A time for 9 month old---HELP...I've got it all wrong!

[babyboy26]

Hello!

I have previously posted on the "Naps" board, but I think I may have more of a routine problem, so my hope is that posting here will give me some additional support!  I have a son who will be 9 months on Sunday.  He is a textbook baby, for the most part. 

I am having trouble getting the proper A time for both the morning and afternoon nap, which leads me to sometimes have to do a catnap, which I think leads to restless night sleep and EW.  I have been working on increasing A time over the past 2 weeks, but just can't seem to get it right!  Here is his routine for the last 2 days:

Wednesday:

Wake 6:15
E:  6:45 (bottle)
     8:15 (cereal)

A:  Until 9:40 (That was 3 hrs 25 min A time---didn't intend it to be this long, but he played for 10-15 min before
                    falling asleep)
S:  9:40 - 10:30 (50 min---woke up happy & playing)

E:  11:45 (bottle)
     12:45 (solids)
A:  Until 1:35  (3 hrs 5 min A)
S:  1:35 - 2:20 (45 min---woke up happy & playing)

E:  5:15 (solids)
A:  until 5:50
S:  5:50 - 6:15 (25 min---woke up crying...hard to put down for this CN)

E:  6:40 (bottle)
A:  Until 7:20 (was going to keep him up later due to CN, but he was so, so tired)
S:  7:20 - 6:10 (10 hrs 50 min---he used to get 11.25 to 11.5 hrs at night)

Yesterday:  (Thursday)

Wake:  6:10
E:  6:45 (bottle)
     8:20 (cereal)
A:  Until 9:30 (that was 3 hrs 20 min A time)
S:  9:30 -10:20 (50 min--woke up happy & playing)

E:  11:50 (bottle)
     1:00 (solids)
A:  Until 1:40  (3 hrs 20 min A time)
S:  1:40 - 3:05 (1 hr 25 min---he woke at the 40 min mark, sitting up whining.  I laid him down and he fell back
                        asleep quickly...then woke happy at 3:05)

E:  5:05 (solids)
     6:30 (bottle)
A:  Until 7:05 (was afraid to put him down earlier for fear of EW) (4 hrs A time...too much?)
S:  7:05 - 6:15 (11 hrs. 10 min--better than previous day!) (Slept well...no NW, not as restless as previous night)

So, here I am today about to go put him down for nap 1...trying to stay with 3 hrs 20 min like yesterday and see what happens today. 

ANY help would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!!!!

[babyboy26]

Sorry...I should also tell you that he goes to sleep on his own quite easliy for naps and at night.  Sometimes a minute after putting him down, sometimes he plays for 10-15 minutes (usually for naps)  At night, he is always asleep within 5 minutes.  He gets white noise, a lovey, and a pacifer (for sleeping only)  Would love to get rid of the paci, but I wanted to straighten out those naps first!

[TDR'smom]

Hello!  Our lo's are very close in age! 

I think your lo is ready for a bit more A time.  I would try extending by 10 minutes or so and see what happens.  Also, when he wakes after 50 minutes, do you try to extend?

I would try to cut out the cat nap and opt for a little earlier bedtime if needed.  The cat nap at this age can really effect their night time sleep!

HTH!

JUdy

[babyboy26]

Oh, thank you for your quick reply!!!  This morning he had 3 hrs 25 min A time (he played in crib for 10 min before going to sleep)

Yes, I try to extend.  However, when he wakes up happy and playful, there is NOTHING that will get him back to sleep!  This is why I was thinking he is UT.

If he has a short nap this morning, on 3 hrs 25 min A time, what should his next A time be?

[LucySol]

i have been having the same problem! my lo is 9 months too! We have worked on increasing the A time to get down to 2 naps a day and get rid of the catnap which was disturbing her night time sleep.We have got to this now which seems to be working for now;
3.45 A time first thing-we increased this slowly--10-15 mins more every 3 days.
then if we got a good nap(1hr or more) she can manage 3.45 A til her next nap but if a short nap she has a 3hr A.
She doesnt always give me 2 good naps a day-that is a working progress and im still adjusting A time now.but whether she does a long and a short or 2 long naps it will get us to bedtime without a catnap.tho she does need an early bedtime on a shorter nap day i find that that is still better than giving a catnap!  of corse,there are days when it goes to pot cos we are still working at it and on those days i let her catnap no later than 4pm for 20 mins.this hasnt seemed to wreck her nightime sleep.

hth,

Lucy
xxx

[babyboy26]

Thank you, Lucy! 

Great news!!!  Nap from 9:40 - 10:50 (1 hr 10 min, on 3 hrs 25 min A)...very pleased with this, longest morning nap in 5 days!!!

So, now I'm wondering what his next A should be?  The 2nd A time should be longer than the first, if the nap was an hour or more, right?

[LucySol]

i dont think it necessarily has to be longer than the first it jus t depends what A time he can handle.From your routine it looks like his 2nd A times have been 3hr5 where you got an UT nap and then 3hr 20 when you got a longer nap.so you know he can handle 3.25 cos he just did that and got a good nap.you could try 3.5 and if you get a short nap then we know to increase it tomorrow.you dont want to push him too much too soon or he will get OT.Take baby steps and increase it slowly.keep posting and i will help you as much as i can as we go along.im surprised how quiclky my dd has adjusted to it.

[LucySol]

sorry-got sidetracked you say he woke at 10.50 after a 1hr 10 nap.thats gr8! so if you do 3hr30 A that takes the next nap at 2.20pm.if he sleeps another good nap-(more than an hour-)you can have the last A at 3.25/3.5 which will take you to bedtime.if you get a shorter nap give a 3hr last A which will mean an early bedtime-but better than a catnap! let me know how you get on and you can adjust A's tomorrow if needs be.
hth,
Lucy
xxx

[TDR'smom]

Sorry, totally keep trying to respond but trying to get kids fed and napped.....

[babyboy26]

The pm nap didn't go so well.  Here's a recap of the day:

Wake 6:15
Nap 1:  9:40 - 10:50 (1 hr 10 min after 3 hrs 25 min A time)
Nap 2:  2:50 - 4:00 

I put him down for Nap 2 at 2:10, thinking that within 5-10 min., he'd be asleep...WRONG!  He played, and I mean really played, until 2:50, which was 4 hrs A time...way too much for him!  I don't know what I did wrong.  He was not too stimulated prior to nap, did my usual wind down...I just don't get it!  He woke at 3:20 (the 30 min. mark) crying.  I anticipated this, as I knew he would be OT on so much A time, so I was right there by his door, and  I was able to get him back rather quickly.  10 min. later, he woke briefly again, but I was able to get him back asleep again.  When he woke at 4:00, he was a little grumpy, but since it was getting late, I just got him up.

Bed 7:35...but woke at 6:20 this morning (only 10 hrs 45 min sleep)

Should I have put him to bed earlier?  maybe later?  Two days ago he had a 4 hr A time before bed, and slept 11 hrs 10 min.

Now I'm wondering...should this morning's A time be the same as yesterday's even though he got less sleep last night than he did the night before?

I am frustrated...why can't I get this right?!?!

[TDR'smom]

I am frustrated...why can't I get this right?!?!

{{HUGS}}}  It is all trial and error.  There is no "key" formula!

At 2:10PM your lo might have been UT, at that point I would have gone in every 10 minutes or so to try and settle.  Could you try that next time?  That way he would not go all the way to 4 hours.  Granted, many 9 month olds can do 4 hours!   

7:30PM bedtime from a 4PM wake up is pretty good. I would not push it too much!

[babyboy26]

Thanks!  Do you think he needs shorter A time this morning due to 30 min less sleep last night?

[TDR'smom]

Thanks!  Do you think he needs shorter A time this morning due to 30 min less sleep last night?

For me, I would NOT shorten A time due to 30 minute less sleep.  If it was 1 1/2 less sleep, 2 hours less sleep, yes, but for 30 minutes, I would hold firm.  That MHO!!   

[babyboy26]

Today's naps:

Nap 1:  9:50 - 11:15 (1 hr 25 min after 3hrs 30 min A time)

I was very pleased with this nap, however, he did wake up crying at 11:15...not sure why, since he was coming off a good nap. 

Nap 2:  3:05 - 4:05 (1 hr after 3 hrs 50 min A time)

I did not mean for this nap to be as late as it was, but we were out visiting.  This nap was in the car, so I'm not sure if that's why he slept for an hour on this A time...it seemed like a lot of A time for him.  I drove around until he woke up.

I can't remember...how much A time should they get before bedtime?  I don't want to put him down too early...or too late!!!

[TDR'smom]

I know my DD is good with 3.5 hours A time prior to bedtime.