Hello,
DS is an independent sleeper, controlled silent reflux and STTN -except recently where we've had one illness/reflux episode after another.
3 weeks ago, it became clear that 2 naps wasn't working anymore. The 2nd nap was a real fight and was getting as late as 5pm -ridiculous. I was sick of guessing A times, forcing/cappinh naps so I bit the bullet and went to 1 nap with a set nap time - 12pm - and set BT - 19.00. Tricky at first - EWs etc but it seemed to be working much better.
He was ill last week and was unsurprisingly NW a lot. As he's got better (just seems a little snotty now), the NWs are less but they're still happening and lasting about 1.5hrs. Typically, he will cry, we go into him, he settles quickly but wakes again about 5/10mins later and so it goes on.
I wondered if after the illness and still adjusting to one nap, he might be OT - especially as the other day he played in his cot for 20mins before his nap before passing out for 2hrs and the same day, he cried at BT and I had to go and resettle him.This, to me, indicated he might be OT and a bit worked up -he usually goes straight down. So last night, I tried a v slightly earlier BT - 18.50. He woke at 22.30 - on the monitor I could see him standing up and crying. As soon as I walked in the room, he laid down and started settling himself, without me even touching him. I stayed about 10mins while he fell asleep, he woke when I left the room so DH went in and he settled a few mins later. Then he stood up and cried at 5am but went back to sleep with no intervention from us. Then he finally woke at 6.15 HAPPY which rarely happens these days.
Today he had a great nap (2hrs 45 - had to wake him to pick up DD) but I thought I'd try EBT again (18.50). He's just woken at 22.00 and done basically the same as last night - laid straight down as soon as I walked in though I did put my hand on him briefly as he was moaning. So I was wondering if I should maybe try an even earlier BT - about 18.30 - although I'm scared of getting an UT NW!! What do you think? Here's the last 2 days EASY to clarify:
THURSDAY
WU 6.15am
NAP 12-14.20
BT 18.50
NW 22.30 (as described above)
NW 5am (as described above)
WU 6.15
FRIDAY
WU 6.15
NAP 12.-14.45 (had to wake him)
BT 18.50
NW 22.00 -as described above
It just seems if I put him to bed at 18.30 that will be a really short 2nd A time compared to his first really long A time? Having said that, DD used to WU at 6.30, nap from 13.00-16.00 then BT at 19.00 so it is possible I guess.
My experience with him is that NWs - even really long ones - are usually due to OT (or reflux - we've had some epic 3hr ones - yuk!). But I don't think I've ever experienced an UT NW with him as he's never done that thing where he wakes for ages happy and chatting in the middle of the night - had these a few times with DD and I'm so scared of causing them with DS!!