nap changes affecting night sleep (i think?)

[lauraj79]

Hi
Charlie is 7 months on sunday and dropped his 3rd catnap this week, just refused it except in buggy/car buti found this would mean a late bedtime of 9pm 
so, current rouine for naps is-
6 am (ish) awake
8.40-10.40 nap
1.15 nap sometimes 2 hours, usually 1.30
today he napped 1.15 till 2.15 pm.

This basically means he is exhausted and more than ready for bed by 6pm. tonight was 6.30 as was busy with dd no.1, he was then too tired for bottle and only managed 4 oz (usual is at least 7 oz). The last two nights he has woken in the night a little upset in early hours. Went in last night and he was ok with a quick hug and kiss and slept till 6am, which was v.good as he went to bed at 6.00 pm.But its been a tough week, he is happy with 3 hours A time, which means if he naps 1-2.30 he is ready for bed by 5.30! but if he napped then he would be up till 9pm!!! im wondering if the night wakings are a result of overtiredness at bedtime? he slept through since 4.5 mths so being up at night is a shock. the other day he woke at 4.30 am! HELP!! DOes his nap routine need adjusting?
Also the other problem is hes a stickler for routine (capricorn) and loves home comforts, eg his cot. which means he HAS to have his 2 long naps. If we are out during nap times in car etc.. he falls asleep but is grumpy all day then and hard to settle at night. This means we are confined to house, only time we can get out is between 11 and 1, sometimes impossible as i have a 3 year old on summer hols! Does anyone else feel like this? he is an angel/touchy baby.
TIA Laura

[lauraj79]

Thankyou, I will try that. We are at M-I-L`s over the weekend so all routine will prob be off track. Also he will have to share a room with us, which isnt great. He likes his own room and is a noisy sleeper! Often wakes and chats in the night. sometimes half an hour or so!
With the afternoon nap you suggest (2-4) this doesnt always happen. the most he has in the afternoon is 1hr.30mins, but yes, thinking about it its better to put him down at 2pm rather than 1.30, will certainly try it on monday. i remember when dd dropped her catnap and it was worse cos she would only have 10 hours at night, which meant a 6pm bedtime would mean a 4 am wake up 
Atleast charlie will go 12 hours! im almost certain the overtiredness is affecting his night sleep as it has coincided with dropping that 3rd nap. he woke at 1 am last night but was very good and settled with a hug and his musical mobile, but to me its still broken sleep!!
laura