Our schedule neeps help.

[jenjordi]

Well things were going pretty good for awhile   Bryce was sleeping at least 10 hours, if not 11, a night.  Woohoo. He was going to sleep around 7:30 or 8:00 and waking around 6:30.  This was a dream for us.  Now he is going to bed around the same time but he is waking up closer to 5:00am (and sometimes even in the middle of the night... but the NW has happened only once or twice in the past few weeks)

I was reading the easy boards pertaining to "typical schedules" and mine is waaaaaaaaaay off. Our A times are too short and I think we have way too many naps   I need some help transitioning to a better (more age appropriate schedule) Please help us  .. hehe

Bryce is little over 7 months

5:00 or so wake up and BF  (I can usually get him to go back to sleep but not always)
6:30 to 7:00 wake up again and try to BF but usually doesn't eat but a few minutes
8:00 cereal with fruit
9:00 put down for nap (He usually goes down for his nap around 2 to 2 1/4 hours after he wakes in the morning)
9:00-11:00 (usually sleeps about 2 hours.  He sometimes wakes up after an hour, plays for about 5 minutes, then falls back asleep then naps another hour.. yesterday he actually slept for about 2 1/2 hours total)
11:00 BF
11:00-1:00 or 1:30 Activity.
1:30-2:30 Nap (this one used to be two hours but he has been getting up after 45 minutes to an hour lately)
3:00 BF (this feeding is usually terrible)
2:30 -4:30 activity (includes dinner)
4:30 - 5:30 catnap
7:00 bath
7:30 BF then bed

If the first two naps are good ones then I have tried dropping the 3rd nap and pushing the bedtime to around 6:30 or 7:00. This hasn't changed the EW.  Does anyone have any tips for me.  I feel like this is all wrong for his age     Am I wrong? 

[Purplecattypants]

Moving this to EASY for you, as I think it's more appropriate there 

[* Paula *]

Looking at your routine, I would say that your lo needs a bit more A time.

Early wakings are a sure sign of needing extra A time.

You could aim for 2.5 hours in the morning and perhaps 2.75 in the afternoon and see how your lo gets on.

[jenjordi]

should i drop the catnap?

[* Paula *]

I would definitely give it a try and see how your lo copes.  You may have to aim for a slightly earlier bedtime to ensure that he does not get too over tired.

[jenjordi]

Wanted to give an update. I have increased A time and dropped the catnap. His bedtime is anywhere from 6:30-7:30 depending on his naps and A time. I try not to let his last A time be longer than 3 hours .. he seems to be ok. 
Well I shouldn't complain but he is still getting up at 5:00 to BF but luckily now he is going back to sleep and sleeping until 7:00-7:30 woohoo. (this is an improvement from just getting up at 5:00am and staying up)
I wonder how long he will need this 5:00am feed. Is it still normal for him to need a feed that early? Could this be a habit?  I am not worrying about it too much right now since he is going back to sleep until 7:30.

[* Paula *]

That is great news.

It can take about a week for you to start seeing the full effects of a new routine, so give it a bit of time.  If he is waking up at exactly the same time every morning, I would say that it is more than likely a habit, and would consider trying w2S and see how that goes.  Perhaps stirring him at 4am.  (I know the thought of getting up at 4am) We did this with our DD when she had habitual early wakings and it did work like a dream.

[jenjordi]

Thanks,
I'll give it a few more days and see how it goes.  I will try w2s this weekend if need be.
Thanks again!!!

[* Paula *]

Good Luck.  Keep us posted.

[jenjordi]

Well... didn't try w2s this weekend because now he has added a NW ehh.. For the past three days, he has been waking up between 3:45 and 4:45 and then again around 6:00am.  I put him down around 6:30pm last night hoping that would help..but nope 
His afternoon nap is only lasting about an hour.. so now since I dropped the catnap he is down from 5 hours worth of naps to 3. Do you think that is now catching up with him and causing the NW?  I am going to shorten his afternoon A time a little today and see If that will lengthen his nap. Anyone else have any suggestions??

[* Paula *]

How long is his A time in the afternoon?

[jenjordi]

Yesterday I put him down by 6:00pm because I didn't want his A time to be too long.  I think it was a little under 3 hours.  The day before though it was almost 4 hours .. wooops. I have been trying to be between 2.5 to 3 hours.  Even though he was asleep a little after 6 last night, he still woke up around 3:00. I fed him because I was at a loss and then put him back down.  He started crying around 15 minutes later..so I checked his diaper and then put him back down again. I also gave him some tylenol just in case it was his teeth.  He started crying again on and off.  I hated to let him cry but he would cry for a minute or so ..doze off..cry agan for a minute or two and then doze. Finally around 4:00 he fell back asleep until 6:30. 
His day has looked like this so far. I have decreased the A times just a little. They were closer to 3 hours.  I am thinking that was too much too soon.
6:30 Wake
6:45 BF
8:00 solids
8:45 down for nap
8:50-10:40am sleep
10:45 Feed ( only took 3 ounces)
1:00 BF to see if he would eat because he only took 3 ounces at the last feeding
1:05 -2:45 nap
What time should I put him down to sleep for the night?  5:45?  That seems so early. What do you think I should do?


Thanks for all your help!! I need it. I am hoping I am not starting another feeding habit in the middle of the night.  I do think my supply is getting low so maybe he is not getting enough to eat during the day?? Who knows.  I gave him a bottle at the 10:45 feeding and he only took 3 ounces. He is kooky

[* Paula *]

You can either put down for the night at that time, or you could aim for a short cat nap and have bed time slighlty later.

Hugs, let us know how you get on.