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Hi Pav,
It’s great to hear that he’s extending his first wake window and now falling asleep around 9:10 am. Following his cues is perfectly fine, and starting that first nap a bit after 9 am is still within a good range. If he’s still asleep by 11:10 am, I recommend waking him up to ensure he has a long wake window before his next nap.
As you mentioned, longer naps generally lead to longer wake periods afterward. This is because when they wake after a long nap their sleep pressure is low, so they need more time to build it up before being ready to sleep again.
Letting him sleep as long as he needs for the first and second naps is great, but capping them at 2 hours if he’s still asleep helps maintain a consistent daily rhythm and avoids pushing the rest of his nap schedule too late.
I’m glad to hear he fell asleep for his third nap in the crib as well. This nap is often naturally shorter, which is completely normal and expected at this stage. It provides just enough rest to get him comfortably to bedtime without interfering with his nighttime sleep.
Early Morning Wake-Ups
If he wakes up at 6 am, it’s understandable to wonder whether you should try to encourage him to fall back asleep. While you can try to, it’s often quite challenging since he has likely just had over 9 – 10 hours of sleep. At this point, his sleep pressure is low, and his circadian rhythm is signalling it’s time to wake up. In this case, I would recommend getting him up and starting the day, as trying to soothe him back to sleep may lead to frustration for both of you.
Bedtime Wake Window
The wake window before bedtime is usually the longest of the day. This helps ensure he’s tired enough to fall asleep smoothly and sleep through the night. At this age, most babies tend to fall asleep between 7 and 8 pm, and their wake window before bedtime is typically around 2.5 hours.
However, it’s also important to watch his cues. If he shows signs of being ready for bed a bit earlier, such as rubbing his eyes, yawning, or becoming more irritable, don’t hesitate to start the bedtime routine a little sooner, even as early as 7 pm.
I hope that helps!
Emma