Hello,
I would appreciate advice on what to do with my spirited 9 month old son's too short naps. Most days, he will only sleep for 45 minutes, so we end up with 3 naps instead of 2. Any ideas on how to change this?
For example, my goal is:
7 AM wake up
9:30 – 11:00 nap
2:00 – 4:00 nap
7 PM bedtime
But we usually have this:
7 AM wake up
9:30 – 10:15 nap
1:00 – 1:45 nap
3:45 – 4:30 nap
7:30 bedtime
Should I just let him take 3 naps, or am I making things worse by doing this? Sometimes he takes so long to fall asleep for that last nap that it pushes his bedtime really late. Other times, he ends up waking up from his second nap too late for a catnap but so early that his bedtime would have to be at 6:00 or 6:30 and then by the time he goes to bed at 7:00, he is so exhausted that he passes out nursing, sleeps for 45 minutes and then wants to be awake for another 3 hours.
I know that Tracy recommended PU/PD to extend too short naps, but my son thinks this is a game and laughs hysterically until he gets frustrated and starts screaming. Once he wakes up, there is NO getting him back to sleep. He is raring to go and doesn’t want to go back to sleep.
Also, with a spirited child, is it better to make activity times low-key to keep them from getting overstimulated, or is it better to “get all the wiggles out” so that all that extra energy has been expended by the time naptime rolls around?
Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions anyone might have!
