7month2weeks boy - afternoon nap shortened to 35/30 min - can u pls take a look?

[Eleanorz]

This has been almost 10 days that my son will only sleep 30-35 min for his afternoon nap. In the past it was between 1hour15min to 1 hour 30 min. It started on a day we went out in the afternoon and Zac had his nap in the carseat ( he only takes 35 min in car seat). We always went out in weekend and he can go back to his usual nap length in the weekdays, but not this time.

His morning a time is about 3 hours, same as his afternoon a time. Also lately he always woke up at 45 min for the morning nap, but I can extend to almost one hour and a half, however no luck to extend the afternoon one. Sometimes he woke up crying, sometimes he was hjust calm. I tried 2.75 hours to 3 hour 5 min a time. Same result. I am not sure what went wrong , but i am very frustrated. His ot also affected his night time sleep for EWs. It takes me at least an hour to get him back to sleep for the EWs.

Also he uses paci for nap and night sleep. He will spit out when he falls to sleep. In the past he didn't need it to go back to sleep but now he seems more and more rely on the paci, ESP for nap ( ie 45 min transition).

Would you pls help me look at the situation and make some suggestions? Thanks thanks!

[ZacsMumme]

Is he teething at all hun? I found when we had teething our naps always shortened
How long has he been on a 3hr A time?

hugs x

[Eleanorz]

I don't think it is teething, but hard to say...He has been on 3 for almost a month now. Can I ask what is the usual a time for a 7 month and a half?

Also when ur kid was teething did he consistently shorten either am or pm nap?

Thanks!

[Papaya]

3 hrs is about right for his age - http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64158.

But if he's been on that length A for almost a month, he might be ready for a bit of an increase. I wonder if he's a bit UT for the morning nap, but because that one is then short/disrupted, he's OT for the afternoon one? You could try pushing the morning A time by 15 mins - if you get a good nap, try the same again in the pm, but if a short nap keep that next A a bit shorter.

Have you tried giving pain medication before his nap to rule out teething pain? Can he replug his own paci?

[Eleanorz]

He cant replug the paci, plus he uses a woombie to sleep/ nap, so his hands are not out (this is another thing I need to deal with later - to wean the woombie). I haven't used any pain reliever yet, but if pain is the reason then it should affect both am and pm naps, right?

Today I gave 3 hours and 15 min a time before first nap, Zac woke up at about 35 min and I used shu/pat and paci to get him back to sleep, he when woke up at 1hour and a half. (same as yesterday). I plan to give the same a time in the afternoon too. Let's see how it goes.

Also Tracy said shu/pat may not work for 6 month older, is it true according to your experience? Shall I continue with it? I haven't really tried pupd yey. Mainly Zac didn't really cry long, most of time he will just look around chew his paci and not sleep. In this case, pdpu is not necessary, right? Whar shall I really do in this case? If he is calm, does this mean he is not tired? In some cases I know he is still tired, but get some boost from the 35
nap. What shall I do? I am so frustrated.

My dh also did a wts the other day, in about 20 min of Zac's sleep, Zac opened the eyes and back to sleep but was still up at 35 mark. No luck to extend the nap either.

Any comments are very much appreciated. Thanks!

[ZacsMumme]

Hugs, I think you need to wean the swaddle they start to get frustrated, plus if he can roll it becomes unsafe.

Once swaddle weaned he will most likely learn to replug pretty quickly too

for us teething isn't constant, TS totally possible for him to have pain on and off throughout the day and night. I coud each tooth seemed o causes in at the same times everyday/ night. But each tooth had a different cycle

X

[Eleanorz]

Thanks!

An updAte - this afternoon after same a time, ds slept for 35 min again and I couldn't extend.

I just remembered ds always has 35 min nap when he is in either carseat or stroller, doesn't matter if he is ot or ut. Somehow he now thinks the afternoon nap is one of that kind. What do u think? And what shall I do?

Today to avoid too ot at the bedtime, I let him slept for 10 min in the stroller - am I doing the right thing? Will these short sleeps affect ds nap pattern further? I am in fear that his morning nap will get affected too... His naps were just fine until two weeks ago, now afternoon nap went to 35 min and morning nap needs resettle at 35 min - what went wrong? I am so frustrated.

One more question - if ds had capability to transition between sleep cycles independently in the past, is it possible that he will lose the capability? I am so puzzled.

Also shall I keep using shu/pat? I know Tracy doesn't recommend it for older infant. I am so losing confidence now.

Tomorrow I am going to try wts. Will update here.

Thanks aain

[ZacsMumme]

I think papaya is right and that hemay need more A time before that pm nap to be tired enough to sleep past 35 mins. Have you tried an increase by 15 mins or so?

[Eleanorz]

I want to give an update. There are some progresses made yesterday and today. Yesterday I gave 3 hours 5 min a time before the first nap, Zac slept for 1 hour and 11 minutes all by himself (no fuss, paci, etc.) In the afternoon the a time was 3 hours 15 min, Zac stirred at 3o min and 40 min and I used paci to get him back to sleep. He slept 1 hour and 10 min. Not ideal, but broke the 35 min afternoon nap trend for almost two weeks. Today I gave 3 hours 12 min a time before the first nap, Zac stirred at 35 min and I used paci to get him back to sleep. Afternoon a time was 3 hours 15 min and he slept for 1 hour - passed 30, 35 min no problem, then he may be alerted as the air conditioner started working, he was trying to resettle himself I guess, but I was so afraid that he would wake up, so I used paci. - **shall I wait here or shall I use the paci to get him back to sleep asap?** - I am a little puzzeled at this and would like to get some advice.

I am trying to adjust the a time to get an ideal spot, but it is not easy. Ok, another day passed, let's see how it goes tomorrow. 

[ZacsMumme]

Sounds like your making great progress.
I personally used the paci...but if you want to wean it ASAP it then you may as well do so now. If your like us and decide to keep it I really see no issue with then using it to help your LO to sleep.

Hopefully soon your Lowill be able to replug himself

[Eleanorz]

Thanks! Re paci, as he is still in his woombie, he won't be able to replug ... And I am not sure when we can wean him off woombie. I know some day he must do it, but I just don't have the gut yet.

These two days. He took more- than 2 hour morning nap. I think this is due to the increase of a time. Having said that, he sometimes still needed resettling at 40ish and 1.5hour. Thine problem is that the long morning nap made very less time to allow for the afternoon nap. Yesterday we did his nap in the car, as we could only let him sleep for more than half an hour so that the bt won't be affected. Today he is asking afternoon nap since 4:48. His bed time is aimed for 8:30. ** -- in this case shall I cap his morning nap? Or a long morning nap and a short afternoon nap is fine? What do u suggest?

** The other question I always doublt is that if he woke up at 7:20 in the morning and I tried to resettle till 8:15 without success. He got up at 8:15. From which time shall I count his a time from, 7:20 or 8:15?**

Thank you again.

[Eleanorz]

Just want to add the afternoon ds slept for 38 min. When he woke up, he was not unhappy. I tried to extend, but couldn't. I am just wondering his morning a time was 3hour21 min today and it yielded to a 2 hour plus nap, the afternoon a time was 3 hours17 min, but it only gave a 37 min nap. Why such a big difference? Thoughts?

[Papaya]

** -- in this case shall I cap his morning nap? Or a long morning nap and a short afternoon nap is fine? What do u suggest?

I would have thought he's a bit young to be nap-capping yet, but if you need to preserve bt there's nothing wrong with a long am/short pm

From which time shall I count his a time from, 7:20 or 8:15?**

From 7.20. Tbh, I wouldn't bother trying to resettle at that time of morning, I'd just get him up for the day (I would love a WU that late!!!). What's his normal WU?

And that second nap today was UT hon - after such a great morning nap he could do a longer A time. I'd try 3.5hrs.

[Eleanorz]

Thanks Papaya. His normal WU is between 8 and 9 (he slept between 8 and 9 in the evening. Today he woke up at 840, which is much better for us than 720. Lately when he was OT the day before, he woke up before 730. Sometimes he even woke up around 640, but we usually were able to put him back to sleep - but it was a lot of work.

Re yesterday pm nap UT, I couldn't give him more a time in the afternoon, as then he would sleep too late even or the 35 min nap. **- with the long a time, how do two good length nap fit in? Is his a time too long comparing with other 7.5 month baby boy?**

Thank you!

[ZacsMumme]

Are you hitting 8 months yet hun? Around this time I remember Zs naps shortening to 1.25hrs and when he didnt on his own our day got too long so I had to 'cap' one of them. I hated doing it but our day was 13.5hrs long and EW creeped back. Nuala is right though, if you can avoid nap capping at this age it is a good idea to try other things first

Has your LO always had high A times? - If so you could find that by 10/11 months he is ready for 1 nap...not common, but it does happen!

Can you post your current EASY?

I also think 10.5.11hr nights are common at this age as the day/night sleep needs change. If he wakes at 7.20 happy then I would just get him up