Need help with snacking/catnapping 5 month old!?

How do I get my 5 month old to stop catnapping?

Shorten your baby’s awake time



If he’s normally awake an hour and a half between naps, try shortening that to an hour and 15 minutes, or even one hour. Adjust his awake times by 15-30 minutes and see if that can prevent him from taking a catnap when it’s finally time to put him down.

Why does my 5 month old only take cat naps?

They just sleep when they’re tired,” says Kelner. “It may be catnaps throughout the day, and that’s OK, because that’s how their sleep is designed.” In other words, your baby uses these naps to take the edge off until they take another nap in an hour or two, which is completely normal.

Do babies naturally grow out of catnapping?

You can choose one sleep a day to work on rather than all the sleeps, or you can just stop resettling altogether for a week and then try again. Most catnapping babies eventually do grow out of catnapping. So even if you do nothing, your baby’s day sleep will get longer as they grow, eat more food, and move more.

How do I get my baby out of the snacking cycle?

Then, take a look at these tips to gradually stretch her feedings throughout the day and at night:

  1. Keep your baby awake during feedings. …
  2. Feed your baby after wake-up time. …
  3. Entertain your baby. …
  4. Offer a pacifier. …
  5. Don’t compare your baby to others.


How do I get my 5 month old to link to sleep cycles?

Getting baby to link sleep cycles

  1. Pay close attention to your baby’s catnaps: does your baby wake at 30 minutes? …
  2. A few minutes before they would usually wake up, go into the room where they are sleeping and gently pop their dummy in or make sure their lovey is close by.

At what age do babies stop catnapping?

All of it is normal. Developmentally + biologically, it is normal for naps to start consolidating and becoming more consistent at around 5 months. Up until then, the catnaps are normal and very very common!

What age do babies sleep from 7pm to 7am?

around 4 months old

Your baby will usually be able to sleep through from 7pm to 7am at around 4 months old, weighing around 15-16lb, and you can drop the feed altogether. Bliss!

How do you resettle a baby after a short nap?

Resettling Techniques

  1. Roll baby onto their side and pat their bum.
  2. Cuddle or rock baby until drowsy and put down to fall asleep in bed.
  3. Stroke baby’s forehead upwards from between the nose.
  4. Crank up white noise volume until they go back to sleep then leave quietly on repeat.
  5. Sit by the cot holding your baby’s hand.

Why does my baby only sleep 30 minutes?

In general, if your baby is taking a 30-minute nap or less, she is likely overtired and needs less time between naps. If your baby is waking up 45 minutes or so into a nap, she is likely not tired enough and needs more wake time.

How can I stop my catnapping at 6 months?

Avoid using your intervention at every sleep time such as rocking, feeding or holding. Keep your young baby swaddled for sleep. This helps to muffle their Moro reflex, preventing them from ‘startling’ themselves awake mid-nap. Most will transition out for the swaddle between four and six months.

How much awake time should a 5 month old have?

2-3 hours

A: 5 month olds typically need 2-3 hours of awake time between sleep periods. However, some can only stay awake for 1.5-2 hours in the morning. The shortest period of awake time is generally between morning rise time and the first nap.

How can I get my baby to nap longer than 30 minutes?

How Can I Get My Baby to Nap Longer than 30 Minutes?

  1. Use Age-Appropriate Wake Windows. Not following the right wake windows for your baby is probably the biggest culprit for short naps. …
  2. Setup an Optimum Sleep Environment. …
  3. Teach Independent Sleep Habits. …
  4. Practice Crib Hour. …
  5. Try Using the Wake to Sleep Approach.


Why does my baby take 30 minute naps?

Some babies can take a 30 minute nap and wake up feeling refreshed and can tackle their next awake period. Other babies wake from a 30 minute nap and are cranky, fussy, or just not pleasant to be around. You can tell they are still tired and need more sleep.

Why does my 4 month old only take cat naps?

Your baby might be undertired



You see, around 4-6 months of age…if babies aren’t given enough awake time, they WILL TAKE A CATNAP. Yep, you heard me. Your baby woke up in the morning, then started to rub his eyes an hour later. You have been conditioned to watch your newborn for sleepy cues.

Why is my 3 month old short naps?

That said, the second half of this phase (2 to 3 months) is a great time to start introducing at least one nap per day in your baby’s sleep space – these naps may be particularly short because your baby is not used to sleeping on her back and without the embrace of someone’s arms and may startle easily. Not to worry.

How long should a 5 month old nap?

How much should a 5 month old sleep? At this age, we recommend striving for at least 14.5 hours of total sleep over a 24-hour period, aiming for 11-12 hours at night, and 2.5 – 3.5 hours during the day spread out over 3-4 naps.

How do you resettle a baby after a short nap?

Resettling Techniques

  1. Roll baby onto their side and pat their bum.
  2. Cuddle or rock baby until drowsy and put down to fall asleep in bed.
  3. Stroke baby’s forehead upwards from between the nose.
  4. Crank up white noise volume until they go back to sleep then leave quietly on repeat.
  5. Sit by the cot holding your baby’s hand.

What should 5 month old babies be doing?

Around this age, your baby can move their head on their own and is starting to move their body more by reaching, wriggling and rolling. Your baby is also much better at using their eyes to guide their hands.

How much solid food should a 5-month-old eat?

If you and your pediatrician have decided to move forward with baby solids, go slow and follow baby’s cues. You might start out with one ounce and one meal and gradually increase the amount to about three ounces as often as three times a day.

What motor skills should a 5-month-old have?

Here are some of the milestones that your 5-month-old baby may reach:

  • Playing. At 5 months old, your baby probably loves playtime. …
  • Rolling over. …
  • Sitting up. …
  • Moving objects: Your baby may be able to pick up larger, easy-to-grasp objects like soft balls and blocks. …
  • Understanding cause and effect.