when to drop a nap?

[Shannonn]

Hi folks!

I have a DS who is seven months old and he has begun to take longer to fall asleep for his last nap (third nap). He was and still is falling asleep easily on his own for all naps, but recently has begun, not crying but fussing for thirty minutes or so, then falls asleep. Last night, I just went and got him rather than let him lay there fussing for so long. He was a little cranky but otherwise ate fine and went down well for the night. Is this a sign? Is it time to drop the nap and he'll be fussy for a while?

BTW his scehdule:
7:30 wake and breastfeed
8 veggies and rice cereal
8:45 wind down with a book and straight to bed
9 in crib and asleep
11 wake and BF, followed by veggies and fruit and cereal
12:45 same as 8:45
1 in crib and asleep
5ish wind down and now fusses
6:15 veggies, fruit, and cereal
6:45 BF and wind down with a book
7 asleep

[RachelC]

Shannon,
Around 6 months *most* babies drop that catnap and can handle more A time.  He may be telling you to drop the catnap and to increase his A time (*most* can handle closer to 2 hours).  Can I also assume there is another breastfeed after the second nap?

[Shannonn]

Yes. Unless I've fed him too much baby food. Then he's not interested. And is other naps are either 1 1/2 to 2 hour naps.

Yea, I thought it was time. Just wanted to double check with other moms.

Thanks!

[RachelC]

I would try to make sure you don't give him too much baby food.  At this age, breastmilk still needs to be his main source of calories.

Good luck!

[Shannonn]

You know what?! I forgot to mention that he gets one more BF at 3. He gets about the same amount of calories from baby food as from me. Lately, since we bumped up to the stage 2, doctor told me to, he wants more baby food which has led to less of me. I'm pretty much following his cues plus watching how it or if it affects his gastric health, activity, and sleep. Food seems to be doing well for him.

[Samuel's mum]

Sorry I know you're talking about naps but I hope you don't mind me butting in and saying that I would also work to ensure that his milk intake isn't reducing. The general guidelines I'm familiar with is that it isn't until 9 months at the earliest that solids and milk should be considered 'equivalent' in calorie intake and after 12 months solid calorie intake is greater than milk calorie intake. I've been told from 6-9 months that solid food is about complementary feeding and about textures, tastes, experiences and that there should not be a significant reduction in milk intake.