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

[babyboy26]

Ok, got it!  Thanks so much!

To recap today:  Nap 1:  9:05-9:35, then 10:40-11:30 (woke him at this time)
                        Nap 2:  3:00 - 3:40.

I'm putting him to bed for 7:10(so that he has at least 3.5 A before bed), and hoping that he sleeps until at least 6:10, so that we can get back close to normal.

I'm curious...your 1st nap is at 11:00, how long is it and what time is your 2nd nap?

[~Alexa~]

If we have a good day, this is how are day looks like:

7/7.30 am wake up
11 am - 1 pm Nap 1
4.15 pm - 5.15 pm Nap 2
8 pm Bedtime

He used to handle longer As, but since he started crawling his As decreased dramatically so now his pm nap is a bit longer.  When he has longer As, his pm nap is 30/40 min long b/c I always wake him up at 5.15 pm so he goes to bed at 8 pm.  His last A has been the shortest since long time ago, and the first A has been the longest too.  Sometimes he wakes up from the am nap after 1.5 hr, so the day gets pushed a bit earlier, so I let him sleep a bit longer for the pm nap.  I just wake him up at 5.15 pm at the latest!

Hope this helps
Alexa

[babyboy26]

Thanks, Alexa!  I was just interested to see what your day was like.  Well, I followed your advice.  We had another EW this morning...7:20-5:50 was last night.  Instead of putting him down at 3.25 A, we went for a long walk from 8:50 to 9:35.  Very short wind down, as he was practically falling asleep.  Put him down at 9:40, and he was asleep by 9:45 (maybe a minute or two before that).  I'm hoping I don't get an OT nap!  Will wake at 1 hr if he doesn't wake on his own, and go from there!  I can't figure out what's going on lately...A times before bed are all over the place, and we haven't had an 11+ hour night in about 5 days or so.  I would really like to get to an 8:00 bedtime, as DH gets home late sometimes and doesn't even get to see DS!

[~Alexa~]

Good luck with the am nap!

You can try pushing your lo's day back by adding 15 min every 3 days until you get to an 8 pm bedtime. 

If these EWs keep happening, I'm afraid we'll have to shorten that am nap even more!

[babyboy26]

Ok...OT he was!  9:45-10:20 (35m) woke crying.  I could tell he desperately wanted to go back to sleep, as he had his eyes closed the whole time I was trying.  I patted him back to sleep, but he only lasted from 10:30-10:40 (10m), I guess he was so OT he couldn't make it through the jolt.  Tried again, but it wasn't happening!  Will go for 3 hr A for afternoon nap and see where that takes us.  I need to get out of this OT cycle first before I try and push his day back, I think.  I don't have a problem with shortening the am nap to get rid of the EW.  I just want him to get the sleep he needs, he has been a bit of a grump

[babyboy26]

So, with the short am nap, we did a 3 hr A, and he went to sleep beautifully, but only slept for 1 hr.  1:40-2:40.  I didn't want to give a cn, because the only time it seems to work ok for me is if I do it from 4:30-5:00, and he was not anywhere near tired at 4:30.  Mood was good until bedtime, which was 7:10.  I know that's a really long A, but I have to admit I am so afraid that if I put him to bed earlier than 7, I will get an even earlier wakeup!  Maybe this is a bad thing to do, I don't know! 

Some questions...any advice helpful!!!

1.  If I have another EW, should I push him to 9:45 again like today, even though I got an OT nap?  Or should I put him down
    a bit earlier, and hope for a longer nap?   If I get a short nap again, should I try 3.25 A before the PM nap since today's 
    pm nap was only 1hr with a 3 hr A?
2.  If there is no EW (meaning 11 + hrs of sleep), do I go back to my 3.25 morning A? 


I'm confused about what to do, as what I was doing worked for a while, but then these EWs started again.  So, I'm wondering if I should try a 3.5 A in the morning...would love to know what everyone thinks!!!  Even if we got 11 hrs tonight, he would still be waking at 6:10, which means a 3.5 A would only bring me to 9:40 anyway!  Opinions needed!!!

Thanks,
Kara

[~Alexa~]

1.  If I have another EW, should I push him to 9:45 again like today, even though I got an OT nap?  Or should I put him down a bit earlier, and hope for a longer nap?   If I get a short nap again, should I try 3.25 A before the PM nap since today's 
    pm nap was only 1hr with a 3 hr A? If you think the long A will give you an OT nap, then put him down after 3.25 hr A. Or...try an early 20 min catnap so he makes it till 9.45 and your day doesn't end so early.
2.  If there is no EW (meaning 11 + hrs of sleep), do I go back to my 3.25 morning A?  Yes, this is what I would do.


I'm confused about what to do, as what I was doing worked for a while, but then these EWs started again.  So, I'm wondering if I should try a 3.5 A in the morning...would love to know what everyone thinks!!! What I would do is try to push A time to 3.5 hr, but also, try to follow his cues, so if he looks tired before that, put him down.  You can only know it! Even if we got 11 hrs tonight, he would still be waking at 6:10, which means a 3.5 A would only bring me to 9:40 anyway!  Opinions needed!!!

[babyboy26]

Thanks, Alexa!  Your advice is always appreciated!  Good news...he slept from 7:10-6:20 with no NW!  This actually surprises me a little bit, because he had such a long A before bed (4.5 hrs) and only 1hr45m of naptime yesterday.  Regardless, I'm happy that he was more well rested this morning.  I am going to watch him closely, and decide whether or not to do the 3.25 or 3.5 A...Although he's a little bit flaky with his cues, IYKWIM!   Trial and error...trial and error!

[~Alexa~]

I know what you mean about the confusing tired cues!! Patrick is the same! In fact, I think that as he gets older, he is getting more tricky and difficult to read!

[babyboy26]

Yes, it used to be so much easier Alexa! 

He managed fine with the 3.5A this morning.  Nap was 9:50-11:15.  1hr 25m.  I let him go past 1 hr, since he's been so OT these past few days.  I hope this wasn't the wrong thing to do    After 1hr am nap, we were doing 3.5A before pm nap, so I will go for that today and see what happens.  That will put the nap at 2:45.  I will make sure he's up by 4:00 (if he even sleeps that long, lol!)  And a 7:30 bedtime...how does that sound? 

I know he managed a 4.5A yesterday before bedtime, and had a good night, but I'm not sure whether or not that is the norm, kwim?  Well, I will just have to see what time he wakes up from the pm nap and go from there.

[Isabellasmummy]

HI,

I think you should stick to what you did yesterday as it worked, i think the key might be less daytime sleep and a longer A time before bed, that way he is so tired he sleeps longer in the morning to catch up.

Just an observation.

Hope you get a late wake up again today x

[babyboy26]

The pm nap was 2:50-3:55 1hr5m....so to recap, 1hr25m am nap, and 1hr5m pm nap...both on 3.5A.  I feel like this was a great nap day, no extending, and mood has been great as well. 

I am just so confused about what A to give before bed.  While he was napping, I was looking back at my notes for the past few w eeks...hoping to have some kind of "Ah-Ha" moment, but I'm afraid there's no good pattern to follow!  I've gotten 11 + hr nights on 4.5A, 4.0 A, 3.75A, 3.5A...you name it!  I've also gotten short nights on those same As...go figure! 

The most similar days to today that I found are:

Day  : 1hr30m am nap and a 45m pm nap.  The A before bed was 3hr20m, and the night was 11hr20m.

Day2: 1hr20m am nap and 1hr pm nap.  A before bed 4 hrs, and the night was 10hrs50m.

Day3:  1hr5m am nap and 1hr20m pm nap.  A before bed 3hrs45m, and the night was 11 hrs.

Do you see something that I don't see?   

I think I might try 3.75A before bed, and see what happens.  That would put bedtime at 7:40.  I guess the only way to know is to try.  The problem is, when I get it right, it never stays that way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Isabellasmummy]

HI,

As he has had such good naps he is probably more well rested then usual so pushing his A time at night might be a good idea, but look out for clues just in case.

He looks like he does better with a longer AM Nap and shorter PM nap, I've just read some where that you should reduce day time sleep until the early wakes stop!
No sure if i agree with that as you will have an overtired baby on your hands in the day.

Good luck and keep us posted on what happens tonight!

we have a very very restless baby tonight.. she learnt to crawl forward today and cruise along furniture took steps on her own with her push along walker! all in one day... nothing for months then it happens in one go! i cried when she walked my heart just dropped- so proud!

[~Alexa~]

((hugs toni)) These babies are growing up so fast!

Kara,
What I would do now that your DS is growing up and handling longer As is to set a bedtime and go from there.  So if 7.30 pm is your target bedtime, then make sure you wake your lo up from the pm nap so he has enough A before bed.  It seems that every day your lo has a different bedtime and a different wake up, so I would set a bedtime and go from there.  I would just move bedtime by 15 min either way.  Does this make sense?
At least, by having a set bedtime, you and your DS will know what to expect and what you are aiming for. iykwim?

[babyboy26]

Yes, Alexa!!!  That is EXACTLY what I am thinking!  I have great news!!!  The plan was 7:40 for bed, but we went to dinner, and bedtime ended up being 8:00, which was about 4hrA from pm nap...well, it worked GREAT!!!!!  8:00-7:00!!!!!  So an 11 hr night after 2.5 hr total naps yesterday!!!  He has caught up on sleep, WOW! 

As I am very happy, I am sitting here also more confused!!!  Thinking that now that he's woken late, it pushes everything later iykwim!  So, here's what I'm thinking...8:00 sounds like a great set bedtime to me.  Planning on keeping the same As as yesterday 3.5A/3.5A/4.0A, pending how he naps.  I think I'll let him sleep as long as he wants in the am (maybe this was the key), and then shorten the pm nap so that he is up no later than 4:00. 
So today would look something like this:
7:00 wake
10:30-11:45 ish nap 1
3:15 -4:00 nap 2
 8:00 bed...
-OR- would it be better to shorten the am nap to 1hr, so
7:00 wake
10:30-11:30 nap 1
3:00-4:00 nap 2
8:00 bed

Would like your thoughts!  I feel like things are going in the right direction, and having a set bedtime would probably suit us best, that way things are more consistent.  It is hard dealing with a different bedtime every day, because it's like you never know what's going to happen!!!