Cat nap or early to bed?

[littlerascalsmum]

Hi, I have a baby boy who has just turned 7 months. I am at that transition point where he is extending his activity time and sometimes needs 2 naps but usually still 3. I have read some of the posts where people suggest earlier bed times but I would be worried that he would wake up mega early (he only seems to do 101/2 - 11hr sleeps) The problem I have is that while he does a 1 1/2hr nap in the morning his afternoon nap is only 45 mins and I am left with about 5hrs till bed time - it seems really late to put him down (4 or 5 oclock) for a nap but too long until bedtime (7.30) I really don't like the idea of changing his bed time as I feel that it is the only set thing we have at the moment! He wakes up at different times - anywhere from 5 - 6.30 and sometimes stays up easily for 3 hrs then other days 21/2 is a stretch. If I give him a catnap at around 4 or 5 am I robbing his nightime sleep?

He seems to be quite random with his NW - a couple of days in a row he will sleep through and then he is up for a couple of hours the next! I am trying to get rid of the df at the moment.

[*Jo*]

Hi there, can you put your routine up in EASY format please? we might be able to spot something.

with the CN or early bed we would often try for a CN but if we had no luck would just put him to bed early, sometimes as early as 5.45pm which is a scary thought!!!

[koe2moe]

big hugzzz for you.  We're still going through this and DS is 9.5mo.  It started probably from around 6 

if you can get a CN in, do it.  We are so exhausted with EW, 4:30, 5, 5:15, etc....  We should have kept the bed time.  But then I am sure the ladies here can help you out with the EASY.

Good luck.

[Tweakster]

Hi there, agree with these fine ladies.  6 months here and everything is going t*ts up.  We went by way of early bedtime when he started rejecting the CN and are starting to regret it a bit now.  Most nights he does well but we still wake between 5 - 6 most mornings and it is starting to take its toll.

You can offer the CN earlier...so shorten the A time after that 45 minute nap and AP a CN just to give 30 - 40 minutes of rest (for both of you) and then you can usually stretch out bedtime a bit (without OT) if you lengthen the bedtime routine.  We sneak in minutes that way - a little longer bath here, a longer massage there. 

Let's see the routine and we can all see what jumps out.

I think I am going to start a set bedtime which is what worked for some other gals around here...because things are not getting better like I hoped and have to program and reset his clock somehow.

[littlerascalsmum]

Hi,
Thanks so much for your responses, don't know about the baby getting OT but I certainly am! Last night I skipped the  catnap and he stayed up for 4 1/2 hours before bed - bad idea! He went down well but woke at 4.00 then 5am ready to start the day!

 Our days are often different due to his different wake up times. Generally I keep him up for 21/2 to 3 hours. A typical day would be

6 0r 6.30a m wake (on a good day)
E- 7am breastfeed then solids around 8
N - 8.45/9  -(11/2 hr)
A 10.15/10.30
E - 11am breastfeed, 12ish solids
N - 1/1.30 (will only get 45 mins)
A
E - 3pm breastfeed
CN - 4ish for 45 mins
bedtime routine at 7, final breastfeed, bed at 7.30

He is usually well ready to go down for his CN after such a short afternoon nap. I try really hard to read his tired signs and it seems like 3hrs is the time where he is rubbing his eyes and yawning. He plays really happily up till that time by himself. In the morning 21/4 or 21/2 hours is the point where he starts to be really tired. I have been told that he really should be on 2 naps a day but it seems impossible when he isn't doing 2hr naps!