Sleeping - Concord,CA

Okay same thing happened to me. The way I look at it........he is tired at that time so I let him do it. I didn't push anything and let me tell you.....he now goes to bed at 9pm sometimes 8pm. It just worked out that he would to bed later. First at 11pm then 10pm then 9pm skipping that 730 fall asleep. So I say just relax and go with it for now. He will change. I made sure my son ate more in the last 3 hrs before bed time. You don't say how old your child is but I will tell you..........everyone told me what I was doing was wrong. But I never fought my child on any stages and he ended up changing on his own. Up to his one year birthday I was tired (I don't see how old your boy is) but I never fought things and he changed all on his own. As he started walking he tired himself out more and went to bed earlier sleeping all night. So hang in there and keep doing what's working for you right now. It will change and all work out like it's supposed to. :) I guarantee you he will not be 9 yrs old and going to bed at midnight. Do what works for you right now.

I'll just answer all three of your posted questions here. Try not to let him take the 7:30 nap. Start playing with him at that time and stimulate him as long as you can. Then when he goes to sleep, it can be for the night. You are in for a few restless nights while transitioning him to crib, but now is a GREAT time to do it. It will be much much harder if you wait. Just put him down in his crib, and never again put him down in your bed. Yes, you can take him swimming. If he starts to act scared, or starts to panic, then it is too soon for him. Try again in a couple months.

Skip the "nap" at 7:30 instead give a bath and start a bedtime routine - put him to bed by 8pm and expect some crying at first. If he seems fussy or extra tired then gradually creep the bedtime earlier. He should be able to go at least 6 hours with out feeding at night at this age -every month he can go 1 more hour! Yay! Some babies just get in the habit of snacking all night so let him fuss for about 5 minutes before you soothe him back to sleep. He'll start eating more before bedtime and sleeping better. I got the book "healthy sleep habits, happy child" it has great info. for all ages of babies and older kids regarding when and how much sleep they need as well as how to get them on a good sleep schedule.
For the bedtime routine - take him to a quiet spot with dim lights after his bath and look at a book with him or sing some sleepy songs - rocking chair is good - get him really relaxed and drowsy and then put him in bed. I tour the house with my baby after her bath, closing the blinds, turning off lights and saying night-night to each thing, then night-night to Daddy and Brother, then up to her room for soft music and rocking and a little last minute nursing. I've learned to listen to her - she has a very distinct sigh when she is ready for bed. If I put her down before she sighs she usually perks right back up and wants to play. ;)

The same thing happens to my older son when he naps that late. On the contrary, when he naps around 2:00 p.m. he goes to bed earlier.

He's 4 months old?

Well, he should be getting naps earlier in the day. Not only at 7:30pm.

Is he napping earlier? A baby this age usually naps 3 times or more a day.... about 2 hours after waking up in the morning... and they get tired after about 2 hours of any "awake" time.

I hope the 7:30pm "nap" is not his only nap all day?

Get him to nap earlier... just make it a routine... don't wait until he is over-tired.
He is young and they don't yet have a regular pattern. But put him to nap as soon as you notice 'sleepy' signals... or before that.
Nurse/feed him on-demand, then put him to nap. Feed/nurse him before any nap/bedtime.

At 4 months, my son was going to bed for the night at 7:00. Now, at 6 months, he goes to bed at 6.

Sleep is all about habits. He is up till between 10-12 because you are teaching him to play then. They shouldn't be up for more than 2 hours at a time at his age.

Starting today, make his bedtime 7:15, and keep moving it 15 minutes early until he stops waking at 8:30. When he wakes up at 8:30, shh and pat his back right by his crib until he is tired enough to go back to sleep --as long as he isn't crying, put him in his crib. If he cries, shh/pat until he's calm, then put him back in the crib. The sleep window should be 1.5 hours at the longest. Like I said, they should be asleep within 2 hours of waking up at his age. Don't take him out of the room, don't play with him, etc. You need to train him that night time is bedtime, so keep putting him in his crib until he falls asleep. It should take a few nights, but you need to start teaching him now about sleep.

He is waking up after an hour of sleep because he is overtired. So you need to get him to bed sooner, and then he should have a longer sleep cycle.

Hello Zadina,
i just read your other questions and had go back and rewrite what I had said earlier here. You are a new mom, with a 6 week old baby all my children and even my foster newborn babies slept with me for at least part of the time. You can put him into his bed so he is used to it but he is still used to your warmth, heartbeat and smell so willl feel upset at times. There is a great bear my son bought that has a heartbeat and that helped them, I think he got it at Babies R Us.
Our children were babies on Guam and were in the ocean body surfing at age 3 months so since he had been in a water sack until birth he will love the water. He may not like being splashed and alot of people around him and keep lots of sun screen on him as he will burn fast.
Be sure that you give yourself a break as well. Take a nap when he does esp in the middle of the day so that you have the energy to do what you need to for the family and the child. I am very happy you are asking questions that is how all of us learn.
Nana G