9mo consistent 35 minute naps morning & afternoon

[LittleLizard]

So we are doing about 3:15 A times right now as she has always been a low A time girl. We only just pushed her to this over the last few weeks. Bedtimes are either easy (under 10 min) or nightmarish involving many 5 minute sleeps followed by a screaming match. We have also been seeing very consistent 35 minute naps for the last 3 days both morning and afternoon. Bedtime continues to be hit or miss, but she always sleeps through once she does finally fall off about 30-45 minutes after bedtime (on the rough nights.) So is it time for another A push? I admit her tired signs have left, but I'm not sure if thats just her being distracted or genuinely not tired. She HAS been taking a little longer to get down for naps, but she is happy and chatting both before falling asleep and after waking up.

[Papaya]

Sounds to me like it's worth trying an A increase - I'd increase to 3hr30 and see how you go. The rough bedtimes could be because she's OT after short naps, do you think?

[LittleLizard]

Totally possible, I guess its just confusing because some nights its easy and some nights its not, but shes doing the 35 minute naps every day, lol. I'll do a push and see if that helps

[Papaya]

Could be a mental developmental leap too, if it's quite a sudden thing - is she about due for this one? http://www.thewonderweeks.com/index.php/about-the-wonder-weeks/your-babys-10-leaps/mental-leap-6

My LO does rubbish naps during wonder weeks

[LittleLizard]

So we did the first nap this morning at 3:30 and ended up with a 28 minute nap. And then she completely refused her afternoon nap and ended up in bed a full hour early. What the heck! I really doubt she will not wake here in about 30-45 minutes at least. I hope she doesn't wake up at 7 tomorrow

[Papaya]

Hugs, hope she does a good night for you. Can you post your EASY - what you were aiming for a week ago and what's been happening the past couple of days?

[LittleLizard]

She did sleep through somehow after a wake-up or two and woke up at 7:45 instead of 8, so not too shabby! EASY had been something like:
8:00 eat
9:30 solids
10:45 -11:30-12:00 eat/sleep (eat during wind down, but goes down awake)
12:30 solids
2:00 eat
2:45/3:00 - 3:30/4:00 sleep
5:00 eat
6:30 solids
7:30 bedtime routine (eat included)

But we have been trying lately:
8:00 eat
9:30 solids
11:10-12:15 eat/sleep
12:30 solids
2:00 eat
3:20-4:30 sleep
5:00 eat
6:30 solids
7:30 bedtime (eat included)

It has gotten us a few good naps, but it feels like those 35-45 minute naps have been here for over a week. I don't think she's had a 1hr+ nap for 4-5 days. We have of course been slowly trying to extend her A time to somewhere around 3:30-3:45 but she is not responding well, even for that first nap after a good solid night's sleep. And the past few mornings she is waking 15-30 minutes before 8, which was  very reliable before. Do you think that is from EBTs on crap nap days? Maybe she isn't great at adding onto her night-time sleep. Hmph.

[Papaya]

There are some LOs who don't tack, but most will at least a little. Is she teething?

[LittleLizard]

i have the worst time telling if she's teething. She just had her 2nd tooth come through on the bottom a week or so ago and I don't *see* any other nubs coming through, but I can see that her top two teeth are under the gums from the front. Just really light and thin behind her gums from the front, not the bottom of the gum where they would break through kwim? I have been giving her teething tabs before naps just in case, but it hasn't affected anything so far.

[Papaya]

Hmm, my LO is always most bothered by teeth about a week before they cut so they *could* be an issue I suppose... what do you think about it being a developmental leap? Any fussiness or clinginess during the day, any new behaviour?

[LittleLizard]

I am leaning towards teething as I just checked her temp and it's 100.3. She has been more clingy yesterday and today, but now I'm wondering if its just been the fever and shes been feeling icky. She has been rolling around a ton more before falling asleep for naps too.

[Papaya]

Poor wee thing, sounds like something's up. I'd just try to go with the flow and AP as you need to for the next few days, and re-evaluate when she's feeling a bit better.

[LittleLizard]

Thanks for the support, I really do appreciate it. This is my first baby and often I feel like an idiot : /
She is definitely teething, Daddy got a decent nap extension out of her yesterday while I was gone, we got a 45 minute catnap in the afternoon and bedtime was a breeze. However, she then woke screaming at 5:30AM and chewing her fingers terribly, so I went in and gave her meds and cuddles, but she was quite miserable until nearly 6, at which point she was up for the day from all the crying. So I fed her and we started the day. I'm not quite sure when to offer her first nap? I'm inclined to just offer sleep anytime she wants it today but I don't want to mess up tonight's bedtime since I now know to offer meds before putting her down.

[Papaya]

I would watch for sleepy signs today, she may need slightly shorter A times if she's not feeling well - and after the short night too. Maybe first nap around 9.15, if she can manage that long? And an early night tonight probably, seeing as she was up so early.

xx

[LittleLizard]

Haha she barely eeked it out until 8:00 before crashing : / Today is going to be a rough one. After this nap I will try to push her a bit before the next nap and offer EBT. Though I wonder, since she doesn't tack on sleep well at night, should I offer a late catnap instead? Thanks