{hugs} Katie, this doesn't sound fun. On a serious note, if you're going to the Cotswolds for 2 weeks and you want some company then we'll be there! DH's company pay for all his petrol and it'd be nice to get away from the stresses of trying to sell our house for a day! No pressure if you've lots planned but let me know if you fancy it
Neither of my boys have taken more than one long nap a day (at least after the early weeks). I spent alot of time trying to get Zander to take 2 long naps before I accepted that one would always be 45 minutes and no time at all accepting that Nate would be the same too!
At 5 months Nate would have a 45 minute nap after no longer than 2 hours A time and another long nap after no longer than 2.25 hours A time. So let's say he woke at 7, naps would be 9-9.45 then 12-2ish with a catnap (always on the run, only ever in the car at the end but in the pushchair or sling when he'd do that and I think doing that for the catnap made him more portable!) around 4.30/5. By catnap I mean just that, literally 10-20 minutes! Zander would never take a catnap though, so I know what you mean about that! In your situation I think I'd take the girls out for a long walk at that time if I could, so Norah's at least getting some rest and fresh air even if she isn't getting a nap. As for feeds, Nate was feeding at 7, 11, top-up just before long nap, 2.30 (or whenever he woke up) and 6.30. I'd recommend the feed before the long (hopefully!) nap as a full tummy might help Norah to sleep longer.
Have you considered that Norah doesn't really need a wind-down and that it's just frustrating her? I only say this because Nate has never had one lol! He does, though, have sleep cues, things which tell him he's going to sleep. The major one is putting him in his sleeping bag. As well as that he has some sleepy classical music playing at sleep times (I know you have those!!) and a Fisher Price Aquarium which plays wave sounds (which he now operates himself if he ever wakes up!).
As for the blackouts, we have some travel blackout blinds. They're not perfect but pretty good and we used them in our bedroom when Nate was tiny. Here they are;
http://www.baabaablinds.com/. I'd be happy to sell you mine if you're interested as we don't need them anymore.
I'm afraid I'm a little less well equiped for ideas on how to actually get her to sleep as I've pretty much always left Nate to it. Could you try that? Put some nice music and/or white noise on and make it as dark as you can, put her in her sleeping bag, give her a little top-up feed if it's her lunchtime nap, tell her it's time to go to sleep and put her in her cot and go. I remember Nate always started crying at this point but he'd stopped by the time I'd walked out of the room or very soon after. If she's not crying, just fussing etc. then leave her to it - even turn the monitor off until she's hopefully asleep. If she's crying you'll hear her but you won't be clenching your bum cheeks listening to every little sound (or is that just me?!).
I hope today is a good day for you sweetie.
Kelly x
