Almost 9 month old

[newkidontheblock]

Hey hun, out now so just a short reply. On days when 14-14.5 isn't happening, reduce the length of day

[trimbler]

I think Fleur found that with the pm catnap, even 2h was too long to BT - is that right, Fleur? So by bringing BT earlier you end up with more sleep overall and not so OT. The UT am nap scenario can be prone to EW if you allow that nap to be too long but if 4h is getting a good first nap then I'd stick with it and just pull back on subsequent A times. Be aware that tiredness will build up throughout the day so as Fleur said, if the combined A times are approaching 10h then you'll need to bring BT forward, perhaps by shortening the 2nd nap, but I can't advise whether to make that UT as no experience with long am, short pm.

Btw if you really want to try short am, long pm (not really advising it unless it will work better for your family or the current way isn't working - but you'll need to stick with it for a while longer to tell that), we've had illness and travel etc recently but seem to be settling on something like:

0620 Up
0920-1020 Nap 1
1315-1515 Nap 2
1830/1845 BT (haven't worked that one out yet!)

I do think you'd need to go shorter than 3h 2nd A time if you tried a 30min morning catnap.

[lauraims]

Awake 6
Nap - 9.45-11.15 (3.45)
Nap - 3-4 (3.45)
Bed 6 (2)
(12) (2.5) =14.5 twt-9.5hrs

So something like this could work ? She only had a 50 min nap yesterday arvo and was awake 10hrs TWT and slept through 12 hours, 6.15-6.15 👏👏 was a bit of a messy morning though as she woke at 5.30 yesterday. So I'm going to try this routine for a week and see how it goes.
The short am of An hour then 3.15hrs later worked for about a week !! Haha then she started taking up to 4 hours to go to sleep for the arvo nap for some reason then sleeping 2hrs then the early wakings started. She's definitely been OT since pushing to 4 first ATime. Will see how it goes. Thanks for your help !!!

[trimbler]

Great night I'm not sure if 2h would be long enough after an hour nap, it would add up to a good twt but she may struggle to get to sleep at BT without a little longer up... But really Fleur is the expert on that! Try it, but you may need to cap that pm nap further and/or increase that last A a tad.

[lauraims]

She went down after 2 hrs on a 50 min nap yesterday. So we'll see 😀Currently trying to keep her awake!!!3.25 mins so far !!

[trimbler]

Maybe 2h after 50mins is your sweet spot then? maybe a little walk outside now to keep her going? Or would that mean putting annoying extra clothes on? Getting warmer here now heading into summer but realise you're the opposite - and I'm off to bed now while you start your day, hope it's a good one

[lauraims]

Yup we've been for a walk this morning ! Was freezing !!!! Made it to our time! Let's hope today goes good. Hope you have a good night and thanks so much for your help !

[lauraims]

I'm guessing it's quite normal when stretching A's for the nap length to not be consistant ? We did 4hrs again this am and got another 1.15 nap. Put down aiming for 3.5hrs second A thinking that wAs an UT nap and she's just not going to sleep. Not screaming just crying on and off. I can't help her as it prolongs her being awake. She's been awake 3.45 now and it's Almost 3pm and she's only hAd 1.15 worth of day sleep with a 6.15 wake up. It's so defeating aye. Feel like her naps and routine have been a constant battle forever and she's never ever consistant

[newkidontheblock]

Why not keep both A times the same?

[lauraims]

I was just thinking the 1.15 isn't enough sleep to be totally restorative to do another full 4 hours ? She went to sleep at 3.45 WT. Still asleep but only been 30 mins at the moment.

What was your easy at 9.5 months ? When did you start capping the AM nap ?

[lauraims]

Just woke crying at 35 mins, so OT... Argh. This is so annoying. I hate not being able to get it right for her

[newkidontheblock]

I would consider anything over an hour as a proper nap. Also when reducing A time after a short nap, try reducing by 15 minutes or so.. Otherwise again UT

[lauraims]

6pm asleep for night,5.30 wake up, 30 min first nap. Tried to put down at 2.5, wasn't having it, then at 3 hrs as she was visibly tired, still awake and been fighting it for 1 hour. Not crying just violently thrashing her legs up and down. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh is All I can say.

[newkidontheblock]

Laura, I think the issue is consistency. Pick one A time and stick with it for a while. Right now I think both of you are very confused due to the variation. You said she can do 4 hours, right? So why PD at 2.5? My DD would have none of that and fight me like crazy, same as yours. She is just not tired so quickly and needs a longer A. You also said long am, short pm was working for you. Has something changed?

[lauraims]

I've been doing 4hours first A for 5 days now. Been getting 1.25, 1.20, 1.10, then today a 30 min nap. The reason I put down at 2.5 today was because of the 30 min nap. She went to sleep at 4hrs for only 1.10 which only takes us to 2.15pm. I know she likes a Short A to bed so no idea what to do now. Trying to resettle her. The short am long pm worked for a week then she started taking 4 hours to fall asleep for the afternoon nap, so the day was Almost over before she got any day sleep in.