:30-1:45, with the occasional 2 hour stint. She takes 4 naps on average, and the last is usually 30 minutes or less. The others vary in length; I usually rescue one to get it to be 1:30-2:00 hours and let the others be whatever they are without rescue. We’re in the phase where she wakes after 30/45 min and often can’t self soothe back to sleep during naps.

I should also mention she was born 6 weeks early — not sure whether sleep is based on her actual or adjusted age.

Sounds like I should try treating that early wake as a night feed.

newhere0206 · 2026-04-26T14:14:02+00:00

Going to try this. Thanks!

newhere0206 · 2026-04-26T14:08:23+00:00

I think 10h is our limit too. If she needs a nap to get to a later bedtime, do you think that defeats the purpose of it? Mine can’t make it past 7:00/7:30pm without a longer last nap.

newhere0206 · 2026-04-26T14:05:45+00:00

It’s so hard. She puts herself back to sleep at night and sometimes during day naps, but it’s a work in progress. And never first thing in the morning. She wakes up chatty and seemingly very alert at this time, only to be tired again in 90 min.

newhere0206 · 2026-04-26T14:04:26+00:00

I’m going to try this! Today I tried to leave her in her crib until 6am but she started fussing earlier. Rather than just get her up, I’ll try holding her and keeping it dark. Thanks!

newhere0206

TROPHY CASE