New to EASY, trying to get naps sorted!

[lucamaluca]

Hi, I'm a first time mum and my son lucas is 6 months old next week. He is a short napper andwe've just started EASY. A few questions, if anyone can please help!!
1. when he wakes up after only 45 min (9am nap), do we leave him in the cot to try to fall asleep on his own or until he starts crying and then do PU/PD?
2. Since he only slept 45  min on his first nap, do i then have to adjust his whole routine and do I continue with the 11 feed and next nap only at 1pm?
3. since he's 6 months, what should his ideal routine be? We haven't started solids yet.
4. if i put him to bed earlier because all his naps have been about 45min - let's say at 6:30 rather than 7:30, do i adjust the dreamfeed? He still wakes up a lot during the night
thanks so much

[andibig]

Hi
I'd say if he is only napping for 45 mins he needs more awake time.usually 45 mins signals not enough awake time and 30 mins means they are overtired.

if his first nap is short then yes you will have to bring your next nap earlier so that he doesn't get OT.

if he short naps during the day then an early bedtime will help so that he can make up the sleep he has missed during the day.

I'm not sure about the dream feed as Sasha never had one and he will be dropping that at around 7-8 months.

I haven't posted a routine as i'd like to have a look at your LOs first.
Andrea

[jenandben]

Thanks Andrea- great info!  I've had the same problems with my lo.

[lucamaluca]

what's LO?

[mumofiz]

LO = little one, your baby 

[lucamaluca]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!
7am wake & BF , although he has been waking up at 6:30 the last 2 days
9am- down for 45 min
11 BF
1pm-down for 2 hrs
3pm BF
6pm-bath, jammies, BF
6:30 - asleep
10:30 - DF
one more feed in the night, sometimes at 4 or at 5am

I've been offering a catnap at around 5, but he hasn't gone for it. I'm going to try today again, this time i'll put him in bed at 4:45, and see what happens. any advice on how to get rid of the nightfeed? Or should i start him on solids b4?
thanks guys!!

[andibig]

I think the NW (night wakings) are being caused by not enough sleep during the day.
I personally would extend his morning awake time a little bit, just by 15 mins or 5 mins depending on your LO.
his 2nd nap however is spot on!!!2hrs is great .
I would say that he is getting ready to drop that catnap and most LOs will do that at this age.Again this another reason they will need some of their awake times adjusting as they will be only having 2 naps now.
With the night feeding I wouldn't consider it that unusual for him to be feeding once during the night even at this age.some do take a little longer to drop their night feed.Do you feel he is genuinely hungry or is more for comfort and getting back to sleep?
He is at the right age for starting solids and at this point you would still offer the BF first and then solids.Start with 1 mealtime (i did dinner with sasha but most people will do lunch) and gradually build it up to 3.I'm going to get the solids mod to just post a few tips as shes far more an expert than me!!
HTH

[RachelC]

I wouldn't be concerned about the night feed at this point.  It is quite normal for babies to hold on to that feed for quite some time.  I would keep with it until solids are firmly established.

Now is a great time to start experimenting with solids.  You start with so little that it won't affect the night wakings yet.

This FAQ from the solid food forum has lots of great info on starting solids:
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=57557.0

HTH

[lucamaluca]

We're going camping this weekend, so when we come back we'll start him on solids. Thanks for all your help everyone!
Lucas slept through for the first time last night!!! YES!! From 7pm til 6:30, with DF at 11pm. Feel so great!!

[andibig]

WOOHOO
Way to go Lucas!!!!

[RachelC]

That's wonderful!  Have fun camping