8.5 mo - naps regressed to 45 mins

[momirem]

Hi,

My 8.5 mo DD is on 4 hour EASY since she is 5 mo. She has never been a good napper, especially for AM naps. But we have managed to have 1.5 hour naps in the afternoon. Our schedule looked like

7.00: E (usually wake up at 6.00 – 6.30)
A
9.00 – 9.30: AM nap (most of the time for 45 min)
11.00: E
A
1.00: PM nap (1 h 30 min)
3.00: E
5.00 catnap (45 min)
7.00 E and bath, bed time ritual, usually at bed at 8.00
10.30 DF

Two weeks ago, the PM naps were down to 45 min, and the catnap increased to 1h 30 min. In addition, DD started to wake up early, sometimes at 4.00 or 5.00. I thought that it was time to eliminate the catnap.

In addition, we have introduced solids. So I have modified the schedule according the BW book and sample EASY schedules of 6-9 mo on the board.

7.00 Breakfast
A
9.00 AM nap
10.30 Snack
A
1.00 Lunch
A
2.00-2.30 PM nap
4.00 Snack
6.30 Dinner, bath, bed time ritual, down at 8.00
10.00 DF

I tried to change the schedule slowly for two weeks. We have no problems with solids, but no success with naps. DD still has 2 naps of 45 min. Because of the short AM nap, she gets tired during the lunch time. That causes short PM nap. And of course, she gets very tired at dinner time, too. I tried W2S, patting, letting her in bed (no PU/PD because she is not crying), but nothing worked.

I am really confused. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks a lot

[jaylabliss]

I used to not have success with W2S- but I wasn't waking him up enough. My son took 45 minute naps for 6 days in a row so I tried W2S again- this time- I rubbed his cheek, ruffled his hair, and poked his hand after he had been asleep for 30 minutes- and it worked! I think I was too scared before, but whats the worst that can happen? he would wake up in a few minutes anyways....

[momirem]

Thanks for the suggestion.
Today's second nap was very interesting. DD woke up 3 times at 30 min mark. She went back to sleep with the pat. At the end, we had 1h 45m of pm nap
So I will definitely try to really wake her up at 30 minutes. As you say, at worst, she will nap for 30 min instead of 40.