9 month old 1.5hr am nap 30 min pm nap...what am i doing wrong?!

[lily528]

Thanks guys...so you are saying to leave the A times (which are BOTH 2 hrs and 45 mins) even though I am still getting a short pm nap?  (I wonder why that A time can get a long am nap but a short pm nap) you think if i try for a catnap everyday the pm nap will eventually get longer and the catnap won't be needed?  I am sure her nw aren't helping with the being OT..
when should I start extending the 2nd A time?  She goes right to sleep within mins for both naps

[Smurfette]

Have you ever tried shortening the 2nd A time? I'm just curious to know if you did, what happened.

In regards to a catnap, I think that would help break up that long A time to BT which might be contributing to your NWs.

[*Kara*]

The reason I suggested shortening the first A is because she might be in an UT/OT cycle.  She is giving a decent nap in the morning but cutting her A time by 15 minutes could give her a better quality nap and then after 2 hr 45 in between, you may get a better PM nap.  30 minute naps are the result of OT so it is coming from somewhere   The longer AM nap makes me think it isn't cumulative - that would give you very inconsistent naps all the time.  The short PM nap is likely the cause of the NW.

[ZacsMumme]

In regards to a catnap, I think that would help break up that long A time to BT which might be contributing to your NWs.

I agree...so think we all agreed you need that CN for now

Kara - I do think your right here re UT/OT cycle...just worried that if that first A is shortened she may get a 45 min nap...this is what happened to us when we were in a similar cycle a while back. Maybe try cutting the second A 15 mins to see if you get a longer nap, and if after a few days this doesnt work try Karas suggestion to catch up on the OT?

[lily528]

I'm sorry now I am just confused.  She should be going 3-4 HRS with her A time. We are at 2 HRS and 45 mins and yet she is somehow OT and you think I should shorten the A time even more?  And my got she woke at 12 and 1:45 so far!  How can I go on like this?!  Just laying here in tears. 

[Shiv52]

{{{hugs}}}

To throw a different spin on things....I think you leave your first A time at 2.45 if it is getting you such a good nap.  I would then increase the next A time to 3 hours and see does that help get you a longer pm nap.

From reading it, I think the first A time is needing to be short because of NWs but then she is getting a really good restortative nap (at this age I wouldn't even shorten the next A time by that much unless the nap is less than 45 minutes) that 2.45 is actually UT and that is why she is short napping.  30 minutes is not always OT especially at 9 months.  Any short naps can be an indication of needing more A time. 

Does that make sense?  How are NWs at the minute?

{{{{hugs}}}}

[Smurfette]

((HUGS)) It's ok! We're all here to help as most of us have gone through the same thing once or twice or a million times! You can go on b/c your LO needs you and it will get better. Hang in there!!!!

30 minutes is not always OT especially at 9 months.  Any short naps can be an indication of needing more A time.

Really? How do you know?? I mean like, how can one tell if they're LO is waking up with a short nap if its UT or OT? ( I ask this for myself cause I have the same thing happening once in a while and am confused.)

[Shiv52]

Quote from: Shiv52 on Today at 08:15:25 AM
30 minutes is not always OT especially at 9 months.  Any short naps can be an indication of needing more A time.

Really? How do you know??

Yes 30 minute naps CAN be OT.  They can also be UT.  They can be the result of OS.  They can be the result of teething, developmental milestones.  While 30 minutes nap may mostly be OT it is not a direct science.   

I read alot of these nap threads so have come to see that not all 30 minute naps are OT! 

Given the LO in this thread is 9 months and doing less than average A time I would assume UT for naps.  Given NWs are an issue makes me think that is why the first A time is the shortest. But i think overall things will be helped be upping A time consistently.

Also 9 months can be heading toward the 2-1 transition so short naps in that case are an indication of a LO needing more A time and not as much day sleep.  As I say its not a science.  Each LO is so different that its impossible to say a certain nap time = OT/UT for sure.  Its about trying things out and reading the LO and seeing how they respond. 

HTH x

[lily528]

I agree about why the shorter A time in th a.m. due to the nw. I also think the 2nd A time may be UT because she often fights this one more than the a.m.nap. I can't imagine that she is OT after a fairly descent a.m. nap. I will experiment.  As for the nw they are generally 2-4 times btwn bed and morning wake up. Last night was two times at 12 and 1:45 then slept til 6:45 so that was considered a" good" night for me. Most nights she is up every 2-3 HRS. I think its habbit and teething.

[ZacsMumme]

Yes, we have had the odd 30 min UT nap, usually for us it is OT, but not always, and def get them if teething is bad and DS is not medicated.

Last night was two times at 12 and 1:45 then slept til 6:45 so that was considered a" good" night for me. Most nights she is up every 2-3 HRS. I think its habbit and teething.

This is a really good night hun! Your LO will make progress, but also g back to the wakings. We are still hit and miss here, last night DS slept through, but the night before he was rubbish. There is so much going on at this age and so many reasons for NW.

Dont beat yourself up sometimes they just need ya. You are doing the most wonderful job and it is HARD! No one tells us about the rough nights and OT days so when they happen we feel so awful. Truth is we have all been there (well most of us) and the only thing we can do is try our best to help our LO through it which is exactly what you are doing. Big (HUGS) - and get some rest while you can, we need time out too x

[*Kara*]

More HUGS for you!! 

Being a mom is a freaking hard job!  But you know what??  The benefits are great!  They may not be consistent at times, but they are pretty nice!  Just think of a great big smile or a nice wet kiss and I am sure you will smile   We have all been there and the ones who claim they have not are simply blocking out the memory!  Just remember, as hard as it is at times, it will get better!  There is a huge benefit to the fact that these little people change soooo much - the crappy things they do like wake up at 3, 4, 5, 6am for weeks on end, do stop.

I think Shiv has this one nailed!  I would certainly give her advice a go!

[lily528]

It definitely is hard but I agree well worth it. I still want another one haha but hubby doesn't :/  anyway I actually got her to take a cn yesterday which made bed time a lot calmer. I tried for it because she only took two 45 min naps :/  cn was maybe 25 mins and it took about that long for her to fall asleep but she wasn't crying at all so I let her go and she DID sleep so,,,that was good. She still woke twice but that first waking was 5 1/2 hrs after BT instead of the usual 3-4 hrs. 2nd wake up was 4 hrs after that. I am hoping to get 2 good naps today. Fingers crossed...well visit today and I thinks shots so we'll see :/

[ZacsMumme]

She still woke twice but that first waking was 5 1/2 hrs after BT instead of the usual 3-4 hrs. 2nd wake up was 4 hrs after that. I am hoping to get 2 good naps today.

This is awesome! Good work hun!

[*Kara*]

So great with only 2 NW!

[Shiv52]

Great on the NWs! 

Hope you get good naps today!