A time for 7 month old..

[Henty]

Hello just looking some advice!

My LG has been on 2 naps since 5 months and has been on 3hr A time for about a month now.
The 40min naps stopped (mostly) and she is STTN.

Over the past week or so shes been refusing the PM nap! Taking ages to fall asleep so i usually have to help by holding her. Then by the time shes got to sleep i usually wake her after an hour so BT can stay at 7pm.

So, i was wondering should i have a long AM nap (3 hr A time works fine for AM) and perhaps a catnap in the PM with a longer waketime than 3 hours? Today i tried 3hr 10 A time and still a bit of struggle. She usuAlly falls asleep within minutes of being put down.

Just seems such long A times and was wondering if anyone else went through the same sort of thing.

Any advice would be great.

[jessmum46]

Totally normal hun, yes A times keep going up . You can compensate by slightly pushing BT later up to a 13h day, so say:

WU 7
3h A
1.5h nap 10-11.30
3h15-30 A
1.5h nap 3-4.30
3h15-30 A for 7.30/8pm BT

If you prefer to keep 7pm BT then yes you would have to wake from second nap, or be prepared to start your day a bit earlier.  Have a look at the 2-1 links in the FAQs - you're not there yet by any means but gives you an idea of what may be in store in a few months time

[Henty]

Thankyou so much.

Pm nap was completely refused today and i tried and tried to get her to sleep without any success and she had been awake for 4hours by that time and she was in a complete overtiredness meltdown so ended up having to go for a drive in the car to get her to sleep which is not somethin i want to have to do so i just really need to figure the afternoon out!!

[jessmum46]

Oh dear!  Did you want to log a few days and post them here to see if we can help?

[Henty]

Yes that would be great!! I will post back in a few days, thankyou!! X

[jessmum46]

No problem will look out for your post

[Henty]

Hi just thought I would post my last few days and hopefully you can help me see what im doing.


Wu 7.45
Nap 1- 10.55-12.25
Nap 2- 15.32-16.13
Bt- 19.15
She slept all night

Wu 7.45 (really only 6.45am but clocks went forward)
Nap1 - 10.47-11.57
Nap2- 15.05-16.05
Bt- 19.45
She woke at 2am for dummy


Wu 6.50
Nap 1- 9.49-11.20
Nap2- 14.43-15.33
Bt- 19.00
Woke at 12.10am & 2.30 for dummy

Today:
Wu- 6.55
Nap1- 9.56-11.13
Nap2- 14.31-15.42
Bt - 19.05

Nap 1 she is so ready for everyday, she falls asleep just sitting on my knee which isnt like her. But shes stirring at 40mins, could it just be habit?
Nap 2 she is resisting- i can usually just put her down but she has to be held for most of it. Should it be a longer nap?
Bt- i just put her down and she tossing and turns to get comfy which can last anywhere from 1 min- 15mins. Past couple nights its been less than 2 mins,

No idea if im on the right track or why shes wakening in night!

[jessmum46]

Just looking at the routines you posted (bear in mind I can't see your LO in front of me, so only you know how well she is coping) I would say she needs about 3h A time first thing after a shorter night/broken night and maybe more like 3h10/15 after a good night.  Then possibly a touch longer for her second A.  Hopefully that will get you a longer second nap and you can then do another full A time before bed without her getting OT.  Honestly though it really doesn't look bad at all, there are so many reasons at this age they can wake at night besides routines- teeth, development, props (does she always need the dummy?) that sometimes waiting it out is the best thing you can do

[Henty]

Aww thankyou

Yes she always needs her dummy and i think we have a tooth about to appear!

[jessmum46]

Yay for teeth!  I always celebrate each one arriving as it means you are one closer to the end!!

[Henty]

Hello!

Im back again and need help!!

My LO A time has jumped to 3.5 hour in the morning and she seems to need longer in the PM if she has a good morning nap! But im the day is getting longer and longer!

Its going something like this:

Wu 8am
Nap 1: 11.30-12.45 (im wakening her!)
Nap 2: 4-4.30 (having to APOP and im wakening her!)
BT: 8pm

Im pretty sure the A time in the afternoon is too short for her but ive no idea how to fit 2 naps into my day!
Also not sure if im doing too much A time before bed or too little as she shows no tired signs and its becoming a fight!! Tonight i tried 7.30 BT and it was still a massive struggle!

Anyone any experience of long AM & short pm and how they went about it?

thanks!!

[Henty]

Some help would be greatly appreciated

BT is such a fight and have EWs!

[jessmum46]

I would let one nap, the first if you prefer go up to 1.5-2h.  Then a full A time and cap second nap if needed to keep to a 12-12.5h day, possibly up to 13h depending on what your LO can handle.  So something like

WU 8
Nap 11.30-1
Nap 4.30-5.30
BT 8.30

Or similar