Reddit reviews The Happiest Baby Guide to Great Sleep: Simple Solutions for Kids from Birth to 5 Years

All kids need to nap during the day but if he only gets catnaps, that counts at this age. My 5 month old takes lots of cat caps (after nursing) and she's the happiest thing in the world! I've tried to put her down for longer naps when I can and longest she'll sleep for is about 50 min and that's only after 15 - 20 min of nursing!

As they start to get more active and get more stimuli, they need time to process or they get overtired and their evening sleep suffers, which is why the books tell you to start naps when they do - I found this book pretty useful, if you haven't read this one yet.

But, I think you can read your kid and go with your gut.

You can do it! The first few weeks I recall the baby waking every 2 hours or so to eat. It gradually gets longer, and when they sleep for 5+ hours it feels like a miracle! Just remember, it's only a phase, they will learn to sleep through the night, and you guys will quickly learn what works for your little one. The 5 s's worked great for us, especially the swaddle and shushing(white noise), the other ones are side lying/stomach (when you're holding them!), swinging, and sucking. The book "happiest baby on the block, the sleeping edition" was great for me when I was first learning the ropes. I'm 10 months in and ours sleeps 12 hours with 1 feeding before I go to bed, it's a dream come true. You'll get there!

Edit:link to the book I referred to: http://www.amazon.com/Happiest-Baby-Guide-Great-Sleep/dp/0062113321

You're welcome! That early time is so so hard on everyone. After being pregnant for 41 and a half weeks I was SO READY to put her down and let dad take over - I was really mad in my sleep deprived delirium that she still needed me to hold her, I was like, "I've BEEN holding you this whole time! :'( " It's funny now... Anyway, my husband also found this Harvey Karp baby sleep book helpful for giving him some techniques to try on his own.

I haven't shouted at my LO yet (because I don't shout much, not because I haven't been angry/frustrated), but I have certainly sworn at her. Several times last week when she decided naps were for chumps. (I have a whole new appreciation for the "Go the F@ck to Sleep" book now.) I think your SO just needs a few more tools and the understanding that it is ALWAYS ok to wake you for backup when he gets to that point. My partner has certainly had to tell ME that and at five months, we now tag out better than we used to. That desire to protect your partner from the thing that's overwhelming you is an admirable, but not helpful instinct.

As others have mentioned, I recommend the Five S's. I'd also get this book from the library: http://www.amazon.com/Happiest-Baby-Guide-Great-Sleep/dp/0062113321 It is a little less longwinded than the first Happiest Baby and has advice up into the toddler years.

ETA: Oh, and when it comes to baby refusing a bottle or boob (something my baby does a lot), if you use a pacifier, the bait and switch technique works every time. Pacifier calms baby, then you pop it out and put in the bottle or boob.