By setting a routine, once their sleep patterns switch from baby pattern to adult pattern around 4 months (this is where the 4 month regression comes from), they'll have an easier time recognizing when it is time for sleep so it'll be less of a strenuous task for you. If they wake too soon and you want them to try sleeping some more, try the SITBACK method (takingcarababies teaches this, follow on IG!) Here is an article teaching you what this is: https://mamallove.com/sitback-method/
It's completely normal for babies to take care naps. Get by by wearing your baby ina carrier or wrap to get stuff done. It won't last forever! Also the one thing I kept reminding myself was not to put my adult expectations onto a baby. My baby want being difficult by taking shorter naps. She was literally being a baby, but I felt like I failed when she wouldn't sleep longer. The reality is all babies are different and there is no one formula. But when I went with her leading, life got so much more enjoyable, and I took the expectations of both of us
Our bub was doing this until about a week ago when I decided to not try follow a strict routine with her and just go with the flow. I was trying to follow the eat play sleep routine and I found she was waking up because she was hungry but wasn't hungry enough for a full feed so the cycle just continued all day. Now I just feed her when she's hungry which is usually towards the end of a wake window and she's been sleeping for at least an hour most naps, and some have even been 2-2.5 hours!
Thank you all for the useful information!😍
I feel you, my 8 month in like that
Seriously this is totally normal. I disagree with a lot of advice above. If baby wakes crying it’s because he is either hungry or wants cuddles at this age. If he is tired he will go back to sleep as long as he is calm and happy. Just so out and have a lot of fun with your baby and keep days bright and normal noise. This will establish their circadian rhythm. Let the daytime sleep take care of itself don’t worry about length of naps. The idea that babies need long daytime naps is not evidence based and comes from the sleep training industry. In fact it can worsen night sleep and confuse the circadian rhythm.
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/baby-sleep/catnapping-answer-to-better-baby-sleep/
My son was like this since birth. At 5.5 months a flip switched and he suddenly started napping 1-2 hours twice a day. You will get there! It is important to know that babies don't even begin to consolidate and elongate their naps until 5 months. All you can do for now is set them up for success. For us, the key was to stick to routine and wake windows while also paying attention to sleepy cues. You should have a routine for getting her ready for bed and one that is similar but shorter for naps. Ours looked like this: BEDTIME 6-615 PM bath 615-630 massage and PJs 630-645 bottle and burping 645-7 bedtime book 7 swaddle, white noise, darkness, snuggle with lullaby (the SAME lullaby every time so they associate the song with sleep), put down drowsy but awake **7-8 PM is the best time to get them down** NAP Feed if needed (but try not to associate eating with sleeping and stick some short activity in between like changing a diaper) Swaddle, white noise, darkness, snuggle and lullaby, put down drowsy but awake