struggling with second A time - 8.5 months

[*Becky*]

After months of rubbish naps we seem to have cut the CN and now often get a good am nap but the pm is throwing us a loop and I am confused. It tends to be 40-45 mins long and she usually wakes unhappy. Do some lo's need a shorter second A time???

This is what we are doing today...
A - 6.45am
S - 10-11.50am (although she did wake briefly at 11am)
S - 3-3.40pm
Bedtime is usually pretty set at 6.30pm.

I can't see why she needs a shorter A time than 3.15 and initially thought this was UT but she has been waking cross which is not like her. Any ideas??

[ZacsMumme]

I was going to suggest the opposite actually my LO at this age liked a shorter first and last A and a longer middle A time...maybe try cutting back15 mins first then if it doesn't work try a slightly longer A?

[~Sara~]

Do some lo's need a shorter second A time???

I really, truly believe that there's no set way for A times to play out over the course of the day.  I've seen it run the gamut (DS actually was one who liked all his A times nice and long, regardless of the time of day).

Honestly, I don't think trying a slightly shorter A time could hurt...she's already short napping as it is.  Maybe just try 3h for a couple of days and see what happens.  And--to play devil's advocate--I have also seen UT naps that end in LO being cranky.

Any possibility of teeth making an appearance, though?

[ZacsMumme]

The ut cranky naps were us too! which is why I was thinking the longer A

[~Sara~]

LOL, if this thread isn't proof that there's no guarantee about anything with these babies, I don't know what is!

Becky, what do you feel in your Mommy gut is the best next step?

[ZacsMumme]

Sorry Sara I wasn't suggesting that you were wrong just it could go either way as you mentioned

[~Sara~]

Didn't get that vibe at all, hon.  No worries

[*Becky*]

girls, you know what...she just is not the best sleeper BUT she is very easy with it if that makes any sense so I am surviving just about. H was the touchiest kid alive but once we got him down he was and still is a sound sleeper. Madam is the opposite. Will go down easily for sleeps but is a light sleeper and seems atm to be low sleep needs.

So....she woke after 40 mins yesterday and I snuggled with her and she then fell back to sleep so I guess it can't be UT although 40 min naps in the past have been. I am so confused by her tbh.

The day worked out as
A - 6.45am
S - 10-11.50am (with a wake at 11am)
S - 3-3.40pm (then back to sleep at 4-4.20pm when I woke her)
Bedtime - 6.45pm

Yes I think she is teething, she is pretty whiny atm and needs to be with me all the time but she is also learning to crawl and wants to pull up to standing all the time so could be frustration too.

I just get frustrated as we solve one problem and then are straight onto the next, we never just seem to get into a groove yk?

She woke at 5.30am today but I got her back to sleep until 6.45am.....that says to me that she was a bit UT at bedtime as it seems to be if she is UT at bedtime we get an EW but OT and we get NW's and EW's.

I know I am always conscious of OT and in the past have never pushed her enough which is why we have only just dropped the CN so totally possible that she is UT.

Clear as mud eh!!??

[amayzie]

Hi becky- just a thought as my guy is a similar age... currently he will usually do a 40-45 min nap in the afternoon and a long one in the morning, and every few days do a big afternoon one (like he;s banking it), so i wonder if your girl would have been fine after the 40 mins in the PM and then to bed at the same time- could the extra 20 mins have pushed her into a bit of UT? That;s what the early wake looks like...

Great news on the no night waking and nice morning nap though!

[ZacsMumme]

Hugs its so hard sometimes, ESP if they are just a touch OT or UT.
I think you are right though, go with your gut. Great resettle! Try a slightly shorter A first if you think OT to start with, and maybe a touch more before BT.

[*Becky*]

seems she is teething and we are in 30 min nap land

[ZacsMumme]

Gross...I hate 30min naps Poor poppet just offer more naps. I think I used to offer 4 around this age when they were 30min ones. I take it you have tried medicating before naps?

[londonlady]

Just reading along Becky as we're in the same boat right now...

[amayzie]

30 minute naps are the worst, the babies are sooo grumpy after and to you it feels like 2 minutes have passed!!

[*Becky*]

really - give 3-4 naps?? I am on such a downer today about her sleep. I will medicate before her pm nap although I hate it. Calpol does not even touch it so it has to be nurofen.

What is the deal with APing here as in putting her in my bed when she wakes? Is that terrible??

Last night she was OT which I knew so we had a 8.30pm wake but then nothing till 2.30am and she settled herself. At 4.15am she was moaning so I gave her meds and she slept till about 6.30am.

Just done a 30 min nap We need to go out so not going to re settle but will try this pm. No idea what A time to shoot for?? 2.5 hours?