Activity time extension

[sonia1234]

Hi,
 
Can anyone plz guide me to a post where it is explained that how to increase the activity times of babies 5-6 month old. Any help is appreciated. 

I have been reading the process of increasing the activity time but dint seem to get it. "Adding 15 min every 3-4 days" doesnt seem to get it. Can anyone explain it to me how to do it properly?

[Ima shel Alon]

Well, it's basically just that. Lets say that your LO's A time is 2:15h right now and you know that he needs more than that (it's just an example of course). So in the next 3-4 days you are going to add 10-15min to his A times.
We do it gradually so he/she won't get OT and to give LO enough time to get used to the new A time (it takes them about 3-4 days). You would need to be rather rigid when you increase A times and be more clock watcher then looking at sleepy cues.
Of course if you feel you LO is extremely OT then you can offer less A time.
After 4 days if there is no change in naps, NW and EW (whatever is the reason for you to increase A times) then you can do everything all over again, i.e add 10 more min and hold it for 4 days.
There is some more info here: What are A times and how do they fit into the EASY plan?

If you still have questions, let me know.

[sonia1234]

Long story short , i add 10-15 min to each activity time of the day or start with one activity at a time and then gradually touch the other activity time?

[Ima shel Alon]

That's totally up to you and what you think your LO can handle.
I always increased all at the same time, but I know that many mommies here start with the first one and when 1st nap is restorative (1.5h long) they move on to the rest of the A times.

[sonia1234]

Thank u so much for all ur help. My LO (5 month 1 week )is now handling 2.20 hr activity time. He is a shot napper. Sometimes naps r good sometimes not.  Mostly i have to help him to thru the trasition to next sleep cycle. Exhausted mommy 😐...

[Ima shel Alon]

If you like you can post your day in an EASY format and we can have a look if there is some tweaking that can be done to help him nap longer.
Is he going down ind. for nap? Is he waking up from naps after 45min? 30-35min? How is he waking - chatty and happy or crying and upset?
Hoe are you settling him back to sleep?

[sonia1234]

He is on 4 hour easy. Having activity time of 2hr20 min. Most of the days r like below:

E: 8.30am
A:2 hr 20 min
S:10.50am
E: 12:20pm
A:2 hr 20 min
S: 2.40pm
E: 4.10pm
A: 2 hr 20 min
S: 6.20pm( for 20-25 min)
Bedtime at 8pm
2-3 night wakings
Whenever he wakes up from nap in the middle sometimes he is happy sometimes cranky it varies. M patting him or put hand on his back to make him sleep again. Also using w2s which started to work a couple weeks back. He is sleeping independently without any help from me. No problem going to sleep. His crying around nap time is almost gone. Staying asleep is the issue and his naps r 30-35 min long.
Hope u can tell me something that can help.

Thanks.

[Ima shel Alon]

If he slept for 35min from 10:50 then he woke up at 11:25, next nap was at 14:40, that's almost 4h A time!!! That's a lot. Using the same calculation his second A time was 3h, that's as well a lot...

Your A times sound ok for his age, but if he wakes up too early from a nap he can't do such long A times (even after a good nap he won't be able to). Many babies actually needs their A time shortened after a short nap, yk?

If the first nap is always short after a 2:20h A time and he wakes up happy from it then I would increase A time for 2.5h and see if it helps.