2nd Nap always 45mins for 7.5month old

[Jodieplus2]

My little boy is 7.5months old (nearly!) & has 2-3 naps per day- the first is pretty much always 1.5-2 hours (we wake him after 2 hours). The second though is never longer than 45mins. Depending on when he wakes in the morning, he can also sometimes have a last nap at about 4-5pm which is never longer than 45mins either.

Here is our rough routine:

7AM- WAKE
7.30AM- BREAKFAST & BOTTLE
9.30AM- NAP- 1.5-2HOURS
11.30AM- LUNCH
2PM- NAP- ALWAYS 45MINS
3PM- BOTTLE
4.15PM- SOMETIMES NAP IF NEEDED
5PM- DINNER
6.30-BATH/ BOTTLE
7PM- BED TIME

Can anyone recommend how we can extend the second nap in order for us to eliminate the third nap & make him not so tired & ratty in the late afternoon?

Many Thanks
Jodie

[*Natasha*]

When my DD dropped her cat nap we went through the same thing. Our routine was identical to yours and what worked for us was to use W2S to extend that 2nd nap. Have you tried this yet?

[Jodieplus2]

HI, thanks for your reply,

I have tried w2s a few times before when we have been through 45min naps, but it never seemed to work , he just ended up waking anyway. Does it work for older babies then?

Thanks
Jx

[Layla]

Jodie - I came to the naps board with exactly the same issue and lovely sleep mods suggested w2s (which worked for my then 7mo).

I would go in at 30min mark and do something to make her move. Move her blanket or stroke her palm or cheek just enough to make her move (but not wake up). Even if its move her head from side to side or something. Then leave and that should be enough to make her transition into the next cycle. Try that for 5days in a row and hopefully you won't have to do it again!

Layla

[Lizziebeth]

Jodie, just wondering ...does he wake happy or crying from this 45 min nap? 

[Jodieplus2]

Ok, thanks, will try the w2s again then if it persists. I just worry because the previous times that I have tried this it woke him completely & made matter worse lol!! I will try to be very gentle.
Ironically today he has managed to have a longer second nap- has already been sleeping 1.5 hours!

Lizziebeth- he wakes quite happily, not really the "sudden" wake & cry that he used to have when waking at 45mins when he was younger. He just seems to stir then starts chatting! But then later he will get pretty grizzly in the afternoon & before bed etc if he only sleeps 45mins.

This short second nap means we also have to try to fit in another nap at 4-5pm if he needs it, & this can be a bit of a mission, sometimes taking 30mins for him to fall asleep- by which stage it is a bit late for him to be napping (early naps only take 5mins maximum for him to fall to sleep).

Thanks
Jx

[Lizziebeth]

If he's waking happily at 45 mins, then perhaps he's just not tired enough to make it into another sleep cycle.   Perhaps he needs a bit more A time before the second nap?

Also, from what I understand W2S won't work if the A times aren't right.  Is that right, Natasha? 

[Jodieplus2]

Hi
Yes, I am thinking that maybe he is ok transitioning from one sleep cycle to the next since he can do it in the morning, and on certain days (today for example when he slept 1.5hours for both naps), so perhaps I should try extending the A time for the second nap then.
Do you know what is an average A time for a 7.5month old? At the moment he is pretty much on 2.5hours.

Thanks for your help
Jx

[Lizziebeth]

Hi, have a look at this link. It doesn't give A times for between 7-8  months but looking at this, my guess is something around 3hrs


Is my baby ready to increase his A time?
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64158.0

[Jodieplus2]

That's a great help, thank you. I will try starting to increase his A time now.

Jxx

[*Natasha*]

Also, from what I understand W2S won't work if the A times aren't right.  Is that right, Natasha? 

That is right. Also if you don't get the timing right for W2S it won't work i found the magic time for us was 25mins.You can certainly try extending his awake time as well.