3 naps to 2

[CarenO]

Is it time for my DS to switch to 2 naps?  He is 7 months old, and his naps had been 1.5 hours each plus a 30-45 min catnap, but now his naps have returned to the 45 min monster, and he has started waking earlier.  His schedule hasn't changed, so all I can think of is that maybe it's time to drop the 3rd nap?  How do I do that?

[brenda2]

hi
it sounds like he is ready to switch.  we switched at around 7 months.  it takes a little while.  some days you may have 2 naps, some days 3 until he's switched for good.

DD basically had 2 naps on the days she did 2 long naps but if one of her naps was short then she had the catnap which was sometimes in the sling and very short (15 min) as she fought it so much.  on 2 nap days bedtime was very early.

you'll have to get him back to doing long naps though before you'll be able to switch or else he'll get really OT

can you post your routine?

[CarenO]

His routine hasn't been very consistent lately with his short naps, but here is his routine:

6:15 wakes and plays
6:30 nurse
7:30 or 8 solids
8:30 or 9 nap (1.5 hours, lately 45 min)
10:30 or 11 nurse
12:00 solids
1:00 nap (1.5-2 hours, lately 45 min)
3:00 nurse
4:30 or 5 catnap
6:30 nurse
7:00 solids
8 asleep for night

Some mornings I think he wakes even earlier and plays before he cries around 6:30.  I would love for him to sleep until 7, so I've been afraid for him to have an earlier bedtime.  When I've put him to bed earlier, he woke up earlier.

[brenda2]

hi
i know what you mean about the early rising.  but early bedtime doesn't necessarily mean earlier up.  being OT can cause early mornings.  i think you are right, some babies are just 10 or 11 hour a night sleepers, but i think it's also worth a try to put him down earlier for a few days or a week and see if that helps your EWs.

if you are going to go to 2 naps you will definitely need to put him to bed earlier than 8.  even 8 pm after just a catnap is a bit too long i think.  after a catnap it should be more like 2 hours A time.

anyway... i think you should push your first nap later and see if longer A time first thing helps you get a longer nap.  45 min nap can mean UT or OT.  then if you get a long nap it'll be easier to think about the switch.

if he wakes up at 6:15 try a nap at 9 at the earliest and see how it goes.  if you get at least 1 long nap then you can limit your catnap to 20 min and go for an earlier bedtime (1.5 hours after a really short catnap)

am i making sense?

6:15 awake
9-10:30 sleep
1:15-2:45 sleep
5 - 5:20 sleep
7 bedtime

then you keep pushing the first 2 naps later, hopefully they stay long, and eventually you don't need the catnap but would have to go with an earlier bedtime.

[CarenO]

Thanks, I'll try that routine starting tomorrow. 

I just fought another 40 min nap, and I think he went back to sleep (fingers crossed).  When I went to him when he awoke after 40 min, he wanted to nurse.  Could it be that he has hit a growth spurt and that is why he is having the short naps?

[brenda2]

it could be a growth spurt but then i think you'd have NWs to eat as well.