Thanks so much for the suggestions! I was starting to feel like we needed to extend his A time, because his naps were getting shorter. So, his first A is now up to 2.5 hrs, but the rest of the naps is still closer to 2hr. He starts getting whinny and fussy.
We'll keep working to extend it!
I don't want to do his DF so early, but sometimes he wakes up inconsolable. We've had him continue to cry for 30+min even while we are holding him.
Should we just persist and not do DF until 11pm earliest? Ultimately I do want to move his bed time earlier to 7:30-8pm, but it only seems to be getting later and later with extending A times but still needing the cat nap.
He is mostly an independent sleeper. We hide in his room after we finish our routine and put him in his crib. We hide, because the door makes noise and it's more disruptive to go in and out. hehe... I know he can't see us, but should we actually leave. So, he is able to fall asleep independently and is getting better at getting through jolts on his own.
During the day feedings are a battle usually. DS wants to play and wants to be done in 2-3 min. He will even get mad at me for continuing to offer my breast. I did try feeding without the lights on during the day and it seems to be helping. Thanks for that tip! During the DF I still offer both breasts, but for the NF I've tried offering just 1 and it seems not to be affecting him. It didn't make him any hungrier in the morning either. He was still done after 2/3 min. I've started massaging during day time feedings to get him to drink more in the same amount of time...may be that works? DS only stays on for more than 5 min when he's sleepy...
DS is a chubby one, so I'm not worried about how much he's getting....I just don't want him to be waking up from hunger at night. This mommy is desperate for longer stretches of sleep. :/