When do they drop the catnap?

[mommytsa]

My almost 7 mo DS often refuses his catnap (which we deal with by giving a 30 min earlier bedtime).  I am wondering if he is trying to tell me that he is ready to drop it, or since, it's always been the hardest nap to get him down for, he's just gotten used to not having it all the time.  He seems to really need it, and is quite a bear when he doesn't get it, but can't really seem to handle much more than 2 hours of A time.

Really, I don't need a lot of help tweaking the schedule, etc, since I already have my head wrapped around that (I know to slowly extend A time over a few days, etc). I'm just wondering if the time has come for us to move towards dropping that catnap and just having 2 solid naps.
Thanks for the help!

[Deb_in_oz]

i think the window where most babies drop it is 5-7 months so e is right on target and i woudl suggest you do drop and start to stretch that last A time.

good luck! if you do find you need some help tweaking soon come and ask on the EASY board and Noelle and I can give you a hand.

[mommytsa]

Thanks Deb.  I had a feeling, but wanted to make sure that it wasn't just me being strange.

If I need a hand, you know I'll come find you!

Thanks again.

[Taylor's Mommy]

Hi Theresa,

Agree with Deb...I think little Aaron is definitely ready to drop it!

Good luck

[LeslieG]

I am in the same boat but could use some help with tweaking my DD's schedule. Currently this is usually what happens:

7am - Bottle
8am - Solids
9 or 9:30am - Nap (anywhere from 1-2 hrs)
11:30am Bottle and Solids
1 or 1:30 - Nap (usually just an hour)
3:30 - Bottle
4:30 or 5 - Solids
6ish - Bath
6:45ish - Bottle
7ish - Bed

The last week or two she has had a catnap here and there but not everyday however keeping her happy until her bottle and bed time hasn't been easy. I feel bad for her because I know she is tired but don't want to put her to bed much before 7pm.  Should I try to extend her A time and get her to nap around 2pm ideally? 

She is mostly an angel/textbook baby and has been sleeping through the night WITHOUT a dreamfeed since she was 9 weeks old. The dreamfeed didn't work for her and she never really needed it.

Leslie

[Taylor's Mommy]

Hi Leslie,

Since dd is still under 6 months old I think it is a wee bit too early to try to drop it.  I had the same problem starting around 5.5 months and to be quite honest the catnap was off and on for a month and a half until she finally dropped it at 7 months.  Just continue to offer it and adjust her schedule accordingly.  So on the days she doesn't take it and is SUPER tired you may put her down at 6:45 instead of 7.  Even an extra 15 minutes will help prevent her from getting overtired for bed.

Good luck!