Teaching Your Baby and Toddler To Sleep
Hello,We are on week 2 of nap training, and things are going well. No problems getting to sleep. However, I am finding it difficult to actually fit in 3 naps for my 7-month-old, according to the Taking Cara Babies wake windows (2.5-3.5 hours). I know you're supposed to have shorter wake windows in the morning, and gradually increase them over the day, with the one before bed being the longest. And that the last nap of the day is a "quickie" 30-40 minute nap. However, I find that I literally cannot fit in wake windows longer than 2.5 hours with the 3 naps. I am also having to wake her up after 1.5 hours for the first two naps, and after 30 minutes for the 3rd nap. This seems counterproductive and just wrong to me. I get it if she's going for 2.5 hours or something crazy, but she is finally doing what I want her to do (sleeping for an appropriate length, going to sleep on her own).Here is our schedule. Keep in mind that there IS some variation in her nap length. Sometimes she goes for 2 hours, sometimes she goes for an 1.25 hours. But this is more or less the schedule the last few days:5:30 am - wakeup (my husband and I are also early risers)8:00 am- first nap9:30 or 10 am- wakeup12 am- second nap1:30 pm- wakeup (this is usually one I have to wake her up from)4:00 pm-3rd nap4:30 pm- wakeup (I have to wake her up)6:30 pm- bedtimeSee what I mean? Her bedtime can't be later because then she will either get less than 11 hours of sleep, or she will wake up later the next day, pushing the whole schedule back.It's crazy, I don't understand how I'm supposed to fit in EVEN LONGER wake windows into this schedule. She is also pretty tired by the time it's nap time, so she doesn't seem ready for 3-3.5 hour wake windows, either.Any advice would be really appreciated. A sample nap schedule, advice for wake windows, or help with transitioning to two naps. I should mention, when I try to put her down before 2.5 hours, she has a hard time going to sleep and usually doesn't end up falling asleep until she hits the 2.5 hour mark anyway.Thanks in advance.
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15 comments
Have you read the sticky? Please read it and see the sample schedules and then let us know if you have questions. Unfortunately TCB gives bad advice. At this age on a 3 nap schedule the max wake time is 2.5 hours. A 3.5 hour wake time is at least two months off. Generally at this age you want 3 naps with each nap an hour. You’ll have to wake to make sure there’s enough time for a 45 minute third nap (you need 45 minutes for it to be restorative).
What are nights like? WTs of 3-3.5 are for a 2-nap schedule. I second the sticky. Check out the sample schedules. Do you want to make sure all the bases are covered? If so, please let us know, and include the nap routine, whatever you are doing for checks, sleep environment, etc.
Not to go against the group owners cause every baby is different but with my first born she was ready for 2 naps at 7 months… you could always try it out and if it doesn’t work go back to 3. Just a suggestion
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Posted 04-19-23
LML2020 said:
Not to go against the group owners cause every baby is different but w…
My LO also dropped to 2 naps around 7 mos. We did flex schedule leading up to it (2.5hr FWT, if nap was shorter than 1.5hrs then do 3 naps with 2.5/2.5/2.5/2 wake times, and if nap was longer than 1.5hrs then do 2.5/3/3 and 2 naps). The flex schedule allowed LO to sleep however long she’d sleep, as she never did well with nap limiting and I hated limiting too it def felt counterproductive to me as well.So you can try something similar to what i did. At 7mos my LO was on 2 naps with 3/3-3.25/3 wake times. :) WU was 7:00, nap1 10am, nap2 usually around 2, and bedtime around 7/7:30 (on good nap days; otherwise early bedtime in range of 5:30/6:30 and she’d sleep through til at least 6:30). :) I’d recommend posting full routine(s) here. I did buy TCB before joining this board too, and I never had any luck with TCB. I found it to be quite off and useless tbh, once actually ST my LO properly. ♥️ good luck mama
BeKind7 said:
My LO also dropped to 2 naps around 7 mos. We did flex schedule leadin…
Thank you! Now this is helpful! Our routine is minimal. After my last time posting on here, when we were still night training, I was chastised for doing anything to "help her wind down". So now it's just diaper change, book, lay down in crib, kiss, lights out.
SinisterKid said:
What are nights like? WTs of 3-3.5 are for a 2-nap schedule. I secon…
My problem isn't with her sleeping, though-- getting to sleep or staying asleep. It's with how to schedule in 3 naps with the supposed wake times, when she wants to sleep for longer. I don't like having to wake her up, even though it's advised. At the very least, reassurance that waking her up isn't sending her mixed messages would be helpful.The sample schedule in the sticky gives progressively longer wake times, starting with 2.5 hours. This is precisely what my post is about-- this is not working for us unless I wake her up.
Allyrob said:
Have you read the sticky? Please read it and see the sample schedules …
Okay, so having to wake her is typical? I'm worried that sends mixed messages. Plus, everything I have read says that naps should be longer than an hour. I am worried that waking her up after an hour will "program" her to start waking up on her own after an hour. And then when she's older, that's all she'll be able to do for a nap.I woke up at 5 am every day for several years, due to my job. Now I have a really hard time sleeping past 5 am. That is the kind of thing I am talking about.
Group Owner
Posted 04-19-23
Honestjar said:
My problem isn't with her sleeping, though-- getting to sleep or stayi…
How many night wakings/feedings?
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