Hellobee Boards

Is he trying to go to bed this early and only take two naps a day? I only ask because my kids give up naps early. Both kids were on two naps by 5 months.

@MsBAM: So my opinion is that he's spending wayyyyy too much time awake between AM wakeup and first nap. The first nap is the most important nap of the day, as it sets the tone for the rest of the day, and most sleep experts say its almost a continuation of the night time sleep. Its the most restorative nap of the day.
I think you'd be very surprised if you tried to do that first nap only 1.5 hours after wakeup. Remember, if they are overtired they are 1) harder to put down and 2) harder to keep asleep. The reason he may be sleeping longer for the 3rd nap is because he's just so exhausted...like beyond overtired. Which isn't a good thing. Its a vicious cycle. He's overtired because first nap happens too late. So then his nap is short. And then he's still overtired because first nap was short and 2nd nap is too far away. Then its short and he's still so tired and by then he's just beyond exhausted and conks out for 3rd nap.

And I also think there's too much time between last nap and bedtime. If the first two naps end up extending then the problem might fix itself as the last nap will be later and therefore less time between wakeup and bedtime.

Here is an example of my son's schedule at 5 months:

6:30am wakeup
8am - 9:30am nap
11:30am - 1pm nap
3pm - 4:30pm nap
6/6:30pm bedtime (note that sleep experts usually say bedtime should be between 5-7pm for a long time in a child's life).

I would also do some research on sleepy signals that a baby gives off. If you're waiting till he's fussy to determine "this means he's tired", that's too long. Ideal sleepy signals are pretty calm and subtle - yawning, staring off into space/glazing over, averting their eyes. Usually crying or fussing means you've already passed the ideal window and are in the overtired zone.

I hope you know I'm not trying to come off as judgey or preachy. I just am super passionate about baby sleep and its the one thing I've done the most research on and worked the hardest at with my son. And my life was majorly improved when I learned all of the above and he started taking long naps and STTN So I want to share the love.

No advice, but wanted to say that DD's last nap was always her longest. It's the opposite of what I was told was normal, but it worked for her.

@MsBAM: I agree with @SweetiePie: With LO1, she wasn't napping or taking 30 min naps (but sleeping well at night). I read the sleep lady's book, which REALLY helped me understand sleep cues. Once I started following sleep cues (and adjusting LO's nap times based on sleep cues, she started napping longer stretches and sleeping better at night. She became the happiest baby and I felt like a new person because I was consistently getting breaks during nap time.

Keep watching the cues and LO's naps will stretch out.