6 month old naps, not happening!

[milkybar]

Hi everyone, My boy has just turned 6 months, this has been ongoing since he was about 4 months (once sleeping through night and his day routine became much more visible). He can only ever nap 30 mins at a time, to the minute without fail. He's then awake about 90-120 mins before nap again. During the awake times, he'll be yawning and rubbing face within 30 mins of waking up, and then gets irritable during all activities. So he's generally always a tired grumpy little man.

I've tried putting him down earlier, soothing back to sleep after waking, being on guard ready so he doesn't wake after the 30 mins, in the dark, white noise, baby massage, even when we're out in pram on the move he will wake up after 30 mins.

I assumed there could be no change, it was what it was. But he takes so long to go down for a nap (20-45mins) with me next to him (i'm in and out anyway if not there to put the dummy back in), it's eating all my day up and i'm going insane, plus he's so irritable inbetween he howls and cries when with his grandparents as he's tired and just wants a parent. I don't know how, if all, to fix this. Ultimately i need him to go for naps quicker even if the length stays the same, and need him to be ok with grandparents when super tired.

Has anyone got any advice, same boat, anything to make me feel i'm not the only parent with a grumpy child!? I'm so worried about returning to work in few months and leaving my parents with this problem, it's not fair on them.

 

[snowbee]

Sounds normal.

My 8 month old has never really napped unless it is in the car or on me after a feed. I certainly can't put him down and do anything!

I don't have any suggestions other than roll with it as he will soon grow up and you will wonder where the little baby went! You said you still have a few months before you go back, a lot can happen in that time.

 

[milkybar]

Thanks, it's hard but can only wait it out. I don't know what magic was hoping for! My maths during a nap spell today showed I spend between 2.5-5hrs a day helping him sleep for only 2hrs total nap time (split between 4 naps). Not the best return! Crazy really. But the reassurance it can be normal and just to suck it up again, from someone who's been there, is bit of the refresh I need

 

[GBLiz]

my little boy only ever slept for 30 mins at a time right up til he was about 8 months. Then he went up to 2 x 45 min naps a day! He's 14 months now and usually naps over an hour , one or two naps a day. I dont think he's ever slept for more than 2 hours in the day....... probably never will now!