8mo still having 2 NW - suggestions?

[zaysmum]

I've recently revised my EASY and have had success extending DS afternoon nap but we're still getting just 45 min for morning naps.  However, the NW is the issue that I more desperately want to address.  He typically wakes around 11:30pm - midnight and then again around 4:30-5:00am.  He feeds at both wakings.  DS is 8mo.  EASY looks like this:

Wake sometime between 6-7am
E: 7am
A: 7:30-9ish (with solids)
S: 9:00 - I've tried pushing A to 9:15 and 9:30 and he still only sleeps for 45 min
E: 11 bf
A: 11-1 (with solids)
S: 1-3
E: 3 bf
A: 3-6:30 (with solids - snack and dinner, bath)
E: 7 bf
S: 7:30 bedtime

What do I need to do to stop the NW?

[Bex09]

Hi there, great that you have had some success with the pm nap. How did you sort that out? Did you extend A times? Your DS's A times are quite short so I wonder if the 45 min nap is UT. Are you doing a set nap at 9am or are you going by A times from when he wakes in the morning? Most 8 mo would be on about 3 hrs of A time.

When you tried to extend the am nap how long did you stick with it? It can often take up to a week before you see results. When you feed in the night are you feeding to sleep or does DS resettle himself to sleep? Are there any props that your DS is reliant on to fall asleep? Like a dummy/paci or being fed or rocked to sleep?

[zaysmum]

I sorted the pm nap out by putting him on EASY.  However, the past few days the pm nap has reverted to 45 min.  I am doing a set nap at approximately 9am - he seems ready to sleep at that time regardless of whether he woke at 6am or 7am.  Today he woke at 6am and fell asleep at 8:50am - so almost 3 hours of A time but still only a 45 min nap.  I have stuck with trying to extend the am nap but some days he just falls asleep during our wind down (which is usually reading books). 

I do BF in the night.  He does not use any props unless you consider BF a prop   He is taking a good feed when he has his NW which leads me to believe he needs it.  Before EASY he had multiple NW and BF was definitely a prop at that time.

I'm lost.

[atlantamomofthree]

I know many mamas don't want to hear this, but honestly, some BF babies do NEED to eat in the MOTN later than pediatricians sometimes recommend. You can tell this by their behavior! When they take a good feeding, cry inconsolably when you won't feed them, and go back to sleep happy as a lark after feeding-to me, that says NEED. kwim?

You're doing great to have started EASY! One suggestion I have has to do with the falling asleep while reading you said sometimes happens. Try to do your best to get him in bed before he nods off, that way independent sleep is constantly being reinforced.

[Bex09]

I agree with valerie that it sounds like your DS does still need that NF. So when you feed him do you feed to sleep or put him back in the cot awake? Feeding to sleep would be considered a prop if your DS is waking and relying on this to get him back to sleep, but not if he is feeding and then going back to sleep himself. Does that make sense?

Can I also ask what made you decide to do a set nap at 9am rather than go by A times? Any reasons?