when does consistency start?!

[grahan]

My girls are 5 months and one week old.  Their nap schedule is pretty much different every day.  The most common is long first nap (1.5-2 hours) shorter 2nd (1 hour) and a catnap of 30-40 minutes.  However some days they are all over the place.  Yesterday nap #1 was from 9 until 10:45.  Nap #2 was from 1:00 until 3:20.  So, no catnap, they went to bed at 6:45 instead of the usual 7:15.  Today nap# 1 was at 8:30 b/c they woke at 6:15.  It lasted until 9:45.  Nap #2 was from 12:00 until only 12:50.  So, nap #3 should start when?  And how long do I let it last?  They are due for a longer nap but how late in the day do I really want a long nap? 
I've been told that they will get more consistent as they approach 6 months.  I certainly hope so b/c they are all over the place with these naps!!

[brenda2]

i would start nap #3 around 2:30.  you could let it go to 4 and do bedtime at 6:30.  if you want later bedtime you could let them sleep longer if they will do it.  we had that scenario a few times at that age when DD did short naps earlier in the day and a long nap later and i didn't find it interfered with nighttime sleep.  as long as you adjust the last A time appropriately it shouldn't be a problem.

you are doing the right thing by counting A times and adjusting the timing of naps appropriately.  set nap times don't work at this age.  i found it got more consistent when DD dropped the catnap and went to 2 naps around 7 mo but it's different for everyone and some aren't consistent until they drop to 1 nap after a year.  i know, hard to plan your day...  we have been really consistent from 7 mo until about 11 mo and now are in the midst of dropping to 1 nap and things are really not consistent again as she is doing some days 1 nap and some days 2 naps and again it's hard to plan.  so there will be bumps at every stage along the way.  but you'll get through it.

[grahan]

ugh, guess I have like 7 weeks to go.  They fell asleep at 2:45 and woke at 3:35.  Should I really put them to bed at 6?  Yesterday they went to sleep a little early (6:45 instead of 7:15 ish) and they woke up early for the day too!  (6:15 instead of 6:45).  I'm afraid if I put them down too early that they'll be up at 5:30 or something!  I know that is not supposed to happen but after yesterday, I am not so sure!

[brenda2]

EWs usually happen at that age because of being OT so i would be worried that stretching them too  long to bedtime would result in an EW, not by putting them down earlier.  my Lo usually does 12 hours at night but at that age we even had a few nights where she slept 13.5 hours because of putting her down early, so really, try it if the timing is right. 

for today though...if they woke up at 3:35 at 5 mo the max A time after a 45 min nap is really only 1.5 hours, i would go for another catnap at 5 pm for 30 min and then do bedtime at 7pm.  after such a short nap even if you try to stretch them to 6 this is too long and will result in Ot which is more likely to result in an EW and the problem continues.