Erratic Napper

[sparklekitty]

My DS is almost 8 mos & for the past month has been an erratic napper. Each nap is different in length! I have a schedule, which I have kept consistent. He is trying to crawl & loves to roll over.

My issue with him is that when he takes the short naps, and I go in to do PU/PD- he is all ready rolled over & wide awake. I roll him back & Try PU/PD. He just screams louder & louder and shows no signs of being willing to go back to sleep. He wants to practice crawling or wants to roll over & play on his tummy. Then he wakes up his twin, whom he shares a room with. Now I have two screaming, cranky babies with too short naps.

He also has been waking early or at different times, and the same issues apply with not being able to go back to sleep.

I don't have the space for separate rooms. He also won't go for the late afternoon catnap- which he desperately needs with the too short naps!

Today, I did PU/PD for 30 minutes to get him back to sleep when he woke up at 5 am. He slept for 20 minutes. I tried for another 15 minutes to get him back to sleep to no avail. Same issue at nap time.

Any help?

[Mom to M&M]

What is his current routine? How long are his awake times?

[sparklekitty]

Was waking between 6:30-7:00 am
E- 7:15 solids
E- 8:00 liquids
S- 9:00
E- 11:15 solids
E- 12:00 liquids
S- 1/ 1:15
E- 4:15 solids
E- 5:00 liquids
S- 5:30-5:50 catnap sometimes
E- 7:00 liquids
S- 7:30

I try to watch is sleep cues- some days he is ready to nap after 2 hours in the am. Sometimes 2.5 based on what time he gets up. Afternoon he is awake 2.5 to almost 3 hours. Then some days no matter how tired he is, he won't take the catnap.

[Mom to M&M]

At 8 months, sleep cues become tricky - yawns, etc can mean boredom or be from habit even. And at his age, you want to be dropping the catnap anyway.

I'd not let him nap before 2.5 hours in the am at the earliest. If he's acting sleepy try changing activities, going for a walk, etc. Of course if he keeps fussing you can put him down but I'd try to extend that to at least 2.5 hours, maybe 2.75 eventually. This should help with the early wakings too!

Ideally, at his age, his routine would be (and can be adjusted for a 7am wake time):

Wake 6:30 am
Sleep - 9:15-10:45
Sleep - 1:30-3:30
Bedtime - 7pm

[sparklekitty]

Thanks-I'll try this!