Bad Sleep Issues

My 3 1/2 month old is (and always has been) a cat napper. I don't really have trouble getting him to sleep but he always wakes up within an hour and can't be resettled.

But lately he's started crashing at 4pm and sleeping for hours, waking later at about 8pm for a feed but going straight back to sleep. He wakes up again around midnight for another feed. He then wakes up really early (like 4.30am) happy and chatty and smiling adorably ready to get up for the day because he's had enough sleep. As you can see, I don't sleep. My sleep patterns are so screwed up now that I often suffer terrible insomnia.

I woke him up this afternoon after he'd slept for 1.5 hours and I felt like the meanest mother in the world. He cried a lot but he really needed a bath so I had to wake him up. He ended up happy and he enjoyed his bath, but I don't want to have to wake him it seems so cruel and yet I don't want him to wake up at 4.30am either!

I want to set good sleep patterns but I don't know how since he's a catnapper during the day and his sleep patterns are just all wrong. What should I be doing at 3.5 months?

I need some sleep. I really need help.

I'm sorry you're going through this at the moment, I have no advice as I was on the opposite end, my DS wouldn't sleep (and still doesn't although it is improving!)
I would be inclined to wake him up myself as you did yesterday, but that's just me. It may be awful the first couple of times but he may also get used to it and have it become routine. You need your sleep too hun Happy mum = Happy bub!
Sorry I can't help any more!

My son was exactly the same as yours, and nothing ever worked for us. I would say the same as adkins and wake him up during that afternoon nap, and hopefully his pattern will change and he will need the big sleep earlier in the day.

Your son is nearly 2, how does he sleep now?