Put down, but not ready...now what?

[kohnheads]

So this doesn't happen very often because I pride myself on the fact that I can read my children's cues, but this morning I put one of my twins down for his am nap and he was NOT ready but I didn't realize it until he was in his crib and screaming to get out.

So what I've done in the past is just shh/pat until he settles, which today took 25 minutes!!!  I've never wanted to take him back out of his crib because I'm afraid that he will learn to associate crying with getting out of the crib.  And we don't do PU/PD because it stimulates him more than settles him.

So do I just hold out with the shh/pat until he's asleep?

Thanks,
Lindsay

[deckchariot]

That's what we did with our dd  - but I'd take a break if it's been 30-40  min, have some super low key A time, and then try again.  If pat/shh works, I'd definitely go with that over pu/pd.  Don't beat yourself up over it!  I find my lo's cues are actually harder to read now then they used to be - tired and bored often look very similar in her.

HTH
michelle

[kohnheads]

Okay, I'm starting to wonder if maybe he's ready to get rid of the catnap.  When does this usually happen?  He is taking an am nap from 9-10:30, pm nap from 12:45-2, and catnap from 4:30-5 (all times give or take).  But somedays they are ready to stay up longer than 2 hrs 15 min and could probably do 3 hours.  They are 5.5 months old - is it too soon to be on only two naps?  Some days we have done this and it seems to work...  Other days they are so tired that we still do the catnap.

[Layla]

Hey Lindsay... your boys are absolutely gorgeous !!!

Some days they might alternate between 2 & 3 naps. To be honest... if it were me I would have pick up & try again later rather than do shh/pat for a baby that is not tired. I don't think you need to worry about him associating crying with being taken out of the cot. It doesn't happen all the time so its not something to worry about... jut my opinion

Some can get rid of the catnap as early as 5 months but you need to see if he will then be able to manage 3hrs A time or you will have a long evening & he'll get overtired before bedtime. Its also possibel tha what oine twin is doing the other wont... that is if you feel like one of the twins is ready for more A time then you could eliminate the catnap & let the other twin take 3 naps. That might mean though that they won't be on the same schedule & not sure how you would feel about that?

hth
Layla

[kohnheads]

Hmm...well, now he has decided that he doesn't want to sleep for longer than 45 minutes.  I'm usually able to get him back down for another 45min to an hour but not without a fight.  We actually have a pretty early bedtime so here's what I think I might try for schedule:
E 7am
A 7:30-9:30
S 9:30-11:15
Y
E 11:15
A 11:45-1:45
S 1:45-3:30
Y
E 3:30
A 4-6:30
S 6:30 (bedtime)

6:30 is our normal bedtime so it wouldn't be too out of the ordinary.  They are usually very ready for bed by then.  I'll have to try this tomorrow.  I had my sister-in-law over this morning to babysit while I got some errands done, and she didn't put Nolan back down when he woke after 45 minutes (I forgot to tell her about this new bad habit!) so he had a short nap and I woke his brother so they didn't get too far off on their schedules.

As far as them being on the same schedule, I think his brother is ready too.  And like you said, I can go between 2 & 3 naps, depending on the day.  Sounds like my little stinker is awake now (it's only been 40 minutes!!!) so I must go get him back to sleep!!!

Thanks for your help,
Lindsay