Shortened naps all of the sudden

[jmdryka]

I started the pu/pd method about 3 months ago.  It worked wonders for her night time sleeps.  Her naps were quite steady as well at about 1 hour to 1 1/2 hours three times a day.  The last few days my 7 month old has still has a normal first nap.  The last two have been shortened to 1/2 hour or 40 minutes.  She seems to be quite happy and content when she wakes up so I just let her be in her room until she gets upset...usually she whines a little...but for the most part dozes in and out of sleep and babbles happily.  I only go in once she becomes upset.  By then usually her nap time is over.  I tried pu/pd yesterday for one of the short naps and she just cried for about a half hour till nap time was over - I just don't know that she was even tired.  If she seems happy enough during the day should I just let her have the shorter naps?  or should I do pu/pd for longer naps even if she doesn't seem to need them?  I just don't want a bad habit to form and continue!  Thanks!

[donna_issabella]

Hi there,

Henry dropped his catnap at about 5.5-6 months. Might be that she is ready to do this too. When his naps go all wonky, it usually serves as an indication for me that he is ready to change his routine a little.

Could you post the whole of your routine please?

[jmdryka]

Her scedule is as follows

7:00 - 7:30 - Wake-up
I then feed her and have about 2 1/4 hours activity time
She will then sleep for an hour to an hour and a half
She is eating every 3 1/2 hours to 4 hours depending on how long she will sleep.
It is basically the same routine until bedtime at 8:30...but I feed her right  before bed.

That was her routine...lately the second nap is quite a bit shorter.  Since this started she has also been wanting to go to bed earlier and sleep later in the morning.  Today I might try extending her activity time after her first nap and see what happens?  Hope that is enough information?  Thanks!

[donna_issabella]

I agree that you need to try and extend the A time btw Nap 1 and 2. She is a clever cookie, that she catches up on her sleep at night, going to bed earlier.

Henry's schedule was very much like this at 7 months:

7:00 Wake up and reflux meds
7:30 Milk
8:30 ish breakfast
9:30 Sleep
11:00 Wake and Milk
12:30 Lunch
13:45 Nap
15:45 Wake
16:00 Milk
17:30 Dinner
18:20 Bath and bedtime routine
18:40 Bottle and bed

Obviously it is easier writing in 5 or 10 minute increments, but sometimes he tolerated slightly longer A times and other times he needed to get to bed earlier. He sometimes slept 2 x 2 hour naps, but mostly his morning nap is 1.5 and pm nap 2 hours long.

He is still on a similar routine, but he wakes a bit earlier and then lies in his cot and chats away and plays with his lovey.

Good luck and let us know how things go!
DI