OT or Routine Problem?

[M and N's Mom]

We have been on 1 nap for about 2 weeks now.  Naps were generally only 1.5h but I know that is common when transitioning. 

The problem is yesterday's nap was only 40 mins  (he had pooped...not sure if that was a factor) and we have been having EWing for a few days.  I would like him to wake between 7-7:30 but today was 6:15. 

Yesterday:
woke 6:30
20 min walk in stroller (didn't sleep, just quiet time) at 10:30
in bed at 11:45, not asleep until 12:20, woke at 1:10
in bed at 6:00, not asleep until 6:45, woke today at 6:15

So, I got some great routines from people when I posted here last week, but if I can't make him sleep longer what do I do?

TIA 

[PeepersMom]

Sounds OT to me,

when we first were going through the 2-1 transition DS nap was very early.... like 11-1130 am and we adjusted the whole day forward for a very long time.  Even now a year later sometimes his nap is on the early side based on when he woke up.  I think if he wakes up early and you are trying to get him to noon or later for a nap he is probably OT. 

I think our A time in the beginning was 4 hours then very slowly moved to 4.5 then 5 now 5.5 at age 26 months. I also set a few limits... like I wouldn't put him down BEFORE 11 am as we needed to make it through the day somehow - only now our limit has changed to 1130 earliest I will put him down - and bedtime was 630 at the earliest - otherwise we would get early wakings.  But we have most days 630 bedtime for a very long time.... 

On a day he wakes at 6:15 I would put him down at 11am (per my limit, but you might want to do earlier) and then I would put him down at 630 for the night (again, per my limit but you might want to do earlier- many mom's here do a 6pm bedtime with no early wakes)

I was actually giving him a lunch at 1030 am on the days he had 11am nap, btw.  then a pretty large snack after nap.  Sort of 1/2 lunch before and 1/2 lunch after..

HTH

[M and N's Mom]

Thanks.  I agree, sounds like OT but ARGHGHGHGH this is frustrating.

Gave him a 15 min nap in the car this morning after swimming to try to combat OT and then put him down 2h later (he's been in there 1h and I'm not sure if he is sleeping yet...he's quiet for a few minutes but then I hear him again). 

How do you do an 11-11:30 nap and still make it to 6:30?  We have been doing (approx. depending on what time he wakes):
6:45 wake
11:45 nap ~ rarely more than 1.5h and often less
6:00 bedtime

So, I can't complain as he is doing 12+h at night but I can't get him to nap longer.

[debo620]

Hi Sari, we are really struggling too right now. and we have been on one nap for 4 months!
I put Noah to bed early last night (he was asking for it) he was asleep by 7pm, but then woke at 5:45( instead of 6:30)
he can tpyically handle about 5.25-5.5hrs. well I wasn't too happy with him having a 11am nap----I mean it seems so early!

so I thought ok, I'll do a 5min nap at 10:30, which he took,
I had him in his room at 12, and its 12:35 and he really does not want to sleep, I've already been in there once.

so I now think, probably I should have just done a 11:30 nap, because clearly him refusing a nap on a 5min am nap is not going to work!

anyway, I think probably go with a max A time of 5hrs (if not a little less) and see what happens!

[PeepersMom]

sorry, I didn't mean he only napped 30 min, I meant I put him down between 11-1130.  He at the time was napping USUALLY 1.5 hours.  So if he went down at 11 he slept till 1230 and that was 6 h A time till bed and he could always handle longer afternoons than mornings.  However, at the time he did crash within seconds of putting him down.

If bedtime at 6pm works for you then do it.  this is a hard transition for most, so you have to play a little, but I personally think it works best if you go gradually.

the morning 15 min cat nap doesn't work for everyone.  It works REALLY well for only a few but most of us had to do a full switch.  If you read the 2-1 transition thread you will see...

Meg

[PeepersMom]

forgot to add that it takes a little struggle to get through the 9am time - which was when I gave a little snack - and also 4pm was a hard cranky time. I think that is pretty common.  You make it through till dinner and then bedtime routine/bed.

Meg

[M and N's Mom]

Thanks Meg and Deb,

Deb, sorry you are still struggling.  You would think after 4 mos things would settle down, wouldn't you?  I can't believe he'd refuse a pm nap on 5 mins that early in the morning 

I think one thing I have learned about DS is that things will always change.  He has never settled into a definite routine (as in same time every day) his whole 19 month life, so why start now, lol?  My DD was on the same wake/nap/bedtime schedule from about 13mos until well after 2yo.  Not DS.

Anyway, the 15min nap worked on Friday.  Then he was okay with 1 nap for the weekend.  He woke a bit early today so we're going to try the short nap again today.  Maybe we'll have to throw 1-2 of them in a week until he can handle more than about 4.5h A time.

Thanks for the support ladies