What am I doing wrong?

[osmom]

DS is 4.5 months old.  EASY has been working very well with us. He's on a 3.5 hour EASy and all of a sudden, won't take an afternoon nap. the am nap is wonderful, but from 1:30 on until bedtime, I can't get him to sleep!   

Here's our schedule. Is it that we're ready for 4 hour EASY? 

wake 7am
E 7 am
A 7-8:30
S 8:30-10:30
E10:30
A 10:30-12
S - This should be a nap, but ends up being endless paci plugging and pat  / shh
E 2 pm
A 2-4
S 4pm (same as 12 nap)
E 5:30
Bath at 6:30
Bed at 7 pm
Sleeps through until 7 am next morning (thank god for this)

Please don't think this is a complaining post. I am so thankful taht DS sleeps through the night, I just don't know why he isn't napping. He is miserable for the whole afternoon and just wants to be held because he is overtired. I know he needs to sleep a little bit in that afternoon stretch. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.  Erin

[*Mona*]

hi Erin

happy birthday to your O

as far as your Ds's routine- I'd definitely go for 4hrs. his morning nap looks fab BUT it may be a bit too long actually after a sleepthrough night to have him tired enought at the next ones KWIM?

so, I'd try 4 hrs easy and maybe limit the first nap to 1,5hrs.
let us know how you're doing

Monika

[Larissa london]

Erin, hi
Same here - the routine was working well for three days and then suddenly trouble to get him asleep through this afternoon naps. all shushing and patting seemed to take longer to get him to that deep sleep. my DS doesnt sleep through the night yet but hopefully we will get there. Best of luck!

[osmom]

Monika - Thanks for your advice. It makes sense..if he's getting all his day sleep in that first nap, he won't be as likely to sleep in the pm. I'll try putting the am nap a little later and making it shorter and see how we get on. Thanks for wishing O a happy birthday. I see your little Maja is up for a first birthday soon !  Happy first birthday!

Larissa - Hope you have some luck with your little one. It is very frustrating when they won't sleep, but clearly need to.  Let me know how you get on. We can share ideas! 

I'm switching to 4 hour easy today and will give it some time to see how it works.  Erin   

[*Mona*]

Erin- good luck and keep us posted with 4hrs transition!
thanks for b-day wishes

Monika

[osmom]

Okay...so I think I might have figured out what some of the problem is.  After the one hour screaming / pat / shh session every day, lo seems to poop    Why did it take me so long to notice this pattern?  I wonder if he can't sleep because he is "working things out!"  Don't think there is anything I can do to change the time of day he poops!    I guess I'll have to just work with it!  I am still going to transition to 4 hour. I think he is ready!  I'll keep you posted. Erin

[*Mona*]

hi Erin

actually it's good IMO that he pops same time every day. might make it easier with potty training in the 'future'
go on with the transition. you'll do great!

[osmom]

Okay...going on with the transition, but afternoon nap still isn't here!  Screamed for an hour with pat /  shh today!  Never went to sleep.  I'm at my wits end. I can't hold him for the whole second half of the day while he cries becuase he is tired. I just don't know why he isn't sleeping.  Here is his schedule today:

slept 7 pm to 6:45 am
E 7
A 7-9
S 9-10:30
E 10:45
A 11-1
S _ no napping, but tried until 2


Any ideas?? Erin

[*Mona*]

you know what... not much of a 'routine advice' BUT why don't you just let him show you when he's ready to nap?
I very well remember those days when I was determined to get Maja to nap and she just wouldn't no matter what I'd do with/to her KWIM
SO sometimes it's better not to try too much- if he doesn't want to nap, let him be- if he's not crying that is. if he is- maybe it's growth spurt he's going through? has he been wanting to feed more often lately?

[osmom]

Not feeding more often lately, but excellent advice Monika. My type A personality struggles with just letting things go!  thanks for opening my eyes!  Erin