EASY and nursery

[brummum]

Just want to see what other people will do in this situation!
Little man goes to nursery 2 days a week (he's 10 months old). They say they will follow whatever routine you want them to but middle of the day is the only time the lights are dimmed and noise kept to a minimum etc.. so he typically does and 30 nap in the morning and then a 45min ish nap after lunch. Sometimes only middle of the day nap. He won't sleep longer or at other times because he's a poor sleeper (needs cot total darkness and white noise machine at home) and very nosy! EBT is out in this house, he just will not tack on missed day sleep to his nights. However, up til now I have been able to salvage nursery days by APOP a cat nap after I pick him up (about half 3/4) to get him through to bedtime. He's in the 2-1 transition now anyway so we have given up trying to get him/them to do anything else at nursery and he now does a capped 30mins nap in the morning and a 1.5 - 2hr nap after lunch (about 1) which has been working really well. I'm hoping if he gets into the habit of doing a middayish nap at home that he will manage longer at nursery.
Next week I start full days at work so will no longer have the option to pick him up early which means no afternoon catnap! I'm just not sure how to handle this without ending up with an incredibly overtired baby by bedtime. Any suggestions??

[jessmum46]

Honestly I would give EBT another go. It doesn't work for everyone but many mums on here have said that during the 2-1 their LOs started tacking on for the first time ever. The worst that can happen is an EW, but he'll be more rested than if he goes to bed later and has an OT EW.  I think your only alternative is to let him have slightly longer naps on the days you are home and hope he catches up

[Mama2Athena]

"he now does a capped 30mins nap in the morning and a 1.5 - 2hr nap after lunch (about 1) which has been working really well."

That's actually really good compared to my DD...

I don't have any good suggestions but just wanted to offer my support and share my experience.  My 7 month old DD is in daycare 5 days a week (full time).  Like your LO, she is a very sensitive sleeper, so on a typical day, she'll manage three 30-40 minutes naps.  On a good day, one of those naps may be 1 hour.  She tends to be a 10/10.5 hour sleeper overnight so EBT is also out of the question.  However some days, it's just so bad that I end up putting her to bed 30 minutes earlier, which means an extra EW.  Fortunately, on these extra EW, my husband would give her a bottle and while he gets ready for the day, she'll take a short 30 minute catnap before beginning her day.

On weekends, she'll make up by giving me two 2 hour naps.  Of course that is in her dark and very quiet room.  If we're out and about, forget it.  It's back to 40 minute naps.  Fortunately she copes fairly well with short naps most of the time (I think she's mostly angel/textbook - very easy going and mellow.)  And so far, her nights have been good, with the occasional 3 AM chatting to herself.

I used to stress out so much about this, but becoming more relaxed because I have to work and have no other choice but to put her in daycare.   Hugs... I do think it gets easily once they get to one nap (ie. toddlers at DD's daycare have a dedicated nap period when it's much quieter).

[brummum]

thanks, sorry should have pointed out that the 30min capped and 1.5-2hrs longer nap is only on days when he is with me. At nursery it's the 30min (not capped!) and 45min after lunch which is why I need to do the APOP when I pick him up. I think I am just trying to muddle through til he can manage with the one nap and hoping the middle of the day one lengthens a bit when that happens. I guess our current home schedule is an effort to work up to this! Interestingly we have had 11hr nights (never had that in this house!) since trying this so I don't know whether he just needs that 5hrs before bed (in theory he should be OT right?!). He has always followed his own rule book that's for sure!
Think I will try EBT again next week when he starts doing longer days and cross my fingers!!