4.5 mt old very restless at bedtime

[carolina_bug]

My almost 5 mt old always goes down well at bedtime but has several fussing episodes on/off for about 30-45 min before he actually goes to sleep for the night.  He will fuss for 1-2 min, then silence for about 10, then fuss again.  It's on/off like that every night and then he drifts off for the night and wakes around 3 to eat, then 7 for the day. 

I do a wind-down routine, and make sure he isn't overstimulated later in the day.  He does it on days where he naps great, and days when his naps aren't so great too.

Any ideas?

[jessmum46]

Could you post what a typical day looks like for us? So something like:

WU & E 7am
A 7-9am
S 9-11am etc

Any discomfort issues eg gas, reflux?

[carolina_bug]

He has reflux, but doesn't struggle like this when he's put down for a nap, only bedtime.  He's on Zantac for the reflux, but it isn't helping.  I'm going to the doctor today actually.

WU  7:00

E     7-7:20
A     7:20-9:20
S     9:20-10:50  (He has only been taking 1.5 hour naps for the past 4 days once I increased his A time, but didn't take good naps yesterday.)

E    10:50-11:10
A    11:10-1:10
S    1:10-2:40

E    2:40-3:00
A    3:00-5:00
S    5:00-5:45  CN (He is VERY cranky from this time until he goes back to bed.)

Bedtime routine at 6:30 and he is in his crib drowsy and quiet by 6:45-7:00, but does the fuss on/off thing for 30-45 min after.

Some days he doesn't take great naps, so I adjust his schedule accordingly but no matter how his naps are during the day, good or bad, he still does this at night.

Thanks.

[jessmum46]

Would he take the CN slightly earlier?  My LO wouldn't go down UT but many will....  I wonder if he may need just a *touch* more A time after a 45 min CN, even though he's cranky.  The alternatives are to cut his CN slightly shorter (try 40 mins initially, then if you get the same fussing, shave another 5 mins off) and keep BT the same, or keep the longer CN and try BT 15 mins or so later.  Worth a try?

My only other thought would be with the reflux - how soon before bed does he have his last feed?  Just wonder if that's an issue for him at that time of day as he's lying down soon after eating?