wake baby up from 3rd nap?

[amycyt]

Hello I just want to ask if I should wake my 6 months old up from the 3rd nap?  I know 3rd nap is supposed to be a catnap.  And how long should I let him sleep through?  30 mins, 45 mins or 1 hr?

[Layla]

Hi and welcome to the BW

Generally speaking the 3rd nap is only meant to be a short nap (with us it would range from 30-45mins) just to tie them over till bedtime but having said that if your baby is taking an hour long nap and it isn't interfering with his ability to go to sleep at night or how well he sleeps at night or what time he wakes in the morning or with his routine in general, then I would let him sleep probably up to an hour.

Around this age many babies start to transition to 2 naps so if he's falling asleep for his 3rd nap too late and you're finding that you have to wake him, it might also be that he's wanting to go to sleep for the night (depending on how late this nap is), if you know what I mean...

HTH

[amycyt]

Thank you.  I was just introduced to BWSAYP and started the EASY routine a few days ago.  Before that my LO's naps were all over the place.  He had his own agenda for feed, nap and sleep.  Found EASY a very interesting concept and wanted to give it a try.  But be honest, I am a little confused about some details which I feel the book doesn't touch on.  EASY sounds like an easy concept but to implement it, you need to make adjustment based on the age, personality, development stage of the baby.  So I am reading through all the postings in the forum and hope to learn from others.  So far the day routine is going pretty good but night time is very bad.  One night he woke up every hour, the other night he slept through a few hours and EW at 3am then didn't go back to sleep until 5am. 

It seems that he still needs the 3rd nap.  I'm not sure if I should 1st establish a good EASY routine then work on eliminating the 3rd nap later?  Or is it a good time to start the 2 naps routine now since this is a new start anyway.

Oh I still have so many questions......

[Layla]

Don't hesitate to post whatever questions you have  . Is he able to put himself to sleep at all or was he fed/rocked/bounced (whatever) to sleep?

I've attached another link for you to have a read through Starting EASY - all you need to know and more!

[amycyt]

Thanks Layla.  I used to use pacifier or nurse him to sleep before EASY.  Now on EASY, no more bf but I still use paci to put him to sleep and also needs to use roll up towels to prop him b/c he is a side sleeper.  I am not sure if all these considered prop dependencies.  But he does spit up the paci after he falls asleep.  He doesn't always cry when he wakes up in mid of sleep.  If he cries then I pop back in the paci and he goes back to sleep.  If he stay awake and seems happy, I just let him play until tired and he falls back to sleep.  But it could be 1 -2 hrs later.  If paci is within reached, he knows how to put it back in on his own.  So I am not sure the true reasons for his night waking.

[Layla]

Night wakings may be from not being on an age appropriate schedule but since you've just started EASY, you might be a few weeks away from that yet. The link I've attached has most of the info you need. This link will explain what the av A time is for babies Average A times- BOOKMARK ME!!

Let me know if you have any questions

[amycyt]

Thanks again.  Yes I just started EASY last week and I followed the plan for 4 months and older in the book.  My LO will be 7 months next week actually.

I will give it a few more days or even 2 weeks to see if the NW will be improved.  I'm sure my LO is adjusting the changes too.  So I should give him a little more time.  If the NW still exist later, I will have to figure out something else.