Updated Post and New Sleep Qs

[Mom to M&M]

So Marisa is finally (I think) getting back to herself after a month ill with one thing after another (most recently rotavirus and ear infection). She was quite cranky last night at my sister's though and did wake at 4am and would NOT settle down until she had about 3 ounces of milk from her cup. The night before she also woke and wouldn't settle without some milk at about 3am. At first I was worried the ear infection might be recurring but I'm really starting to think she's just STARVING and make-up eating - she barely ate the past month and just started eating again 2-3 days ago. I'm trying my best to tank her up during the day today but if she does wake again overnight and won't settle is it bad to offer some milk in her cup and then lay her right back down after, take the cup and leave? I don't want her to get into the habit of milk before 6am but it does seem like she really has needed it (this morning after the milk she went back to sleep until 7:30). Other than a few rare occurences like this, she hasn't had night feedings since like 5 months... Thoughts?

[binxyboo]

I would not hesitate to give her the milk. Especially if she slept until 7:30 !!!! Riley does not officially have night feeds, but there are occasions he will wake and have a little drink of water. I will sometimes give him milk if he has not a had a great eating day due to teething or whatever. I myself usually wake and have a drink sometimes during the night, so I think sometimes he does get thirsty. If he was waking everynight, multiple times, and wanting milk, then I would consider it a problem.

Especially after being sick I would feel glad she is taking some. And I would extra glad about the sleeping until 7:30 part!

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks Michelle. She ate and drank quite a lot yesterday and fell asleep around 7:40. But she must still need extra calories - she cried at 3:20 but was asleep before I could even get up and same at about 4:35 but then was up for the day at 5:35 - so will try for a stroller catnap around 9 or 9:30 today and then long nap around 12:30/1...

[Diegos Mama]

If not calories, she could also be thirsty.  I used to leave a sippy of water in Diego's bed around her age.  We weaned off it over time.

[Mom to M&M]

Laura - I had tried water first - this was truly hunger.

Thanks Stacy - I do remember Kelly doing that.

Today has been nuts - she took a 20 minute stroller catnap at 9:15 (I woke her) and then refused her crib nap later and was way overtired. She finally fell asleep in stroller at 1:45 but woke sobbing at 2:35 until I got her back to sleep in crib at 3:05. But I woke her at 4 to preserve bedtime and she's tired and not happy... Hopefully she's not too tired for a good dinner...

[Mom to M&M]

OK I think I have to conclude that the morning catnap officially doesn't work. It makes her a crazed mixture of overtired yet undertired (not long enough between naps or bedtime). After the mess above, she wouldn't even consider bedtime until 8:35... We'll see what the night brings and I guess from now on try just one long nap no earlier than 11 (preferably 11:30-12) and if absolutely neccessary and possible do a late afternoon car catnap once in a blue moon if desperate?

[Gippie]

Karen - HUH - We had the SAME SAME thing.   Quinn had HAnd foot and mouth and when she was getting past the worst - she was waking for milk - perhaps like you said, making up...and she NEVER wakes up!     So after that we were also plagued with some random NWS that we ae sorting out right now.       I guess there is some truth to that milk need.   You are not alone!

[Mom to M&M]

Stacy - the only problem is that if Marisa takes a long or even medium nap, a second one isn't happening unless we're in the car - which isn't that often. So will just have to stretch as long as possible in the morning without overdoing it unless we have plans to be in the car that day.

Stacey - hope your DD is feeling better and back to sleeping through soon!

[Gippie]

Quinn will always take a 2 hour AM nap and like Marisa...if she gets 2:15....2:30 we run the risk of not geting a second nap either and thats when I "go shopping".    I am closely monitoring her AM nap this week and waking her at the 2 hour mark cause she camnnot go till 11am or even 12 to handle one nap....so I am in management mode. 


Thanks for the healthy vibe - Quinn is healthy and happy.....ditto wishes to you as well.

[Mom to M&M]

Oh if Marisa even gets 1.5 in the morning she won't take a second nap unless in car. Even an hour might risk no second nap. Today she woke at 6:15 so only 9:45 overnight. But have to somehow try to get her to at least 11am for her nap today and pray she takes at least 2 hours (hopefully more) and then early bedtime. No option of using the car this afternoon unfortunately.

[Mom to M&M]

So she only slept for 1.5 hours yesterday from 11-12:30 and then fought bedtime until 9pm (!) even though we tried to get her to bed at 6:30. She finally passed out after Orajel so maybe it's teeth - so hard to tell. Then she woke at 5:40 am  this morning and is totally overtired hyper wired. I guess I'll see if she'll nap around 10 and let her sleep as long as she will/can and then we will be in the car around 3pm today so she can doze then if she wants. Ugh - I'm so tired and with AF extra not in mood - at least she's in a good mood for now (as long as I'm not changing her diaper or doing something she doesn't want) although she's not eating so well.

[Mom to M&M]

So things have been a disaster. After fighting bedtime until 9pm last night and waking at 5:40, Marisa refused her nap at 10. She kept refusing and was way hyper and overtired. Finally at 11:55 I took her outside in stroller. Literally within 30 seconds, while stopped at a light, she fell asleep. I brought her straight back upstairs and took off her hat and coat and transferred her to her crib. She cried for a few seconds but I don't think fully woke and is sleeping in there now at 12:10.

Any ideas why she's fighting sleeping in her crib so badly? She's always loved her crib and her sleep - she was always an early riser for the most part but never used to fight bedtime and was a great napper. She was NEVER left to CIO. I'm pretty sure it's not a relapse of the ear infection as she's in a good mood when awake and eating/drinking well. I do think she's teething - could that be it? Even with meds? It looks like she's working on eye teeth but I don't know how close they are. Also, could she possibly be getting two-year molars already at not even 17 months? She has her fingers back there like crazy...

Not sure what to do to catch her up on sleep and stop this crazy cycle...

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks Stacy - I did just change the subject line now so hopefully that will help.

It's so odd - she freaked out if I tried to bring her into her room/crib, even if I stayed with her (which only revs her up more) but literally passed out within 30 seconds of being in the stroller, even motionless, and then transferred and is still sleeping now at 12:55. Last night she did the same but we didn't do stroller - she finally just passed out at 9 after orajel. Yesterday she did take a crib nap, albeit only for 1.5 hours. Will have to wake her at 2:30 if not up because have to be somewhere this afternoon but at least would be 2.5 hour nap if she goes that long...

[brightside]

Karen: we've had a couple of days like this. I think the day that Marisa only slept 1.5 hours 11-12.30 was the start of it. That late bedtime is what caused the early wake and hence the overtiredness the next day. Ben was just the same. If it goes badly wrong one day the next couple of days are crazy. He was fighing naps and going mad in his cot. After 2 days he is back to napping properly thankfully. Overtiredness is a nightmare! With hindsight I think the next time Marisa takes a nap 11-12.30 again, I would try to get another nap later in the afternoon eg about 4pm. I think even the 6.30 bedtime that day was too late.

[Mom to M&M]

I agree Cath and did try to get another nap in the late afternoon but she wouldn't take one - which is usually the case when she takes a decent first nap - unless we are in the car she won't take another one and most days that's just not possible. That's why I don't know what to do when this happens and when early wakes happen.

Not sure Stacy - guess could be SA but not sure then why her stroller is OK and why she lets me transfer her, even if she half wakes. I'd try to stay with her until she falls asleep in her crib but she just gets angry then and wants out and to play... If she fights sleep again tonight are we better off doing the stroller and transfer again to try to catch her up or will that only start creating a sleep association with the stroller only?