New here! Need serious nap help!

[jennyk]

Hi everyone!  I've been lurking here but finally decided to post.  I have a 5 1/2 month old very spirited personality little boy.  He's a fantastic night sleeper, going to bed easily after we do our routine.  He goes to bed at night around 8 pm, and he usually sleep until at least 6 am. 

Once he's up for the day (usually around 7) he believes he's UP for good and absolutely FIGHTS naps.  I'm trying to establish a 4 hour EASY, and everything about the E-A goes well...and then the dreaded Sleep.  He HATES the shhh-pat and just seems more distracted by it than anything.  I think he'd let me PU/PD all day if I'd give in to that.  I've ended up letting him CIO lately just to get a nap in him, but then he'll only sleep for 30-45 minutes.  There's no getting him back to sleep after that catnap.

Does anyone have any suggestions?  I've probably waited too long to try to establish a good routine, but it's taking its toll on me, and I'd like to be able to have some "me" time during the day.  Thank you!!!

[carlson_bb]

This is the first time I've replied to anyone so here goes....I think he isn't getting enough sleep at night actually and it is probably causing him to be overly tired when you put him down for his first nap, which then becomes a problem for every other nap.  At 5 1/2 months, my daughter was sleeping from 6:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.  She is now going on 10 months and I'm just now cutting her night sleep down to 11 hours (as a result of some nap issues we were having).  Also, do you have a set routine during the day and are you doing the same wind down for naps as you do for night sleep?  We read our baby a story (just one) before naps and night bedtime.  This way she knows what is coming next.  I always try to keep the routine times consistent so when you say he "usually" sleeps until 6 it makes me wonder if you are letting him decide when he can get up.  Unfortunately, they don't know as much as you do about how much sleep they need.  What is your current routine?  (And I really do recommend pu/pd, but only once you know exactly what your routine will be and it allows you to put him down when he isn't overly tired.  Then you have to commit to the routine and pu/pd.  It is never too late as long as you are committed to the process!)  Oh, and my last bit of advice is that you be strict about naps and not run errands during nap times.