Great night sleeper...terrible napper...how much sleep required for 7 mo. old?

[kohnheads]

Hello -

I feel like I shouldn't be complaining but I have twins and their nap time is my ONLY break from the day.  I have one great sleeper (12 hrs at night, two 1.5 hr naps during the day) and I have not-so-great sleeper (12 hrs at night but only 40-60 min naps twice a day).  Here's my first question: what is the typical sleep patterns for a 7 mo. old?  I've read 10-12 hrs at night and 3-4 hrs during the day.  So he's got the night sleep but not even close to the napping.  Second, if he's waking alert and happy, does this mean he's gotten all the sleep he needs?  The only reason he gets mad is if I go in there and try to extend his nap (which NEVER works, I only get him ed). 

What I've been doing is leaving him in his crib when he wakes because he's very happy and he'll talk to himself and play with his lovey.  I'll usually do this until his brother wakes, so he's in there for about 30-45 mins after every nap.  I call it "quiet time". 

This has been happening for about 3 weeks - I'm hoping its just a phase.  I've tried extending A time and it makes NO difference whatsoever.  Right now they're at about 2hr 45min A time.  Should I just go with it?  I've pretty much all but given up on trying to extend his nap because shh/pat doesn't work, nor does PU/PD.  I haven't tried W2S yet because I'm not sure when to go in there...any suggestions?

Thanks,
Lindsay

[lcpopelka]

The problem with twins is that they are so unique!  I know that an average 6-9 mo old sleeps around 14 hours a day.  So if your one LO sleeps 12 hours at night, and then 2 hours during the day, that is right on average.  He may just need less sleep than his sibling.  If he's waking up happy and alert and stays that way until the next scheduled time, I would have to say I think he just gets all the rest he needs in the 40-60 minutes he's down.  I know my own LO (8.5 mo) needs less sleep than the average infant (11 hours at night, and anywhere from 2-3 hours during the day).  Personally, I'm jealous!!!

[kohnheads]

I'd like to try W2S...do you know at what point I would go in? 

[lcpopelka]

W2S happens right before your LO typically wakes up--so for my little one who wakes up typically around 30min, I would try to go in at the 20 min mark...you just gently brush the cheek or something like that--nothing enough to fully wake him up, but something that stirs him to where he will fall into the next sleep cycle. 

Be warned, some people have success with it, others do not.  Mine is one of the "did not" ones.

[kohnheads]

I just went in at the 20 min mark because he wakes usually between 30-40 min after he goes down.  We're at the 45 min mark now so maybe I've had some success???  (Hold my breath...)