setting first nap time - please share how this works for you!

[annette.xx]

Hi all

as title says im looking for success stories with setting the am naptime - im so fed up of fluctuating wake and nap times and I think (actually I know) im ruining his ability to self regulate his naps with his natural timings...

I always notice he gets sleepy around 9.30am this even happened the the other week with a 8am wake and when I put him down at his usual 2.5hrs A he short napped and was a nightmare to put down so I think his body was out of sync and he infact would have napped better at 9.30!!

anyway how do you work the naps and bedtime when you are doing first nap at a set time?

what to you do if they short nap am nap?

what if they then also short nap pm nap?

does your bedtime change to suit the days napping - how much earlier do you bring bedtime - do you set a time limit - say no earlier than 6 or is anytime fine (even if it did end up 5pm!!)

thanks
Annette.xx

[elmarie]

Hi Anette-how old is your LO?

[annette.xx]

sorry - hes 7 months! I know young but Im sure this is what I need to do - just hoped some others might share their experience!

Annette.xx

[elmarie]

i have not followed the other post regarding the tweaking of your routine.  At 7 months you might want to start pushing the A time to 3h.  He might need a longer A time, that might be way he is napping shorter because he is not tired enough 

[annette.xx]

Hi there

thanks for getting back to me - sorry I was probably not very clear - he naps beautifully normally - no issues with nap length in am just every now and again - its more that his naptime and waketimes are all over the place one day he will wake at 6am and first nap will be at 8.30 - another day he will wake at 8am and nap will be at 10.30!! - its really hard on days that he is completely out of sync cos he will be super grouchy around certain times but not really ready to sleep yet cos hes only been awake too short an A time ...

this happened again today cos his pm nap ended up starting at 2pm which made him grumpy and screamy cos he wanted to nap at 1pm but I knew he would wake early if Id have done that cos he had only been awake 2 hrs!

I have a DD aged 2.5 and I feel like im soooo housebound cos of the ever changing sleep times - I just cnat plan anything cos no 2 days are the same!

Annette.xx

[~*Nicole*~]

Wake him up by the same time each morning and don't let him sleep in! (If he wakes earlier than your "set" wake up time, just do low key things and try to get to your usual nap time or as close as you can)