Need help again with 30 min. naps

[melissab98]

Ugh...I'm back...again.  DD has been taking short naps since she was 2 mos. old, she is now 8 mos.  We're still on 3 naps a day because I can't seem to get more than 1 long one out of her.  She usually takes a 30min. nap in the am, a 1.5hr nap around noon, then another 30min. nap later in the afternoon.  I've tried everything...shortening A time, lengthening A time, and no matter what that first nap is always 30 mins.  Today our routine looked like this:


A 6:30
E 7:00 (bottle)
A
S 8:30-9:00
E 9:15 (solids)
A
E 11:00 (bottle)
A
S 11:30-1:00
E 1:15 (solids)
A
E 3:00 (bottle)
A
S 3:30-4:00
A
E 5:45 (solids)
A
E 6:30 (bottle)
A
S 7:00

She then sttn.  We have a good wind-down routine and she falls asleep easily almost every time.  As I said, I've tried shortening her first A time to as early as 1.5hrs and still got a 30min. nap.  Should I make even shorter than that?  It seems so short for her age.  Also, I drop her off at the babysitter at 9am, so I don't have a lot of wiggle room.  She either needs to be done with her first nap by 9:00, or her first nap needs to be put off until after 9:00 and taken at the sitter's, if that makes sense?  Any help would be so so SO appreciated.  TIA!  

[*Natasha*]

Your first awake time is to short at 8months you want around 2.5hrs awake time before the first nap so try:

A 6:30
E 7:00 (bottle)
E 8:00 (solids)
A
S 9:00 for 1.5hrs
A
E 11:00 (bottle)
E 12:00 (solids)
A
S 1:30-3:30
A
E 3:30 (bottle)
A
E 5:45 (solids)
A
E 6:30 (bottle)
A
S 7:00

[melissab98]

I'll try that today, thanks!

[melissab98]

Well we stuck with the 2.5hr first A time yesterday and still got a 30m. nap.  Even worse, the rest of her naps that day were all 30m. as well when usually she takes a long 2nd nap.  Do I still keep trying the 2.5hr for the first A time to see if she'll adjust?  Her night still went well, we put her down a little early (6:45) and she sttn until 6:45am.  Thanks!

[brenda2]

i agree with sticking with the 2.5 hours A time first thing.  try it for a week before you decide it won't work!  sometimes it takes a while for the new routine to work.

[melissab98]

A little better today...so far these are her times:

A 6:45
E 7:00 bottle
A
E 8:15 solids
A
S 9:15-10:25
A
E 11:00 bottle
A
E 12:30 solids
A
S 12:50-1:50
A
E 3:00
A

And this is where we are now.  She was at the babysitter's from 9:00-2:00 so these are the times she provided to me.  What do you think?  Longer A times?  Any guidance is so helpful.  Thank you!

[*Natasha*]

i agree with sticking with the 2.5 hours A time first thing.  try it for a week before you decide it won't work!  sometimes it takes a while for the new routine to work.

Totally agree with this.

Well we stuck with the 2.5hr first A time yesterday and still got a 30m. nap.  Even worse, the rest of her naps that day were all 30m. as well when usually she takes a long 2nd nap.  Do I still keep trying the 2.5hr for the first A time to see if she'll adjust?  Her night still went well, we put her down a little early (6:45) and she sttn until 6:45am.  Thanks!

If the first nap is only 30mins and you didn't get her to go back to sleep you need to bring the 2nd awake time forward.
As for the current routine i would have pushed that 2nd out a little later to perhaps 1/1.15pm.

[melissab98]

As for the current routine i would have pushed that 2nd out a little later to perhaps 1/1.15pm

I probably would have too, but unfortunately the babysitter is in control of this on the days I'm working.  I've tried to explain A times to her, but it seems no matter what she still sticks to 2.5 hrs.  I'll be going over it again...