Nap transition

[haileyababay]

How do I go about transitioning from 4 naps to 3? Our LO (almost 15 weeks) has had short naps as the days go on for about a week now. The first one is the best at 1 and a half hours, the second one has decreased from 1 hour and a half to anywhere from 1 hour-1 hour and 15 mins, our third nap is now no more than 45 mins and then we usually have 1-2 short catnaps the rest of the night, ranging from 15-45 mins. I figure she’s ready to be at 3 naps since this has been going on for a while. This is our ideal schedule now:

Wake 7:30
Wake until 8:45 (1:15)*
Nap 1 8:45-10:15 (1:30)

Wake 10:15
Wake until 11:45 (1:30)
Nap 2 11:45-1:15 (1:30)

Wake 1:15
Wake until 2:45 (1:30)
Nap 3 2:45-4(1:15)

Wake 4
Wake until 5:45 (1:45)

Nap 4 5:45 for 30 mins

Wake 6:15
Wake until bedtime
Bedtime routine starts 7:45
Sleep 7:45/8:00
MOTN at 3:30/4:30
Sleep until DWT

*-max waketime in early mornings, just extended it from 1hr last week
Nap time: 5 hours

However, the last two naps go from 15-45 mins each, rather than 1:15 and 30 respectively. I just don’t know how to lose the last nap without messing up the whole schedule. I’d like bedtime to be anywhere from 7-8! Thanks

[Katet]

Honestly I think at the moment it's pretty good, "textbook" routines are just ideas & not all babies are the same so it's normal to have differences between the "ideal" & reality & having 2 shorter naps & a happy child are far more valuable than the "should be" routine... So if she is happy & growing well & only having 2-3 night wakings (normal at 3-4 months) then you are doing really well.

That said it will get to the point of transition to 4-3 although I think she is already leading you on that path anyway & I think if you were to increase her A time by a few minutes (walk around in arms or quiet sitting in room) she will move to 3 Naps in the next few weeks.

All that said my DS2 happily did 3 short naps & one long (2.5-3hour nap) at that age - mostly because it suited our day & was a healthy happy child & then moved to 2 catnaps & a long one around 6month old.

I know it's easy for me to say this as I've got older children, but enjoy the moment & don't worry too much about the routine if you have a happy child... their sleep & how "perfect" it is, will be no indication of anything further down the track.

[haileyababay]

Well I have created a new routine for her to help extend the wake times. I’m hoping that works so I have a more set schedule. I figure at this age, it should start to become routine for her! Then I can pump more and go back to work

[Katet]

I’m hoping that works so I have a more set schedule.

Please don't focus too much on set schedules as 1) babies needs change so much in the early months due to developmental stages, teething etc & so they need to be constantly changing & 2) they stop you from being mindful of their changing needs & can encourage a clock watcher rather than working with them.

The most important part of it is the  rituals that indicate it's nap time rather than the clock. If you have the rituals in place they can see the routine and mostly follow it, then if they communicate a difference eg not going to sleep, you are more likely to know it's because they need a change or there is pain etc.

If you are wanting to pump for work, it works quite well to pump for 5-10mins after feeds, particularly later in the day. I know that helped me with growth spurts too as my supply was good.