1h naps

[ENMS]

DS is 5.5 months. We've been stretching A times for a few days since he was having trouble going down for his naps and we're also struggling with EW. 

Here was yesterday:

EW 5:30 - go back until 6:07, resettle, then go back to sleep until 7
WU 7
A 2h20
S 9:20-10:25 (1h05)
A 2h25
S 12:50-2:10 (1h20) still seems tired but not able to resettle
S 3:20-3:45 little catnap in the car
S 7:00

He got up for a NF at 1:30, then EW at 5:30 - I think he resettled to sleep until 6 but not 100% sure

Today so far:

A 2h21 (assuming he slept until 6)
S 8:21-9:13 (52 min)

Before I started stretching A times this week-end, he was at 2h-2h05 A times approximately.

I think he sounds UT still... but since I just stretched by 15 minutes, wondering if I'm just confusing it with OT?

What do you think?

[mickey44]

I think UT too.  This is such a confusing time, I find they don't want the catnap but their A times are quite long enough to do without.  I would keep pushing those A times and see.

We also have EW of anywhere from 4:00 to 5:00.  Ugh, that is way to early to start the day!!!

[Papaya]

I think he still sounds a bit UT too. But as neither of those naps are quite long enough to be really restorative, it makes sense that he'd still be a bit tired after the second one.

If it's been 4-5 days since you increased, I think you could probably push the first A by another 10 mins tomorrow. If you get a longer nap, do the same with the second A

[ENMS]

I was just so confused because just last week, with 2h05 of A, I could extend a 1h15 nap to make it to 2h and now this week, with 2h25, I can't extend a 50 min nap

So difficult to follow these days! I also usually really follow his cues as much as I can. Now for his second nap, following his cues as always, I put him down after 2h32. A bit of a stretch but didn't want to put him down before he showed cues, yk.  Hopefully it works, otherwise I'll try to stretch tomorrow as well again!

Thank you for the advice!  

*** ok, so he woke after 30 min, I had to resettle twice but he ended up sleeping 1h45 in total - I'll try 2h30 for the first A tomorrow morning.  Another thing I've noticed is that lately he seems to need me to extend his naps a lot - more than usual - I end up going in relatively soon when he wakes because I know that if he wakes fully, I won't be able to extend - should I keep on doing that or instead let him be and hope he resettles himself? ***

[Papaya]

I would always go in quite quickly as well, as I knew I had a much better chance of resettling...but if you're going in every nap time, it's probably worth leaving him a few times (on naps when you won't get too stressed if it ends up short) and see if he can resettle - he might surprise you!

A lot of people find that cues start becoming unreliable around this age so it is tough - I found myself going by A times unless my LO was unusually tired, unwell etc. But if the first nap is less than an hour, you will need to shorten the next A time - so the second nap yesterday was almost certainly OT if he did a full 2hr30 after a 50 min nap Glad you were able to resettle though!

[ENMS]

He does transition on his own sometimes... no noise, or just a quick cry and then nothing. But when it gets more than that, I go in quickly.  I think that's ok?

So we tried 2h30 A this morning and he had a 45 minute nap. I could not resettle.  Surely, he can't be UT with 2h30 when he was doing 2h05 just last week? Should I stick with 2h30 tomorrow morning or increase it again?

What would you do for his second nap? 2h? 2h15?

[mickey44]

We are doing 2h20/2h30 and I am still getting 1h10/1h20 min naps so I think we still need an A increase.  Although today she seems off...so who knows!!  I also find tired cues very unreliable these days.  I think with DD1 this was about the age we went from a 2h A to 2h45 within a matter of weeks!

I think I would try an A of about 2h10 or so for his second A.

[ENMS]

I think with DD1 this was about the age we went from a 2h A to 2h45 within a matter of weeks!

WOW! Ok so maybe I am not crazy then and I need a longer increase. 

Would you stick with 2h30 for the first A tomorrow?

So I did 2h05 for his second A time, got a 30 min nap, which I extended so he slept 1h30 total, still not a lot we're at 2h15 total S now today and we'll probably get a 30 min catnap and that's all

[mickey44]

Yeah we have been lucky if DD2 is getting 3hrs total sleep a day.  I think I would stick with 2h30 A for 3 days and see if still UT then increase again to 2h40/2h45.

[allm416]

Hey Elise & Mickey44. Just wanted to say that we are also suffering from 1hr 15 naps & fighting catnap (have posted under 'Help with afternoon catnap please') so its great to be able to read what you're up to as well. I just don't know anymore if LO (5 months 3 weeks) is UT or OT. Seems crazy that her A times need increasing so rapidly.
I think Cheryl138 under post 'Baby livid after catnap' is in the same position too.
Looks like its a common problem. Good that we can all share & learn from each others experiences

[ENMS]

I just don't know anymore if LO (5 months 3 weeks) is UT or OT

I find this is the worst!! It's the first time it happens to me, I really have no clue at all...

Hang in there and keep us posted if you find an answer to your problems! I'll go read your thread!

[mickey44]

I remember this being a rough time for DD1....things got so much better once we were able to just get rid of the catnap and move to two wonderfully long naps.......*dreaming*.  LOL!!

[ENMS]

So 2h30 is not working. We're still getting short naps although I think white noise is an issue but not the only issue.

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=231308.0

Today I downloaded the app and used it so there was no disruption due to the CD repeating, and he slept 45 minutes. So I think I will need to increase it to 2h45 tomorrow, it just seems so high though he's always been on average A times for his age and he's just 5.5 months. He wakes happy and chatting and there' no way I can extend that first nap.  The second nap is usually OT but I can extent it to 1h30 total maybe. So he gets 30-45 min + 1h30 + 30-40 for the CN these days.

[mickey44]

Yeah that sounds a lot like our days lately.  I can't seem to get her past 2h30 without her turning into a total grouch!  We also use white noise but we have a white noise machine that continuously plays so I know that is not the problem but I suppose white noise could be a prop but like you said I think UT is a factor and that is why he is waking so easily! 

If he is waking happy and chatting after an hour I would definately try to extend again! 

[ENMS]

I'll extend to 2h45 tomorrow then, hopefully it doesn't become a total disaster!!!