Naps getting shorter....Can't figure it out...help!

[laurenhendo]

Hey there all

My DD is 8 months old and has always been a pretty good napper. The last 3 weeks, her naps have been getting progressively shorter and we have also had some EW's. Here is her routine posted below.

6am (lately 5:30 or 5:00) Wake
7am Solids
8am Bottle
9am Nap (used to be 1.5hrs now 45mins or 1 hr max)

9:45 - 10:30 wake
12:00 Solids
1:00 bottle
1:30 Nap (same as above anywhere from 45 mins to 1hr)

2:15 - 3:00 Wake
4:30 - Solids
5:00 Bath
5:45 Bottle
6:00 Bed

In case you are wondering, we find that having her solids first, she seems to eat more and always drinks her bottle whereas if the bottle comes first, she only drinks 1/2 ...straaange huh!

She went to the 3hr awake time around 7 months as she seemed ready for it, but i dont know if any more than 3 hours at her age is too much? She seems quite happy playing past the 3hr mark, but i always put her down around then anyways. Once or twice we have been out and about and she has lasted 3.5 hours, but her naps have stayed the same?!?!?

She goes down easily on her own, i put her in her sleeping bag, pop the white noise on and off she goes, but i cannot figure this out!! im totally stumped as to what can be causing the EW and short naps....

Also, on the days when she wakes early...should i give her a catnap? otherwise it's bedtime at like 4:30pm....which is a bit early!


Thanks in advance for your advice ladies, it is much appreciated!!!

[deckchariot]

45 min naps generally do indicate undertired, and if she seems happy to keep playing, you may want to try giving her a bit more A time.  I would just lengthen by about 15 min and see what happens with that.  Also, I know sometimes with EWs, an earlier bedtime - if only temporarily does seem to help.  So, if she wakes at 5:30, I really would try to put her down by 5. 

Whenever my dd's naps start to shorten, the first thing I try is a bit longer A time for at least 3 days and see if that straightens things out.  If she's done 3.5 when you're out, but still naps short, that doesn't necessarily mean longer A won't lengthen naps.  My dds naps are always a bit off if we've been out and about past when she'd normally go down for a nap.

HTH
michelle

[laurenhendo]

Hi Michelle,

Thanks so much for your advice...i kept her up for 3 hr 15 mins this afternoon, even though her morning nap was short and we were rewarded with 1 hr 15, so will keep on that track and hopefully things will straighten themselves out!

Thanks again!

LH

[deckchariot]

YEAH!!!  glad you got a good nap in....sometimes one good nap is all I need to keep at it.  Routine changes have been the best way for me to work on Abby's naps, so I'm glad it seems to be working!

[laurenhendo]

Hey again!

We had another EW, this time only 15 mins before her usual wake up time...1 hr nap this am, then 1hr 20 this pm....so slowly seems to be working...the longer pm nap is all i need to keep at it too

LH

[deckchariot]

I'm so glad you're seeing some success!!!  Keep up the good work!!!

[laurenhendo]

Hey again

Well...we have a tooth now, the 1st one! Now im wondering if thats why her naps were up the wall!?! Oh well, i will keep her at 3hr 15 mins and see how we go. I tried 3 1/2 hours but it just seemed too much. How long should she be awake at her age ? 8 months 1 wk.

Ta
LH

[deckchariot]

teething messes everything up!  At 8 mos, A times vary widely - anywhere from 3-4 hrs.  My dd is 10 mos and still at 3, but I know other moms with younger bubs and longer A times, so you just have to try out a few options and find what fits best for your lo.  Whatever you try in terms of A time, give it several days to see if it sorts things out.  Good luck!

[laurenhendo]

Thanks again for that advice, i havent been that consistant with A times, and therefore i have no idea what she can handly. I know for a fact 3 hours is now getting to be too short, so will try the 3.25 hours consitantly over the next few days.

Will let you know how i go

LH

[deckchariot]

good luck!!  It's always a bit of trial and error for me in terms of figuring out my dds A time, so hang in there!

[laurenhendo]

Good to know it's a trial and error thing for other Mums...sometimes i thought i was the only one who sometimes had to back backwards and forwards with A times hehehe

We had the 1 hr nap this am, and i have just popped her down for her pm nap...hopefully 1.5 hrs, then she will go to bed at 6...as she was wiiiide awake at 5:30 this morning (no doubt as a result of the very long am nap yesterday...we also have 4 night wakings last night...yawn!)

My hubby is going away on business next week so hopefull we will be sorted out by then or i'm afraid i will just drag her into bed with me so we can both get some sleep...

LH

[deckchariot]

sometimes you just do what you have to do to get through the day (or the night)....how about you take a nap while she dozes?!

[laurenhendo]

Well, we had a shocker last night with lots of night waking and my lo just wanted to be cuddled all night. She was ok this morning, and gave me a big smile and sure enough, there was a second tooth. Poor bubby, two teeth in a matter of days!

I will make sure to take naps while my hubby is away, he gets home late normally so im used to feeding, bathing, putting to bed on my own, so it shouldn't be too much of a struggle, hehehe im actually looking forward to having some nights to myself to just lie in the bath and read on the couch hhehehehehehe

[deckchariot]

teething......yes....sounds like a rough night - you deserve that nice bath and a good book 

[laurenhendo]

Thanks looking forward to it!!

We have been out today and just put her down for a nap at 3.25 hrs A time...she fought a bit, but went down eventually....i think we will keep A times at 3.25 hrs for a whole week, and then see where we go from there.

LH xxo