Is this classic OT

[pinkladyangel]

Our lo is 23mths. His naps were perfect but bt had become a nightmare. We shortened his napby 15mins and things were good again for a couple of months then we had the same again. We thought that if it worked before it should work again but it didnt. We ended up with a 45 min nap and a grumpy toddler on waking until bt. A couple of weeks ago we cut his nap completely just to see what happened really. The first two nights were fab but then he started waking up crying. We went through all things that could be wrong but nothing changed and now here we are and he's waking 2 or 3 times a night and is inconsolable. Is this a classic sign of ot. Any advice would be apreciatex as dont know how to fix it as regards reintroducing nap and for how long.

[jessmum46]

This does sound like OT.  What time is WU and BT on NNDs?

In case it helps you, we had a plan for the 1-0 (went though it at a similar age - first NND at 22 months, done with naps by 28 months) which actually worked pretty well for us, though we did have NWs.  We did WU whenever (never woke her, usually 6.30-7), offered nap at 1/1.30pm until max 2.45/3pm.  BT 6.30pm on NND and 7pm on nap days.  When the NNDs started to become more frequent and she was clearly getting tired, we would go for a drive around 3pm and let her have a catnap of 15-20 mins, then BT 6.30. 

[pinkladyangel]

Unfortunately wu has to be 6.30/7 as i work. His old routine was wu 7. Nap 1.30-2.45 & bt 7.30. It worked well until he was taking upto an hour to go to sleep which for him is strange as he's always gone to bed fine. Thats why we started to shorten nap. He wont nap earlier than 1.30 & I dont really want to do later bt than 7.30.
As it is at the min every day has been nnd which looking back now was a daft thing to expect of him. Do you think a nnd every other day could work with his nap at 1.30-2.30.

[jessmum46]

Worth a try definitely . He wasn't refusing naps then?  You may need to try a different tactic if he does....

[pinkladyangel]

He wasnt refusing naps just taking a while to go off. I cant let him sleep later than 3 or bt will be really late. Its a tough one cos i think he still needs a nap but not too much or bt is compromised.

[pinkladyangel]

So yesterday i put him in bed at 1.30 & woke him at 2.30 for his nap and did a 7.30 bt. He slept straight through until 7.30. Wow!!!!!
Do you think doing the same today would be best.

[jessmum46]

Yes if that worked well, then stick with it a few days and see what happens.  It may work for a while or if he catches up on lost sleep you may end up in an UT/OT pattern again (sadly very common during this transition).  Only way to know is to try!  Just my experience but whatever you decide to do, consistency I think is the key to coming through the nap drop with the minimum of fuss.

[pinkladyangel]

Worked again   
If it starts to go wonky again would you suggest doing a nnd then nap day then nnd etc.

[jessmum46]

There are lots of ways and each LO will handle it a bit differently. You could cap the nap further and do a nap every day. Or try some NNDs maybe 1-2 a week to start with with EBT on those days. Or you could drop the nap and just do a quick CN when you see OT creeping in. Might be worth checking out the 1-0 support thread if you haven't already