what am i aiming for??? 7.5 month old

[*Becky*]

Hi Liz,
Today was not great at all nap wise but he was in a pretty good mood.
Awake at 6.30am
E - 6.45am - solids at 7.45am
S - 9.10 - 9.45am (had done a poo!)

E - 10.30am - solids at 11.45am
S - slept in the car from 12.20-1.05 as we were in the car. Could have had longer but woke up.

E - 2.30pm
S - 4-5pm

E - solids at 5pm - bed at 6.30pm.

Decided to put him to bed at this time as it was 12 hours since he woke up and not much day sleep....he always has a short A time after catnap and has worked so far!

I really think he is UT so am going to try 3 hours for first A time tomorrow. What do you think?

Thanks

Becky

[*Liz*]

Yeah - you could shoot for 3hrs - but be prepared to put him down anytime after his usual A if he starts to look past it. Can't hurt to try though. If he was napping well in the morning until about 2 weeks ago, and now he has stopped then it IS likely he has increased his A time, so go ahead and give it a go.

One of those days today, hey? 

Boo to poopy nappies!!

[*Becky*]

so this is today so far - I really thought we may be able to stop catnap and have early bed but no...
Awake at 6am
S - 9am - 10.20am

S - 1.30-2.07pm

So annoying. Cannot seem to crack that second nap no matter what I try. I really thought we might have got it right today. Do you think I stick with 3 and then 3.10 like today when I try tomorrow or is there something you think that needs to be adjusted.

As it was a short nap I will do a catnap around 4.15 to see him through to usual bedtime.

Thanks Liz

Becky x

[*Liz*]

After the 1h 20 nap how did your lo handle the next A? Happy and easily or a little cranky? And did he go down a bit easier this time?

The first nap could be either a bit over OR under depending on the lo. For me they are OT at 1h 20 mins. But of course they are not that bad!! I think the second nap was most likely OT.

I think I would stick to 3hrs first A tomorrow (meaning asleep by 3 hrs - not just going down and fussing for another 10 mins - I know easier said than done!), and then do 3 hrs again if it is a medium length nap, and only go for 3h 10-15 if he has slept for 2 hrs. I think a lot of people expect this A to be longer - but it might not be, especially if your lo can do a good length A first thing in the morning as well.

We just need a couple of days of things roughly going to plan, and then his body clock will start to 'set' a bit which makes it sooooo much easier. That is one of the problems with doing tweaking - you are working against their body clock as well.

[*Becky*]

He was happy after the 1h20 and tbh a 2 hour nap is pretty unheard of but you never know I guess.
So the idea is for him to be asleep after 3 hours. OK - wind  down is abut 5 mins so I will then give 5 mins to settle and see how we get on. I am quite happy with 1.20 though - we rarely get anything more.
Thanks
Becky x

[*Liz*]

Yeah a 1h 20 nap can be totally normal for 2 babies - that is 2 complete sleep cycles for some - which is more than enough. It just affects the A time when you are comparing to others routines.