Drop Catnap or Not??

[Lilasmom]

DD is 7.5 months old.  Lately I'm not sure wheather she needs her 3rd nap (catnap) or not??  We've slowly been increasing her A time (now at 2 hours 40 minutes), but by doing so the time that she wants a catnap (or I think she needs one) it's quite late and interferes with her bedtime (pushes it forward).  Also, she fights it and often takes upwards of an hour for her to fall asleep.  So by the time she wakes up from the nap it's almost her regualar bedtime.  Therefore, her bedtime gets pushed up (to say 8:30 or 9 instead of 7 or 7:30).  The only reason I think she may still need it is because she sleeps better at night if she has it.  This is our routine:

E Wake 7:00am (breastfeed)
    8:00 am (breakfast)
S 9:40am - 10:50am (naps are just about always 1 hour 10minutes)
E 11:00 am (breastfeed)
   12:00pm (lunch)
S 1:30-2:40pm
E 3:00pm (breastfeed)
   4:45pm (supper)
S 5:15 (approx. 35 minute nap once she falls asleep...realistically usually wakes around 6:30pm)
Because she wakes from her catnap so late, she's often not tired for bed until close to 9, and even then it takes a good 30-45 minutes to get her to sleep.  She just plays continuously.  Rolling from one side of her crib to the other. 
Night wakings vary.  We had two nights this week where she didn't wake at all.  Normally she'll wake between 12 and 2am for a feed (not sure how to get rid of this) and sometimes she'll wake because she's rolled into a weird angle in her crib and can't get back, etc.  Any suggestions on what to do with her naps??

 

[cassidyJamiesmom]

I too have a 7.5 monthold and am battling with the same dillema, except that on most days, my dd only naps for 45 mins, so it is almost impossible to drop the third nap.  If i were u i'd keep upping that A time and maybe, if u can, for that catnap try getting outside with the stroller for a walk, let her sleep for 15-20 mins instead of 35.  OR move the bedtime to 6, and slowly stretcxh it by 10 mins every day till u get back to a 7pm bedtime.

Just a few suggestions.  Also for me, i know that getting outside helps keep dd up longer and happier, keep changing scenery, or jus carry her around.  When dd Does have 2 good naps, she can usually go 3.5-4 hrs in the late aft.  But unfortunately for us, good naps are a rare occurance.  HTH

Sheri

[Caroline-Charlies Mummy]

You've already had some good advice there (I used the little nap in the pram for a couple of weeks whilst we were weaning off the catnap). This may be some use too - https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64837.0

HTH