Nearly 9mo, all naps suddenly short

[jessmum46]

Could I ask for your thoughts on whether we've got an UT/OT problem or something else going on?

Last few days all of DDs naps have been short.  A couple of weeks ago we were getting a fairly consistent am nap of 1h30 after 3h30 A time, then a shorter pm after 3h45ish (capped at an hour if needed).  The am nap started to shorten so I bumped up her first A time to 3h40-45 about a week ago.  We had a rough night (very unusual) 4 nights ago which I put down to possible teething/tummy upset, and since then all naps have been short.  The first day I'm pretty sure was OT, but now I'm not sure what we've got.  I've been trying meds before naps which hasn't made any difference (normally does if teething is the issue)

Last few days EASY:

Monday (rough night with NWs and EW)
WU 6.40
Nap 10.20-10.55
Nap 14.05-14.40, dozed on & off in arms for 35 mins and then slept further 30 mins
BT 18.30

Tuesday
Cry at 05.50, then quiet
Up at 06.40
Nap 10.15-11.00
Nap 14.20-15.30 woke happy
BT 18.50

Wednesday
Stirred at 05.40
WU 06.40
Nap 10.30-11.15
Nap 14.40-15.30
BT 18.45

Today
WU 7am
Nap 10.45-11.25

She's woken from most naps with a very brief cry and then played happily in her cot for 20 mins or so until I've got her up.

We're off on holiday next week (10h time difference) so I know that's going to throw things anyway, but it would be nice to have some sort of plan!

[amayzie]

hmm- it can be tricky at this age.. i'm wondering if you need to push that first A time out some more and try for a long AM and shorter PM? I think that the monday EASY and naps were short UT ones because of the night before... and then the next day the naps were back to short because of being UT... At that age we were doing a long AM nap- fixed at about 10.30.. and a short car nap. SOO- my suggestion- do one last big A time push to see how that extends the nap.. before the fun of the 2-1 begins (don't worry- it's not too bad!)

[jessmum46]

Thanks Katy will be brave and try for 4h tomorrow if we get a good night. At worst I guess we get a short nap again!

[amayzie]

At worst I guess we get a short nap again!

This is the thing! By this age i as much braver going with an A time push as at least a short 30 minute nap tells you something! (gotta look on the bright side hey!)

[jessmum46]

Ok - we managed a 4h A time this morning...........staying asleep vibes please!!  Currently 25 mins in......

[amayzie]

ooh! The suspense is killing me!! Hopefully you manage better than us today- 1 hour 15 cranky pants!

[jessmum46]

Well.....................1h12 mins, now playing about in her cot    It's better than the 30 I was expecting or the 40-45 of the last few days though!!

I guess we should stick with 4h consistently for a few days before deciding whether we need to make another change? 

Was really hoping not to hit the startings of the 2-1 this early...........but I guess I always knew it was going to happen!!

[amayzie]

Has she been a high A times baby in the past? or low- my guy was always high.. and i think we started getting some fussiness around 9 months. The main thing for us was the fighting bed time.... I'd stick to 4 hours and see if that continues to give you the longer nap.

When we started the 2-1 thing we shortened the AM nap to 20 mins or so (usually in the car) and then he had a longer PM nap. Not really sure if there would be a problem with trying this early.. perhaps the short capped nap would be too short unless they are transitioning? You could consider capping the first nap at something closer to 30 mins so it's not so short.. Anyway- just omething to think of- try the longer A time first. There isn't anything else happening? Not too cold? teeth? illness? 

[jessmum46]

She's always been high A times. Seems happy enough at the moment despite the short naps - no illness, possibly teething as keeps getting a red cheek but can't see or feel anything and still short napped with meds. So I'll stick to 4h for a bit, and maybe try to hold onto long am and a CN as long as possible. Have a bit of a feeling that at the moment capping the am would just get us 2 short naps!  Thanks for your help Katy x

[*happy*]

Have a bit of a feeling that at the moment capping the am would just get us 2 short naps!

i'm always afraid fo that too!!!!hope things get sorted a little before the hols!xxx

[amayzie]

try to hold onto long am and a CN as long as possible.

This is how I always liked it too! I always wanted to 'bank' the AM sleep! When i did make the jump (i think it was also due to the PM nap being outright refused...) it worked surprisingly well! But that may have been closer to 10 months.

[jessmum46]

Another 70 min am nap today after 4h A time  Can she still be UT? I'll stick with it but seems crazy how quickly the A time has leapt up...

[Papaya]

Just a thought Katherine - has she been otherwise fussy or clingy at all? Any new behaviour when she's awake? You must be about due for Wonder Week 37... http://www.thewonderweeks.com/index.php/about-the-wonder-weeks/your-babys-10-leaps/mental-leap-6

xx

[jessmum46]

Thanks Nuala   She's had a lot of those things going on, but probably for about 3 weeks or so now so nothing really new I can put my finger on over the last few days.  The only other thing I thought of was that prior to all the short naps starting, she'd been teething for about a month constantly with 3 new teeth coming through - just wondered if her A times could genuinely have taken a leap now that's settled down?

Early WU this morning - just after 6am and not happy   Though not technically an EW as she was in bed at 18.40 and asleep fairly quickly.  Normal is 6.30-7am for her but I'm guessing the days of short naps are taking their toll.....

[jessmum46]

Yep, OT 30 min am nap feel like we're in a never ending UT OT loop!