cat nap issues

[Aking]

Hi there,
My LO is now 7.5 months. He's an amazing sleeper now and I can not complain one bit. I'm having a bit of an issue now with the cat nap in the evening. I think he's ready to drop it, though some times he still wants to take it and I think he's too tired by the end of the night if he doesn't. He is on a 4 hour easy, feeding also solids three times a day. His easy schedule is:
7am E
7-845/9 A
S 9-1030 or 11

E 11am
Solids at 12
A-11-1pm
S-1-230/3 pm

E-3pm
A-3-430
S-430-5 would be his normal cat nap and then I would feed dinner at 5pm, bath at 600, feed at 630 ish and down latest by 645.

The issue is that often he won't want to cat nap at 430 because it's only 1.5-2 hours of awake time. BUT if he doesn't take it I have to bump his bedtime up to 615 and he is sleepy feeding before bed. I wake him if he gets dozy on the breast and make sure he is awake before putting him down so he doesn't wake in a frenzy wondering why he's mysteriously in his crib
But the issue is that often he will wake after 30-45 minutes (what he normally does with his cat nap) and he cries hysterically. (Doesn't usually cry when he wakes, he coos and plays for a while). I have left him to cry for a bit to see if he will settle (we have a video monitor) but he usually doesn't. This means I have to get him up and keep him up for 1.5 hours before putting him back to bed. Which works, but then he is going to be at 730-8 instead and it's not ideal.

Any thoughts? I read that he needs to be able to handle 3 hours A time before cat nap goes. He doesn't because he's so used to this routine that like clockwork he gets tired about 2 hours after waking. Though in the evening he is more alert.

Not sure how to adjust because his night is amazing. I dream feed still at 1030 and he sleeps soundly until 7am consistently.

Thanks.

[nevinsmama]

Hi there, I totally understand things being pretty good and not wanting turn them upside down. Is he quite sensitive to OT? A lot of 7.5 month LO's are doing closer to 3 hours, some a bit more. I thing a gradual nudge forward is in order. I would start with 15 minutes before the 1st nap and hold that for a few day then nudge again. THen the same for the 2nd nap. Some LO's really get used to feeling sleepy at the same time. Is it possible he needs a change of scene at that time when he is usually going to sleep? I would keep the additional time super low key so it's not too much of a shock. Hope this helps!

[jessmum46]

There is some useful information here: All about the 3-2 transition- 5/6 months and a support thread for the 3-2 transition here: Anyone want to talk about the 3-2 Nap transition? Part 2 which you may find useful

Just wanted to mention that if he is crying and it's a mantra cry (ie not escalating and not an 'I need you' cry), then it's fine to leave him to see if he will settle.  However we do not support any form of CIO or leaving a distressed baby to cry alone so we would advise that if he is waking and crying hysterically, that suggests he needs your help.  Waking 30-45 mins after bedtime is a classic sign of being overtired at bedtime, so rather than getting him up again (which will make him more tired) I would persist with trying to resettle him.  Doing what Maryn has suggested and slowly increasing A times earlier in the day will prevent you having such a long stretch until bedtime. 

Good luck!