Catnapping

Hi Hopes, my wee girl was a catnapper since 5 weeks old. 40 minutes is one sleep cycle. There is information on the Sleep Store website about catnapping and a few techniques to try.

The Wake to sleep technique worked really well for us for a few months (until M stopped being swaddled). Basically you go in before they enter the light sleep cycle (at about the 35 minute mark) and tickle their cheek lightly until they move their head, or twitch etc. You don't want them to wake up, but it seems to reset their clock.

It might take a bit of experimentation about the right time to do it for your baby - if I did it any earlier than 35 mins it didn't seem to work but any later she would wake up (as was in the light sleep phase). M would still sometimes cry out at the 45 min mark, but would sometimes go back to sleep if I left her.

It worked about 75% of the time, so worth a try - sometimes I'd get 10 mins more, sometimes 2 hours! Good luck, it is hard when they catnap because you don't get a decent break.

Ditto, this is what I did with a rocker & my foot. As soon as I sensed he was stirring I'd start rocking & it got him through that waking. It also taught him to self settle I think.

Hopes, just read your other post about the settling and wanted to send you lots of hugs. I remember with M that it would take us a long time to settle her only for her to sleep 45 mins! It's hard, hard, hard, but I also want to tell you to hang in there, it won't always be like this, and now I put M down without settling her and she'll (usually) go to sleep. In regard to the settling, just do what works for you, if feeding does the trick then go with it. Sending lots of love!