Rachel,
I find Nello has 40 min sleep cycles. When he is overtired he wakes up at the end of the first cycle and needs help, but will only go to the 1.5 mark. Generally, he sleeps only 2 and 1/2 cycles- 1.5 hours, I would kill for 3 sleep cycles- 2 hours, as I think he needs it, I really have stopped waiting for it to happen as the dissapointment kills me each day
! Sorry to highjack your thread. If he is not tired enough, he makes it through the first 40 min cycle no probs but only does 1 1/2 cycles, which is 1 hour. I hate when that happens. So even though, I kept trying to get him down earlier because I thought that was best for him, he would do an hour on us! Sorry if this is mumbo jumbo equation like, but I feel your pain. I now put him to sleep at 12:30 (up at 6:30ish) It at leasts gets us 1.5 hours no help needed. It seems too late to me, but take yesterday for example, he fell asleep at 11:45 in the car and I transferred him (which I think is a perfect time for him to sleep, but apparently he doesn't) he woke up at the hour mark and man that is a long afternoon to last!
I don't get the NW as much anymore when he is has accumulative overtired days, but we get the 1 cycle too short in the A.M and man is there a difference in his mood at 6am than a lovely 6:40am wake up, my mood as well!
I think you should try Lana's idea.
Aisling x