yet another issue :(

[*Becky*]

thanks both of you. I am really feeling anxious about this whole one nap thing. There is just so much pressure on the one nap being a good one. We kind of got away with it today as we had a later start but 1.20 is so short. Does it get better - do they just get used to it?

[babybarr]

I'm assuming he went to bed ok then?  Unlike my little rascal! 

I wish I could say it gets better but unfortunately for us it hasn't done - sorry.

I think if he generally seems happy enough, do your best to roll with it.  If he short naps then early bed if he long naps then later bed, he'll get better at handling one nap for sure.  The way I try to look at it is that there's more time in the day to do stuff and if he does do a short nap you have a longer afternoon to go out.  It is tough, but I find it's so easy to get so focussed on the whole OT thing that we find ourselves stressing way too much iyswim?  

[*Becky*]

I know and I am such a stress head about his sleep as I know what he is like when he is tired but I guess I have to let go a bit. The short nap but does not bother me tooo much as long as we don't get mornings before 6am. What really does bother me is that if he wakes before 6am he is going to have to do a long A time somewhere or we will never make it to bedtime!!!!!!
bx

[babybarr]

I know and I am such a stress head about his sleep

Don't worry you're not the only one!  After all DS craziness with his sleep I have realised that tweaking every day doesn't really work.  Maybe for some people, like Mashi I think, it does but for us I just know that I can have 2 identical days and different nights and so have tried to just accept what will be will be.  It has helped me to have a set nap time whatever wake up (or in our case NWs) so at least I can plan my days, the main time it backfires is if he sleeps in and then generally he won't sleep long for his nap.

You just need to find something that works for you, I do think you need to do something like Lucy and get tough so that even if he's awake you can stay in bed.

Thinking of you. Xx

[*Becky*]

thanks hun. Yes I know things will be a bit weird when he is moving to one nap, it was never going to be smooth really. He also still has 4 canines to cut! bx

[katie80]

Does it get better - do they just get used to it?

It has gotten better for us, but not super consistently.  DD is now working on three more teeth (with such a stuffy nose to go along with it  ), so continued sleep has been tough the last few days.  But I did see much improvement before that.  Since he did have that longer nap a few days ago, I would be very hopeful that the more he gets used to it the better it will be. 

I also get super stressed about DD's sleep.  It's so tough to feel like you're trying everything and not always seeing the results you want.  I agree with Laura; keep trying to find what works best for you and try to roll with the short naps as best you can.  And know that you're not alone!

[*Becky*]

ok so yesterday was..
A - 7.30am (v unusual)
S - 1-2.15pm
S - 6.30pm
Awake today 5.40am. On the plus side he stayed there until 6.10am and was not that unhappy and ended up just chatting so it is def something he does to get MY attention ASAP!
But.....need to try and keep working on this pre six wake and the short nap.
Today my heart says 2 naps but my head says one.
I am just not going to be able to put him down for one nap until 11.45am at the earliest as  we are going out and it is something I cannot change so he is just going to have to do that I think. Not very 'whispery' but let's face it, going by exact A times etc does not seem to be working great either. If it all blows up and he gets really OT then I can shorten them tomorrow again.
Does that sound ok...?
bx

[*Becky*]

He only seems to be getting around 12.5 hours per 24 hours the last week or two - that seems far too little. Sigh x

[babybarr]

He did an 11hr 10min night which again is ok.  The nap seems to be the issue being short.  I think it'll be interesting to see what happens today as you have no choice and his "A time" will be 6hrs, I wonder if he'll sleep longer for you... we find that's the pattern here anyway.  If it doesn't work, do 2 naps tomorrow for a catch up.

Try and enjoy your day and fingers crossed for a nice long nap.

[mmom]

He only seems to be getting around 12.5 hours per 24 hours the last week or two - that seems far too little. Sigh x

This is the norm for us, but my LO is older.

[londonmama]

We're down to 12.5 average here too, I'm afraid.  It was 13 hours back when he was 10 months old, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.  Probably not way out of line for a low sleep needs bub?  Nay ideal, that's for sure!

[*Becky*]

thanks everyone. We got back a wee bit earlier than I thought we would and so I put him down after 6 hours A time...so 11.40am. He is still awake so guess he is OT, he did actually yawn at 11.15am. I don't think I can cope with this anymore so we are going back to 2 naps tomorrow.

[Tweakster]

We're down to 12.5 average here too, I'm afraid.  It was 13 hours back when he was 10 months old, so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised.  Probably not way out of line for a low sleep needs bub?  Nay ideal, that's for sure!

Ditto here.  I started a thread in the Health section about low sleep needs kids and how do you know they are truly low sleep needs.  When LO should be doing 16 hours Finn was maxing out on 14-15.  When LO should be doing 14 he was doing 13 at best.  Honestly, I have no clue anymore, somewhere in the region of 12-13 is what we are getting on average.  I know my kid is tired though, that's all I know :-(

Hang in there Becky!  I do think you are on the right track.  He's not that far off the mark and he's doing 11 hours at night.  So he'll get there.

[*Becky*]

Thanks Wendy - it all feels a bit much at the moment. I cannot seem to get through the day with the early start and the short naps. It just means an early bedtime and it all starts again. Ok - great he is doing 11 hours at night but not when the day starts around 5.30am. Maybe when the clocks move I can really try to stick to a 7pm bedtime and with luck get a 6am wake up and then we can battle on with the nap malarky!

[Tweakster]

I hope the clocks moving will help in this case...sadly Finn is stuck at the 4-5 a.m. business but I have more hope for Henry!

Or just a slightly longer nap to take him just that much later into the day so bedtime can shift a bit.

C'mon LO you can do it!