Can't get first nap right

[choc]

I just can't get the first nap right with my nearly 10 month old.  He used to consistently sleep for 1h30 after 3hr A time about a month ago.  He had a tummy bug and teething and the nap went to pot and I can't get it back.  I've tried all A times it seems from 3hr to 4hr!  I usually can't resettle him these days (used to be easy!), but if I do manage it he will sleep for at least 45 mins extra.  Today I managed to settle him (after he woke at 30mins after 3h30 A time) and he woke every 10 mins after that.  I would resettle and then he would wake after 10 mins again. This never ever happens, he always does another sleep cycle.  Anyone know what that means?

I thought he would easily sleep well after 3h30 A as he had 11h30 night sleep and usually does 11 at best!

Any suggestions?

Wasn't sure if this should be on nap or easy board so feel free to move it!

[~Karen~]

What are his A times usually like for his age?  Long/short/average?  Does he seem OT at all?  Can you post his EASY for the whole day?

[choc]

I think his A times are average to long.
We don't really have an easy at the moment!  Since his tummy bug every day has been different and we are just (fingers crossed) getting over EW and wake up times are different everyday too.  I was doing a set nap at 10am when he was waking between 6.30 and 7am and getting 1hr30 nap but this seems to no work so much now.  Either that or I just need to stick with it.

The last few days have looked like this

Thurs:
A 5.50
S 10 - 10.45
S 1 -1.30
S 3.30 - 4
B 7

He usually has a 30 min nap only in the pm, he has never, ever done longer than that.  I had to give an extra sleep to get him through that day.

Fri:
A 6.30
S 10-10.30 managed to resettle but woke every 10 mins til 11.30 when I got him up
S 3-3.30 stupidly long A I know, but he didn't seem tired.  Was extremely OT when woke though
B 7

Sat:
A 7am
S 10.30 - 11.30
S 2.15 - 2.55
B 7

I am sure he is stupidly OT due to short am naps (he always has had short pm).  He is stil sttn though.  I just want some order back in the routine.

[~Karen~]

I don't see a problem with sticking to a 10am nap but only if he wakes up at 630am or later.  If he wakes up any earlier then I'd bring the nap forward by about 15 mins so try and stop him getting too OT. 

Def sounds like he's OT.  Might be worth cutting A times for a bit until he's back on track.

[choc]

I've cut A times today but am getting 30 min naps still.  He just did 3 x 30min naps today.
Lets see what tomorrow brings.  He is at the childminder so anything could happen!

[~Karen~]

How's he been getting on?  Can APOP to extend his naps at all? 

[choc]

Hi Karen, he did ok at the childminders, he woke at 7.15am (bloody miracle but think he was still catching up) and had 3h 15 A time and slept for 1hr which is loads better than we were getting.  He then only had 2hr50 A time and gave a 50 min nap.  He always seems to have a short second A at the childminders, but not usually at home.  Also he only sleeps 30mins usually in the pm at home but he will sometimes do longer with her, like yesterday.  Anyway his Easy was
A 7.15
S 10.30 - 11.30
A - 11.30
S 2.20 - 3.10
A 3.10
Bed 7pm

So this morning he woke at 6.30 (11h30 night sleep) so I went for 3h30 A time as I thought he would have caught up on his OT.  But he fought the nap, only for 10 mins and has now gone off (for how long though is anyones guess!).  Thing is he has NEVER not fallen straight to sleep with this nap before. Even if I get the timing completely wrong, he just rolls over and goes to sleep, its his wake up time that is affected, not the 'dropping off'.  So I don't think OT I was wondering if UT?  What do you think?

[choc]

Forgot to say its virtually impossible to apop extending naps now.

He slept 1hr15 in the end which isn't too bad.  His Atime ended up being 3h45 because he resisted his nap to start with.  Does that mean tomorrow I should stick to 3h30 or just try 3hr45?

Also, any ideas what his next A should be?!  I might go for 3h45? 
Are these ok A's for a 10 month old?  Or should they be longer?  He can probably do 4hr A next but then I worry that his nap is to close to bedtime which is set at 7pm. 

So far today
A 6.30 - 10.15 (PD at 10am)
S - 10.15 - 11.30

[~Karen~]

Have a look at some sample routines for his age:

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=164031.0

It says on there that the average A time at 10 months old is 3 hours so his do seem a bit too long.  At this age I found keeping the first and last A times shorter (say 3 hours) and the middle one longer worked really well. 

[choc]

I feel lost!  I don't really know where to start and don't know if its worth bothering at the moment as we are going on holiday on friday and I'm sure his routine will be all over the place then.

So what first A should I try then?  Or should I stick to what I did today for a bit to see if it keeps giving 1hr15 nap?  I find that the same A times don't produce the same nap lengths.

[~Karen~]

That's only average and you know your baby best 

Honestly though I'd let things go until you're back from holiday.  Have a wonderful time and try not to stress about sleep!  I much prefer going away when sleep's all over the place as then you haven't got to worry about messing things up 

[choc]

Yes thats true!  Although we have only just got him sttn a couple of weeks agao, and I am seriously worried that it will go to pot.  I really don't want to go back to all the NWs!

I'll try not to stress though!  Thanks!