Does the "Y" time really exsit in EASY?

[Matka]

Can someone please tell me if they ever get any "Y" time while their child is supposed to be napping?  I have been doing pu/pd and shhh/pat for what feels like weeks now and it seems like I'm doing it the whole 1 1/2 hours that he should be sleeping.  By then it's time to eat again, then play, then try to nap again!  I feel like I'm spending the whole time in ds room!  Am I doing this wrong?  I would love to be able to go to the bathroom at some point durring the day!!

Kathy-Ann

[Meg's Mom]

Kathy - Ann

I sounds like you are in what is called "the thick of it".  IT does get better; I know I have been there!  My LO took the short naps for weeks, I then found Tracy's new book and started nap training, which took more time - so I feel for you.

Can you tell us how old your LO is?  Also how long you have been doing EASY?  And how long have the short been occurring?

[Matka]

ds will be 3 months the end of November.  He has been a dream up until a week ago (not that he's a total monster, it's just this short nap thing!)  He's been on EASY pretty much from the start since a devoured Tracy's book all through my pregnancy.   The short naps started about a week ago.  Typical day is as follows:

Up between 6:30-7:30
E 1oz cereal with rest of 7oz bottle (8oz total)
A until 9:00 or 9:30
S until  10:00 - 10:15 (depending on when he goes down)

E 8oz at 11:00

The next few hours are when I run out for errands so he usually sleeps off
and on between 11:45-1:00.  I always try to be home by 2:00.

A time

E 8oz 3:00

S about 4:15-4:30 until around 5:00-5:30

E 7:00 1 oz cereal and rest of 7oz bottle

A time until 8:00 or 8:30

Goes to bed and sleeps through the night with a dream feed at 10:00.

He is so great at putting himself to sleep (and always has been- very lucky).  By the time I carry him upstairs to his crib, I barely have to rock or shush/pat him.  I lay him down, he closes his eyes, and goes to sleep.  But, he's up again within the hour.  Durring the day it's not so bad but by the time he's up from the 4:00 nap he is so cranky he just crys and crys.  I had a total melt down tonight!  Thank goodness dh is so great with all of this.

[Meg's Mom]

ooh yes, the 3month / 45min nap thing!  My LO started it then too - she is a reformed 45min napper :-).

From 0-3 months babies work on organizing their night sleep. From 3-6 they work on organizing their day sleep. What is happening is biological and is a normal blip.  Not that it makes you feel any better.

IME, you have 3 options (most outgrow it by 5-6mos):
-try to extend the short naps via wake to sleep or shh/pat
-just go with it and adjust EASY to fit the short naps
-very, very gradually extend A time - if your LO can handle it, but this is not always recommended as they get overtired so easliy.  BUT the A times you posted look a bit long already.
-wait until 4mos and extend A time when you move to 4hr EASY.
I can offer suggestions w/ any you choose if you like.  As i said, it does get better i promise.

PS: He is nearing the age where you will need to try to stick to naps at home not out and about, bummer huh?

[Matka]

I think I'll stick with the shhh/pat, pu/pd.  He seems to do okay with it.  This morning I only had to go in once!  Thank you so much for your support.  I'm glad to know it gets better.

Kathy-Ann