My son is just over 6 months old. I wanted to see what issues had come up with babies and sleep/naps/feeding/illness when going into nursery. Background - A friend gave me The Baby whisperer book when he was just over 5 months old and I started EASY then - it helped so much.
I used PU PD to extend naps ans this worked for a little while although we only managed 1hr naps. When very young Rory used to fall asleep in pram/car or baby carrier when I walked the dogs morning and afternoon so very rarely napped in cot until last month . We have had a lot of upsets and obviously this has effected our baby -My Dad got very ill when I was 7 months pregnant and I travelled back and forth 4 or 5 hour journeys until he died when my son was 3 months old - so routine was difficult and I have been low at times .and I think I used every form of accidental parenting there is feeding to sleep/comfort/sleeping in separate bed with baby - if I missed one or two my husband used them instead! I started taking my son out to lots of activities, swimming, playgroup, music - which he enjoyed, but I can see now this overstimulated him so I cut back on activities except once or twice a week in the mornings activity time, I cut down on the walks of the dogs and took them out in lo's activity time
Sleep was improving at night, we had gone to 4hour routine , naps still not great. Then one of our dogs got seriously ill and had to be put to sleep - I was distraught, Rory started tryouts at nursery and got a tummy bug so doctor advised breast feeding little and often.
Then he then I got a bad cold and he couldnt breathe at night. He also has developed eczema on his tummy and back. Also my husband works long hours and/or works away in the week so its been hard to get him on board with the EASY and PU PD - causing a bit of stress.
His sleeping at night is improving ie he is not waking so often and is self soothing sometimes
Re naps - Often when he wakes after 30mins or 45 mins he is smiling and eyes wide - Should I try PU PD because this makes him really cry and lasts for at least 30mins-45mins . Since nursery and his teething/cold he sometimes only sleeps for 15mins and they don't know how to get him back to sleep - I imagine there is just too much going on for him.
At nursery they won't put him in a cot yet as he may wake other older nappers so put him in bouncy seat - I've asked them to put him on sleep mat with his toy/muslim sheet and dummy and just sit quietkly with him to help him sleep but I think he is overstimulated.
When at home is routine is (is close to nursery escept naps even more erratic)
wake 6.30-7.00
Feed Breast/bottle 7.00
dress/play/
Breakfast 8.45 cereal/fruit
9.15-9.45 NAP (15mins to 1 hr)
Play/walk dog (often catnaps if out with dog)
11.00 Eat - MILK bottle
12.00 LUNCH - Veg and fruit
12.30-1.15 SLEEP (15mins-45mins)
PLAY with toys
3.00 EAT MILK bottle
snack - rask/rice cake
PLAY - walk dog
5.30 -6.00 DInner veg or fruit
Quiet play
6.45 Bath/story
7.15 MILK breast/bottle
7.45 sleep
10.00 dream feed Bottle
Recently waking several times at night - when ill (teething/cold needed one feed - now just needs comfort to go back to sleep - ie I place hands on him - sometimes he does have bad wind and I try and help release that before putting down again)
He is average weight although his recent checkup he had dropped slightly from his target weight (centile)
MAIN ISSUES -
How can I help improve naps and intervene at nursery if necc?
Do you think eczema is linked to solid food ( started at 5 months but eczema only started 2weeks ago- corres with nursery and intro of rask buscuits/rice cakes) or perhaps stress of last few weeks?
I also changed to next stage formula milk but eczema had begun already.
Do you think if I start PU PD at home for naps if obviously tired it wont work if not happening at nursery?
Should I carry on with PU PD if he's all smiles and action when he wakes after 30 mins etc?
Sorry I realise this is loads of stuff - and a bit muddled
Cluna
