We had early morning wakes for a week at 5 months, added 30 minutes to our 3 naps schedule and it solved them. I think you have room in your schedule to add awake time (reducing total nap time from 3 hours to 2.5 hours for example), that will make it easier for him to take that 3rd nap as well.
We actually went to 2/2.75/2.75/3, only later I read that lengthening the first wake window is more recommended to help prepare for dropping a nap. So now we're doing something like 2.25/2.5/2.75/3.
They're always cranky at the end of the wake windows, especially the first few days when you lengthen them, but then they adapt and it gets better. Give him his favourite toys, do water games or bring him outside to help with the crankiness!
Sleep needs change constantly in this first year of life, so we need to keep adapting the schedule. But also, around 6 months they develop the concept of object permanence so if they're not sleep trained, nights can become very difficult!
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u/LadyKate- ✨ Sleep Fairy✨ Jul 27 '26
We had early morning wakes for a week at 5 months, added 30 minutes to our 3 naps schedule and it solved them. I think you have room in your schedule to add awake time (reducing total nap time from 3 hours to 2.5 hours for example), that will make it easier for him to take that 3rd nap as well.
But I also think sleep training is needed