EASY method and extending nap time

[MyMrE]

Hello All,

I am new to this board and have some questions.  I am a nanny of two infants, a 7 month old who is on the EASY plan, and a 9 month old who is not.  I am trying to extend the naps of the 7 month old so that he can be on a similar schedule with the 9 month old, who sleeps for two hours at a time.  The 7 month old only sleeps about 45 minutes at a time and has been consistent with that for several months.  The difficulty I'm having is that I'm finding that using the EASY plan, he is falling asleep just about the same time he is starting to get hungry for his next meal.  No baby is going to sleep when hungry.  How do I extend his nap time using the EASY method?

I apologize if this has already been covered, but I looked on the site several times and was a bit overwhelmed with all the information.

Thanks so much for any help,
Jen

[Aly Mac]

Hi Jen and welcome 

Not sure if you are really going to be able to put a 7 and 9month on the same routine really, as they are at different developmental, eating and sleeping stages.  certainly worth a try, at least for one nap.

Some q's first, can you post the routine for the 7month old so we can look at the whole day.  also if you have it, the nighttime routine.  not what you are aiming for, but what is happening so we can see where we can give any advice.

thanks

[MyMrE]

Yes, I'll get that info for you ASAP.  I'll need to discuss with his mom, since I don't know what his night time is like.

Thanks,
Jen

[MyMrE]

Sorry for the delay.  Here is 7 month old schedule.  I'll give you his mom's weekend schedule and then my weekday schedule.  As you'll see, I am having a difficult time with getting him to have a substantial nap in the afternoon. 

Weekend with parents

6:30 wake/new diaper
6:45 ate 7 oz. bottle
8:45 sign of being tired/new diaper
9:00 sleep
9:40 awake
9:45 ate solids 2-3 oz.
10:30 bath/new diaper
11:00 ate 5 oz bottle
12:00 asleep
2:20 pm wake/new diaper
2:30 pm 6 oz. bottle
3:15 pm ate/solids 2-3 oz.
6 pm 2 oz bottle
6:15 asleep
7:10 woke up
7:15 ate 7 oz.
8:15 solids 2-3 oz.
9:15 pm bedtime  typical night time sleep is 9-10 hours.

My weekday
6:15 wake
6:20 8 oz bottle
8:45 signs of being tired/new diaper
9:10 asleep
9:40 awake
9:45 solid foods/3 oz.
10:00 am 4 oz bottle
12n signs of being tired
12:20 sleep
1:10 wake/but still showing sign of being tired
1:20 sleep
1:25 wake
1:30 4 oz bottle
1:35 sleep
3:00pm wake
3:15 solid food/3 oz.
3:30 3 oz bottle
5:15 home 

[Aly Mac]

just marking this - sorry thought I could post but have to fly.  will come back to this in the morning - promise!

thanks for the info.

[Aly Mac]

HI there,

from what I can see with the routines, he may be OT from the nighttime.  he is not going down for his full nights sleep til around 9.15 pm but still awake at 6.30.  I know some cultures ahve these bedtimes but usually the wake up time is later too.  So his first A time is too long given he is already tired.  I would try to put him down for his sleep around 1.5hrs after he wakes - so around 8am at the latest.  this will help him with a longer nap. even if he was having 11hrs at night, i think 3hrs A time first thing is too much for abub that age - certainly other times of the day he may, if he has had a good 1.5/2hr nap, but not a 45min one.

not sure if you will be albe to put them both ont he same schedule given this bed time and not sure if the parent are will to change some things or not.

let me know if this is helpful or not.

[MyMrE]

Thanks for your input.  I'll convey the message and see what we can do to solve the issue.

Thanks,
Jen