Thanks for the response. We have always tried for a nap 3 hrs after waking and we always try to have WU at 6.30, but with the EW that we couldn't resettle it was hard. Are you saying that with a typical 6.30 WU, no matter what time he gets up to have first nap at 9? Will give that a try.
All EW seem to actually happen when we don't have the CN. We only give CN if we have had the super EW or REALLY bad naps. Prior to the EWs, typically it had been less than once a week.
What I find is that if his nap only ends up being 1 hr or 1 hr 10, 1 hr 20 than his bedtime is earlier (6PM is usually the earliest) and then we get the EW. The pattern seems to be whatever time he goes to bed his wake up is 11.5 hrs later.
For resettling we will try plugging a soother and shh/pat and hold arms as he likes to flail them. If that does't work, we pick up and hold and shh. This usually works all other times he needs resettling, but at the EW hours he seems much more alert and awake which makes it that much more of a challenge. He typically has a night feed between 3.30-4.30, and STILL will have EW!
He goes to sleep on his own with a soother (spits out after a bit for the night).