Quick Question - Nap Schedule during Sleep Training

[mtemte]

I am in the process of sleep training my 10.5 month old and its going very well. Im using a very gradual process so she doesnt get too upset as she has never really been able to fall asleep on her own.

At the moment, she is falling asleep in the cot on her own with no intervention from me whatsoever. I am using gradual retreat as she has gotten used to me being in the room but it is going well. She has been sleeping later than usual which is fantastic but it means that her naps are a little out of whack. So for instance, this morning she woke at 7.45am. We started her wind down process and it was 11.50am when she got to sleep. How long do I let her sleep for? She would probably sleep for 2 hours if I allowed her which would be in the region of 2pm and then a 7pm/7.30 BT. Otherwise, what I have been doing the last 2 days is just letting her sleep for an hour 15/30 mins and waking her and then putting her down for another nap at 4.30pm. The problem is that by the time she falls asleep its close to 5pm which  makes her BT in the region of 8pm/8.30pm. Is this better? Its true that she is sleeping better at night and is waking later so should we just stick to this?

Tnx for any suggestions you may have!

[weaver]

Since she only WU at 7.45, I really wouldn't expect BT much before 8pm.  And often with 10 mo and older the day is a longer than 12 hours, to fit the two naps in, just as you are saying.   

[mtemte]

thanks weaver,

so its best to wake her after maybe 1 hour 15 mins and then put her down for a second nap later in the day with a later BT?

[weaver]

At 10 months I think it's fair enough to start capping the AM nap a bit if you want to control where the PM nap falls a bit more.  I would maybe try 1h30 first and if that doesn't get you where you want to be, try 1h15.  Up to you really!  If you cap the AM nap, the PM will fall earlier in the afternoon, of course. 

HTH.