nap timing, new crawler, how to adjust naps

[stephnoah]

Hi,

My son is 9 months old.  Up until the beginning of this week, he was having 2 naps, one from 10-1130 and another from approx 315 to 4 ish.  It was quite difficult to fit in 2 naps, but couldn't do the 1 nap just yet.  I was cutting his first morning nap to 1,5 hours for 2 reasons: he was waking at night from having slept too much during the day, and also to fit in the 2nd nap.  Things were good.. he was sleeping til 7 am...

This week he started crawling, I've kept the same nap times.. (i forgot to mention that he doesn't really show tired cues).  But he's clearly OT because he's been waking earlier and earlier.  So, my first question is do I lengthen naps once they start to be more active?

2nd question.  How do I keep fitting in 2 naps? 

3rd question - Noah will be going to daycare in september, where they only have 1 nap, at 1230.  How do I start moving to that?  How to I keep pushing his morning nap later, if I still need to fit in a 2nd nap?  I'm trying to avoid 5pm bedtimes. 


Thanks

[*Kara*]

So, my first question is do I lengthen naps once they start to be more active?

I wouldn't aim to lengthen it... just put him down a touch early (like 15 mins)... all the activity is making him tired sooner in the day   I would give him the normal 90 mins you are doing now and then PD a touch early for his PM nap and let him sleep until a time that you would need to wake him up to preserve BT.

That said, are you still aiming for a 12 hr night?  It does become unrealistic as they hit the 9/10 month mark.. the day is just too short to have 2 naps and they still NEED two naps so the night has to be a bit shorter to compensate.  Don't worry though - anything 10.5 hrs and more is totally fine!  Capping both of his naps will most certainly leave him OT at bedtime and will lead to EW/NW.  You do need to figure out the best balance to get him the nap sleep he needs to get through the day without expecting his night to be massive as well.  At this age, DD did two 1.5 hr naps and a 10-10.5 hr night.  Less naps would lead to huge OT for her.

^^ This should cover question #2

As for #3 - September is a world away yet - don't give it a second thought right now!

Hope this helps hun!

[stephnoah]

Thank you!

I will see what time he wakes tomorrow morning, and fit in 2 good naps.  If I let him sleep for his first nap - and he goes past 1,5 hours (lets say 2.. ), what would be a good cap for his second nap? If i cap his 2nd nap at 40 mins, I never know how long after that I would put him to bed.

ideas?

[*Kara*]

I honestly wouldn't cap that nap too much less than an hour to start with   And then BT about 2.5 - 3 hrs later