Went from 1-2 hour naps back to 30-40 mins 🥲

I relate. My boy since day 1 has always had super long wake windows and when he hit 2 months he went down to 2 naps a day for only 30-45 minutes and he's 7.5 months now and that hasn't changed. He has slept through the night since 2 months but naps seem non-existent anymore because he's up so fast.

Maybe take him out for even a walk?

I do take him out for walks, and it’s still the same. I try to get him out as much as possible now that the weather is getting nicer but it still doesn’t lengthen his naps.

Have you tracked his sleep and calculated his sleep needs? Sleep needs range from 10-18 hours per 24. A baby that sleeps 12 hours in 24 is obviously going to have a different schedule than one that sleeps 16 hours in 24.

If he's doing 12 hour nights and sleeping through, he might simply not need as much day sleep as you expect. I would aim for 3-4x short naps a day and put him down after 1.5 hours if he seems tired then. Follow his cues.

Their sleep changes all the time, in terms of wake windows, but the amount of overall sleep they need stays reasonably consistent for the first year so once you know your baby's magic number, it really helps.

he isn’t sleeping 12 hours at night, he’s recently been sleeping 8 hours. For instance, he’ll go to bed at 8pm/830pm only to then (sometimes) toss and turn in the middle of the night and then as of late, wake up at 4am and not want to fall back asleep until an hour or so later. When he does fall back asleep it’s for another hour or so, so I’ll count that as night sleep. I had someone tell me to drop the 4th nap, as the latest he’ll nap til is 6 if his naps fall that way. That still gives him an 830 bedtime. However I’ve read that you should only drop the 4th nap if they’re not struggling to stay awake for 2 hours and if they’re napping 1 hour or longer.
He’s still a happy boy and doesn’t seem exhausted or tired when he’s up by any means. I was just concerned because we went from 10-12 hours at night and 1-2 hour naps to 8-9/10 hours at night and 30-40 minute naps. He is teething, so that may not help, I’m just kind of at a loss. There’s too much information and it’s overwhelming.

it’s so difficult! We do what we can because every baby is different. But it’s hard when there’s so many articles/experts out there that tell you what you should be doing. Everything is a blanket statement and it’s so frustrating!

it is definitely difficult. I honestly just go with it and let his body language tell me what to do. It does get easier the older he gets. If I'm extra tired I will put him in the pack n play and put it next to me and nap for about 30 minutes while he plays.

I’m doing my best to follow his cues as well - I feel like that’s the best way. It sucks being told that you should basically force them to do something different and you can’t lol. Babies will do what they want to do and in their own time. I’m going to continue to follow him and let that guide me, I’m sure it’ll work itself out. Thanks girl 🩷

okay, so this is his first real sleep regression? 1 week due to arms out swaddling doesn't count. Usually at 4 months (but sometimes 5 or 6 months) they have a sleep regression for 3-4 weeks due to a cognitive development.

There's no cure for sleep regression, you just ride it out.

no he had his sleep regression around 3-4 months. I know arms out swaddling doesn’t count, it’s the aftermath from doing so. That’s why I’m concerned because it’s a random switch when he was doing well.

hmm. There is a completely different sleep regression at 6 months. We had them at 4 months, 6 months and 8 months.