"Hi Dr. Moore,

I have a four-week-old son and read your book shortly before giving birth--I'm so glad I read it. I'm noticing his sleep patterns emerging and the knowledge of the 90-minute cycles is very helpful.

I have an older son in school and need to pick him up daily which is disrupting one of the baby's naps. While the baby is sleeping I need to get him out of the crib, get his little coat on, get him in the car seat, into the car, and then the reverse when we get home. He is waking up multiple times during this process. It's my understanding that letting him sleep in his car seat isn't safe or I would put him in his car seat for this particular nap and leave him there to finish his nap (even though the clicking sounds of the car seat and movement of getting him in and out of the car is still disruptive it's mostly getting him in and out of the crib and bundling him up that is waking him). I'm trying to make other car pooling arrangements so I can let him sleep in peace but if that doesn't work out do you have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance for your time."

- Jessica

Hi, Jessica!

Wow, your four-week-old is sleeping that regularly? Is he asleep every day that you go pick up your other son from school? I'm impressed. He must be sleeping soundly and well, good for you.

Two thoughts.

One, your baby is still fairly young, and won't always be napping at this hour.

Though the 90-minute clock will still be going strong across the first year and beyond and will still be easy to follow, what will change is his ability to stay awake for longer periods of time. This will have the effect of adjusting the start time of his naps, as he grows.

My point is, just when you get the hang of it, he'll change on you, so this too shall pass, as they say.

Two, if your four-week-old sleeps fairly well in the car seat, and it would seem to me like a decent idea to put him to nap in the car seat prior to picking up your son. I say this for several reasons. One, it sounds like your baby is not one to get just a "catnap" in the carseat. Also, your baby does not seem to be dependent on the carseat for naps. If he were, we'd have a different discussion here. The one concern is the safety concern you mention with car seats. I'd like to know your reference on the safety concerns with babies sleeping in car seats. A lot of moms would need to know this! So if you have the chance, please pass that info along.

Good luck and keep up the good sleep work---

Polly.