I feel so defeated about bedtime

[oe]

ds2 is 6 months old. He goes down for naps no problems - sleepsack, soother, cuddle, blankie, lullaby, bed. He has been naping a little better, sometimes 1hr30mins, as we were battling the 45 mins monster for awhile... but bedtime... that is a different story, and it has been happening for months!
I am at my witsend.

his current easy is:
7:15 wake
E 7:30 (solids at 8:30)
S 9:30 (usually 1hr30mins)
E 11:30 (solids at 12:30)
S 1:00 (this nap can very, but usually I can extend for 1hr30mins)
E 3:30
S 5:40 (CN is 35-40 mins)
E 7:15 and it should be bedtime... but it never happens without hours of crying. I tried to put him to bed later, early, I don't know what to do. I end up going in there or just sitting on his floor and then he never just sleeps for the whole night. He wakes a lot!
df is at 10pm and then he usually settles... anyone? Please. I am so tired. He's crying now, gotta go.

[my3girlsjde]

Hi there and {{{HUGS}}} for the bedtime trials.

Just looking at the EASY, I'm wondering if you might be ready to increase his A time overall?

Take a look here for A times for a 6 month old: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=164029.0 . We'll see if anyone else has any ideas.

[oe]

thanks. I am going to increase his A tmw. I was thinking of that. Tonight I put him to bed early as he didn't get that great of naps. It is 9:11 (bt was at 7) and he is still not sleeping! I held him for over an hour and he slept. Of course as soon as I put him down he wakes... and cries. gotta go back. (DH tries, but isn't that successful.)

[Nekhbet]

It is a short time between his last nap and night sleep. I've read other books and loosely based my DDs routine on that. Essentially the same but move last nap to 4:30pm.

Having said that we have our own issues, but I would definatly give it a try.

[oe]

I know it is a short time before bedtime, but he seems soooooo tired and is due for a feeding. I'm sure that is part of the reason it is so hard. He didn't settle until 10pm and was up for the day at 6:50 (considering he didn't sleep that well last night I feel like we are starting the day OT). Not good.

[my3girlsjde]

It can take several days (worst case scenario) for him to adjust to lengthened A times. Try not to increase the A times in more than 15 min increments or you can run into the OT cycle.

{{HUGS}}}

[oe]

thanks. Today I did 2hrs 20mins A.
First nap was 1hr30mins (with no extending needed). He is currently on second nap. This is where it can get tricky.. and bt of course. So nervous about that already.

[my3girlsjde]

The first part of the day is usually the easier time, but you'll get there.

Try to keep positive, it WILL happen

[oe]

thanks. second nap was 1hr40mins, but he woke crying, so not sure if he was still tired??
going try for 2hr next A time before cn and see what happens.

[oe]

just wanted to report something good happened. Today I increased his A time to 2hr20mins for all naps. The CN was 45mins, wasn't sure when to put him down, but we ended up being that the neighbours and he didn't get into his crib until just after 8. He fell asleep around 8:30 with NO crying!!!!!!! He woke up from the CN at 5:45. That is 2hrs45mins? What does that mean. I thought the A time would be shorter after a CN? I am not complaining, just hoping he doesn't wake up crying. Currently I am sitting on the couch and not his floor, so I am happy!