6mo old On EASY afternoon nap help!

[Cathykamara]

Hiya

I've just put my 6 month old (she's actually 7mos but was premature so has sleep needs of a 6mo old) on an EASY but can't seem to elongate the afternoon nap
Schedule
7/7.15am wake up, bottle
9/9.15 nap
10.30am breakfast (I'll move this to before first nap)
11am bottle
1pm lunch
1.30pm nap
2.15pm wake (  )
4pm catnap (because of early wake)
4.30pm/5pm dinner
6pm bottle & bath
7pm bed (ideally)

Please help on how to make the afternoon nap longer and cut out the catnap?

Thank you!
Cathy

[Buttonbobs]

Around this age is prime time for droppig that CN.

Can you try pushing the second nap a bit later as that 45 mins nap is classic UT nap territory. Extending the first two naps this way will help with dropping the CN. You may need to extend the first A time a little too but see how you go. Perhaps moving a nap later by only 15 mins each time holding that new A time for 3 days to let your LO settle. If you still get 45 mins you may need to extend again.

By pushig the A times longer and getting two long naps the end of the second will be nearer BT so you can manage without the CN.

I hope this helps x

[Cathykamara]

Thank you! Another question - if baby stirs at 45 mins then sleeps again but only for another 10-15 mins, is that UT too?

How can you tell if Waking because OT or UT mid-nap?

Thanks!

[Buttonbobs]

It could be UT, yes. The sign is the waking at 45 mins really. Is she waking up happy?

Have you looked at the average A times here?

Average A times- BOOKMARK ME!

An average 6-7 month old is going to need to be awake for between 2.5 and 3.5 hours between sleeps. Those A times in your day are only just two hours each, so are short even for a 6 month old. I definitely think stretching the A times will help. Also, I know a slightly premature baby will take a little bit of catching up, but by this stage, and having been 4 week premature she may well have caught up to her actual birth age, without need for adjustment.

If you take the A time extension slowly you'll be able to see when the A time is long enough, without worrying about her getting OT.