Ready to push 4 hour EASY, but need more info. on sleep

[Gage and Sophie's Mom]

Hi! Our routine is falling apart, and I think it is because we need to move to a 4 hr EASY (we are getting help from other forums), but my son is severly lacking in A time. I have successfully moved him from 45 to 1 hr 15, but it has been a REALLY bumpy road! Anyway, I need to better understand the logistics of sleep in more detail, so that I dont push him to being overtired. I realize that all babies are different, but I need some sort of point of reference to figure out where he is comfortable.

1. About how long is his sleep window? Can this be restarted if he is energized by play or another activity? For instance, if Gage is displaying sleepy signs and I manage to distract him, what happens to his window? Has is closed? Or will it come again?

2. I know there is a fine line between being overtired and undertired for naps as these things are causal factors to 45 min nap. I just dont know where that is for Gage. Does anyone have any examples to share?

3. I used to put Gage to sleep before he was sleepy to avoid the closing of his window, so it he would take 20-40 to fall asleep. Now since I have been extending his A time he fusses A LOT more and falls alseep within 5 min of being put to bed. Since it has taking so little time after being put to bed, does that mean I almost missed his window?

Gage doesnt have that many sleepy cues anymore, and the ones he does have are confusing. He starts to whine after 45 min to 1hr after being up, which could mean he needs a change of scenery or he wants to be picked up etc. This is confusing because I think he has the biological ability to be up longer. The other thing is that he rubs his eyes, which he does that even after waking. :? I am sorry this is so long but it is time for me to buck up and make some changes..... but I want to do this in the most comfortable manner for Gage.

[Aarismom]

Heya!

Well, as I'm sure you know, moving to a 4 hour EASY is not exactly...umm...easy. It's during this time that your lo goes through the biological change where day sleep develops, and tbh, the best advice is to just keep your chin up and whether through it, go with your instinct, because much of the time, no matter what you do, you're going to have 45 min naps, with a few long ones in there occasionally. You know you need to push toward a 2 hour wake time, but He probably won't be up to 2 hours solid until he's closer to 5 months, if that's any help.

At this point you can start watching the clock more than sleepy signs, because they will be confusing. It was at this point I started pulling my own hair out with Aari because she was doing exactly what your lo is doing. That line between overtired and undertired is pretty shaky at best, I swear until day sleep development is over it changes daily!

After it's over though, it's all about not being up long enough. He'll start taking normal naps again (hopefully lol), and if he regresses back to 45 min naps, you know it's time to extend "A" time again. 

Sorry I can't give you some hard and fast answers...every lo goes through this a little differently, but based on what other moms who have gone through this posted, and based on what my lo did, this is the best advice I can offer!

*HUGS*
Sonya =P

[home alone]

I spend last 2wks extending to 4hr EASY.  it was hard for about 4-5 days and it got better.  I was watching the clock as it was recommended on the "solve all your problem" book and also kept A very low key.  Because i had to extend the A by 15min every 3 days.  i had to keep her up even when she was tired so,  i was just kept her in the dim room in her crib and sang or rub her belly so that she would be distracted but would not get worked up.

Now, she sleeps through the night (wakes up at 6am unfortunately) and takes 1.5hr naps which I am working on extending to 2 hrs.

I find that not getting them too worked up with noise and lots of toys was the key for my Lo.

good luck