BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Night Wakings => Topic started by: Colin Macs Mom on May 06, 2009, 21:22:25 pm
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Continued from: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=62474.0
Last post:
Sherry-she had a sneaky 10 min nap in the pram on the way home from the shops at 4pm so wasn't tired enough at 6.30pm.
Sorry she was less fussy tonight, she has had 1hr 50 mins today, so lets see what happens.
We do try to do the 3.5hrs but at night we go by her tired signs rather then times as if you push her too much she has a meltdown.
Wish me luck for tonight.
How have your nights been?
Where abouts in the world are you? we are in Robin Hood country Nottingham Uk
Toni xx
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Robin Hood's? I drive through that area every few months on my way home!
I agree with Sherry. Try 3.5 before bed to avoid OT.
How much day sleep was she getting before it all started going wonky? I think around this age (hard to recall) Charles was getting around 2.5 in the day and then the NW & EW started. Dropped to 2.15 for a while and then it was going on again.
Here, I'm cutting our am nap to 30 mins tomorrow to secure that long nap in the afternoon. DS needs a 4 hour A time before bed or it takes him ages to get to sleep. I think I'm guilty of wanting him to have more day sleep just so I can get things done. :-[ OT is behind us and if he gets 2hrs day sleep or more, he struggles to settle at night... slept for 11 hours last night without waking after having a 5 min am nap and a 1h30 pm nap. Think he needs more day sleep than that, but not much more.
Hoping when he's on 1 nap, he'll beable to sleep longer in the day without sacrificing the night. I just can't get everything done around the house otherwise!!!
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Just making a spot. Be back tomorrow
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Toni - Charlotte is right I was commenting on the day that she had more than 3.5 before bed.
Charlotte - I think you might be onto something, but I'm not sure :( We are getting consistent 10h10m nights right now. I think I have to cut his nap to 2 hours. But..... he only had 1h45m the day before yesterday, and still a 10h10m night. But I think he was OT that night. He had 6.5 hours A time before bed :(
I'm in the United States. I was born and raised in California. Got my undergrad degree there. Then I went to Maryland and got my graduate degree. And not I live in Georgia. About 2 hours from Atlanta :)
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Nice, I bet you haven't got gale like winds and rain there at the moment, had to go round to the neighbours to retreive my washing including my knickers which had unfourtuinatley taken flight from the washing line in to nexts doors garden... ::) I was praying Jill would answer the door as I knew they would offer to go find it... but NOOO steve answered I was mortifified, i told him to stay in doors and i would find it... :-\... the shame!!
Last night as I predicted- woke twice once at 10.30pm then at 2.30pm she stayed awake for about 30 mins the last time.
So she had enough A time before bed, Getting times right is so hard as they don't sleep when you want them to..
Today.
Woke 6.10am (Getting earlier each day)
Nap 9.20 Crappy 40 mins and woke twice as well.... ???
NAP 1.50 put her down at 1.30 but didn't go to sleep till 1.50. only slept for 30 mins but woke up really crying but wouldn't go back to sleep.
Bed 6.10, again didn't go to sleep until 6.30pm then woke screaming at 7.00pm till 7.30pm.
Not holding out any hope for tonight.
Do i reduce A times now or increase is she OT OR UT?
X
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I would say OT since she wakes up screaming and crying. Good luck for tonight.
LOL about retreiving your laundry ;D
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Toni - I would say OT as well. I would go ahead and see if decreasing them for a few days does the trick. I hope the night ended up ok.
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How did your night go Toni
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Our night was horrible.
Woke 4 times from 6.45pm till 11.30, then woke at 4.50 and wouldnt go back to sleep.
She taking so long to go to sleep, as she is rolling and messing around in her cot and won't stay still.
Had good naps today though.
50 mins 1st nap
1hr 25 2nd nap.
But woke twice tonight already, again put her to bed at 6.15pm as she won't settle, but still didn't go to sleep until 7.10pm.
She has started sleeping on her stomach, but crys because she hates it, but wont roll back on to her back, you go in and roll her back when she crys and before you have even left the room she is back on her belly... so annoying...
Any suggestion on keeping her still and making her roll back, she can do she just doesn't.
I know she is OT, but she just doesn't give in.
The last 4 days she has taken her 2nd nap bang on 1.50pm to the minute, even if i put her down before she falls a sleep then.
I am so worried we are going backwards and the consistant STTN are a distant memory.
I tried reducing the A time and she only had a 30 min nap in the Am and 40-45 in the pm.
The EW'S are getting earlier everyday this week, be starting our day at midnight if this carries on.
Any suggetions, maybe trade her in for a newer model ha ha
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It sounds exactly like what we went through.
Thinking here...might ask DH what he remembers of our months from hell. I also had a thread on it at the time - I'll see if I can track it down tomorrow.
Gotta go
Hugs honey. It will get better.
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I hope so other wise i'm going to ask for a refund.. Lol
Have a good weekend off to in laws for another night of hell and no sleep at all because of all the noise...
xx
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Charlotte, I'll be looking for that thread tomorrow. It wouldn't hurt to get more ideas.
What is it about these spirited babies and not sleeping. DD has been doing a lot of rolling around in be to. She can easily go back and forth but when she's upset, there's not much anyone can do but scream.
LOL about the refund
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Friday she woke twice before 10, the 2nd time she went back to sleep in seconds. didn't wake again till 6.45am so way really pleased with her.
She is just taking so long to go to sleep, which she never used to, she keeps rolling on to her belly then crying and wont roll back.
Saturday night was a right off, terrible naps, fell a sleep in the car just as i was pulling up to the house (gutted) had to keep driving and she only slept for 35mins.
Went to party and bathed her there as normal at 6pm then she was in excellent spirits, put her in the car to go to MILO'S and she fell asleep in the car, so we decided to drive home.
That was a bad plan as she woke after 40 mins and then stayed awake till 10pm.. then woke again at 12pm then from 4-5 awake then slept will 6.45am.
She was in a really good mood this morning despite having a cold, gave her a really long wind down so she can get the rolling out the way and gave her some milk and she was out like a light and slept for 1.20 which is brilliant for her, 2nd nap she had 1hr.
She was obviously very tired from last night and was rubbing her eyes and making her tired noise, so we put her in the bath at 6pm and then she suddenly came to life and wanted to play.
let her roll in her cot but by 7.00pm there was no sign of being tired, so sang to her and just left her to it, she eventually fell a sleep at 7.30pm.
How long will it take her to roll back to her back, as some days she likes it some she doesn't?
we are going back to how she was at 6 months and that scares me.
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Toni - I'm so sorry that you are having NW's again after your success with STTN. :( **HUGS** You've been so helpful to me, but I don't have any great advice except - 'it will get better'! Ever heard that before?!? :P DS did his rolling around shenanigans at 6 months and we were weaning the swaddle at the time - it probably took a good week (maybe two?) for him to master it. Then he started crawling, sitting up, and standing at 7 months and wanting to practice at bedtime!! argh ::) Now his latest trick is to stand without holding on to anything and see how long he lasts before falling! Lord help me with my active, determined, spirited baby.
Don't give up - just give her lots of practice (like you have been) and soon she'll be rolling back and forth like pro. Then you can look forward to all the other things I mentioned above! :-*
Jen
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Thanks jen, your little man is very advanced developementally he will be walking by 9 months... :D
She has been slow with rolling crawling but fast at other, she sat unaided by 5 months and can feed her self with a spoon, so good at one thing and slow at others, she is very lazy! ???
Yeah well at least we had 7 weeks of sttn so i know she can do it, but I supose that makes it more fustrating because we have obviously changed something that has made her stop.
Since we fiddled with extending her naps is when it went wrong but now nothing we try makes it better, if anything it gets worse.
She has just woke from a 27 min nap :'( she hardly slept last night and not sure why she is serously going down hill.
She does have a cold and really bad wind.. something she has eaten i think?
She had brilliant naps yesterday but still a totally shocking night.
How are things going for you Jen?
T X
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How cute that she can feed herself with a spoon!! :D
NW's are continuing for us - I've been trying to fill him up in the day as much as I can (thanks for the tip about the rice pudding), but he is still taking a full BF once a night (around 10-11) and then waking again around 4ish. I try not to give him anything or just water at 4, but this morning he kept crying and crying. Finally went back to sleep at 5:30... UGH I hate starting Monday with a 4am wakeup (for me)!!!!!!! >:( I have to get ready for work soon, so there's no point in going back to bed..
It seems like he'll have one good night where he'll sleep from 7pm-3am, but then he'll be back to his 2-3 NW's for the next week. VERY DISCOURAGING!!!! :-\ :-\
Guess that's why I'm here - typing away - at 5:50am in the morning. ::)
I hope your DD gets to feeling better soon!
Jen
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Thanks Jen,
Don't get discouraged, things will get better, how is he napping now?
Do you work full time? I was supposed to go back part time as a Recruitment consultant but my boss just called to say they aren't busy enough to have me back.... gutted i've now got to look for a job and most of all go to interview will little sleep... joy!!
If you see any vacancies for ZOMBIE MUM'S let me know i'll get it hands down.
My day just gets better and they say bad luck comes in 3's so whats next...... :'(
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Toni - so sorry to hear about the job. I hope something even better comes up for you :)
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Thanks Sherry, Thought you had given up on me a lost cause.. lol, I know i was very upset yesterday, just what you need no sleep then bad news i was in bits.
New day and bella obviously knew I was having a crap day and STTN, 6pm till 6am, i was in shock.
She does sleep better when she has the earlier bed but last nap was at 2.30pm, but once you extend naps it goes past that point so what do you do.
Maybe now i should start the 2-1 transition...?
X
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Toni - I like your new picture. I was thinking the same thing - that maybe it's time to start the switch. The only problem is going to be that first A time. She seems to want to go down so early. Do you think you will be able to push her? I would never give up on you as a lost cause. I went through all the same issues. Things really did not get better until he went to one nap. Even now we still have some issues. EW, or being up for 1-2 hours in the early mornings. But now because of sleep training it is RARE that I have to be in his room during that time. So happy that she STTN for you :)
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Toni - our of curiousity - what did the day before look like, when she STTN?
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Our day was.
Woke at 6am
1st nap at 9.30- only had 27 mins
2nd nap @1.30 55 mins
bath and in bed asleep by 6pm.
We have done pretty much the same today except push her A time this am to nearly 4 hours but she only slept 45 mins.
We had 2 45 min naps and put her to bed at the same time, but she has already woken up and is murmuring 18.58... so not looking good.
She always stirs at the 45-50 min mark sometimes totaly wake other times goes back to sleep, that normalt sets the night if she goes back to sleep without our help she sleeps well if not then she wakes continuously.
How have things been for you guys over the last week?
T x
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Things have been really really good. So I'm guessing he is going through his 18 month growth spurt.
He slept 2 hours for his nap yesterday (woke at 1h30m) but put himself back to sleep.
Asleep at 8:25, slept until 8:10 this morning :o :o That is Crazy for him. But I'll take it :P
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Well done lyle.. :D good naps and great night sleep.
So all your hard work is finally paying off, big well done to you to for perserverance. :D
I would love bella to wake at 8am.. we just about get to 6am but baby steps we are getting better I have to remind myself of that daily.
Why do you think I am still having 45 min naps when my A times are 4hr or just less depending on her wake time before 6am then i do 3.45 6am on wards 4 hours but make no difference.
x
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I so envy you all with babies STTN. I'd take just one night. She was so good between 1-3mo with only 1NW, I thought she'd STTN by now or long ago but no. Not even close. I'm giving up. She'll be a teenager and still not sleeping. But yay for both of Sherry and Toni :P ;D
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Toni - we still get a 5:30 am waking usually at least once a week :) I'm not expecting it to last. Infact, Lyle has been sleeping for almost 2.5 hours today, so I'm expecting a 10 hour night tomorrow. Probably something like asleep at 8:30 up at 6:30. I know I should be cutting his nap. It's 3:38 right now, and he's like Isabella - he does much better if he is up before 2:30/3:00 in the afternoon.
Sylvie - don't give up :) She'll get there :)
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All i have to say is Isabella is a one night wonder... then we don't get it again for day.
Like Sherry says, if she sleeps past 2.30/3pm she is really bad at night.
So now that A times are pushing 4hrs I am seriously running out of hours in the day.
I'm not getting carried away with wishful/ hoping /praying that it will continue as I know it wont. :-X
Sylvie, post your routine for the last few days.
Sherry, 2.5 hours is ace, i struggle to get that out of bella over 3 naps.. what a good boy ;D , what happens if you wake him that at the 2 hr mark will he sleep longer or doesn't make a difference.
When did you shift to 1 nap.
Even with longer First A time I am still just about getting 45 mins, do you think push A time more.
x
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Toni - Lyle just woke, but I'll PM you an idea I have tomorrow as soon as I get a chance. There are sleep specialist who think they really should sleep past that during the day. Lyle just woke at 3:50. YIKES!!
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Sherry- Well he obviously needed the sleep, what a little star, the longest she has ever slept is 2 hours in one nap.
Let me know how he sleeps tonight then?
Thanks for your help very much appreciated. xx
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Toni - I like your new pic! Nice to put a name with a face. :)
Sorry to hear about your job. :( I'm an Employment Coordinator (kind of a Recruiter in a way) and they cut my hours way down to 20 a week, but I'm fine with it because it's hard enough surviving on little sleep as it is!! Good luck with your job search - I can't imagine interviewing for a job right now because I'm brain dead half the time! :o
Your DD is only a few months older than my DS and you are already making the 2-1 nap switch - wow!! DS has become a great napper (aside from those darn car seat catnaps), I just think I need to extend his day more and put him to bed later. Luckily I was able to do this yesterday because he had a later afternoon nap from 3:20-4:25 (I woke him to preserve bedtime). He went to sleep at 8 and made it until 2am!! Then slept after his feed until 7 when I had to wake him. His A times are right around 3.5 and the last A time is almost 4 hours.
I don't really have any advice for you except what you told me - you need to try something for a few days to see if it will work... I know you are hesistant about later naps and a later bedtime, but I think your DD might be old enough where you could try it?? It's just a thought... I'm obviously no expert!!! LOL :P
Jen
P.S. Sylvie - don't give up!! There's always hope or at least commiserations from us other mom's of spirited's!!
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Thanks Jen, i'm a recruitment consultant as well... so no jobs so they don't need me... booo
I will really miss all my work colleagues, but nothing I can do, have had a look today for jobs and they are so low paid or just terrible and i'm not fussy :(
Well on the plus side bella STTN again, so we are doing somthing right, and to top it off she slept from 6.15pm to 7.25am :o :o
I even tried to wake her at 7am but she was fast a sleep and didn't stir so i left her... bless.
So today has officially gone to pot!!! she is high on sleep and not in the least bit tired... for naps!!
Jen-Re: 2-1 switch I was asking if people thought she was ready, as she is taking really short Am naps on long A times.
Well done Jen on getting him to have great naps and sleep alot better, keep going and i'm sure he will stop the night wakes soon.
I know what you mean about later naps but I know from trying it she has horrific nights if she sleeps past 3.30 even if we push bed time to 7/7.30 she is awake till 10pm.
How has he been at night x
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Yay for STTN again. I know it will happen some day but not soon enough. Yesterday she only had a total of 1.5hrs in naps and it took her forever to stay asleep last night.
Monday's routine
715 awake
8 bf & breakfast
1030-1230 nap
1230 bf & lunch
4-445 sleep
5 bf & supper
7 bath,play
8 bf & bed
woke up every 1-2 hrs
Tuesday
650awake
8am bf & breakfast
1015-11 sleep
12 bf & lunch
2-245 sleep
6 bath, play
7 bed (tried at 630, bf, but she wouldn't sleep)
Here she woke up 745, 830 & 9ish. She just couldn't settle. Then up at 12am(bf) then 3 & 4am(bf)
today up at 640
8am bf & breakfast
1015-still sleeping. Will have to go wake her in a few minutes.
Her routine has been so inconsistent in the past week or so.
I wonder if I should start stretching her first A time so her nap is closer to 11. She hasen't been looking to tired in the morning but she rarely shows sign until it's to late so I don't take chances. but then she sleeps for 2-2.5 hrs in the am and only takes 45mins in afternoon. But I can't stretch her A time in the afternoon becaus she wouldn't be in bed till much later.
I wonder if I should start the 2-1 nap transition.
gotta go wake her up and get lunch ready, it's already 1210 here.
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Toni - well I'll wait on the advice then since things seem to be going well right now.
Sylvie and Toni - you are both already on the first step of starting the 2-1 switch. Having one short nap and one long one is the start. You can do AM or PM lots of people do either.
Jen - it seems to be REALLY common for spirited LO to start the switch at 9 months. 10/11 months is very common for lots of other LO that's why that link is about sleep going wonky at 10/11 months. So keep an eye out for that :)
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Congrats Toni on getting DD to STTN again! I bet you feel like a new woman today. ;D
DS woke up a few times last night, but it wasn't too bad. He went to bed at 8 again, woke at 11:30 for a feed and then I heard him fussing/mantra crying at 4am, but I left him and he went back to sleep!! Then had to wake him at 7:40 (meant to wake him at 7, but I was sleeping in too)!! :P
Toni - it seems the early bedtime works for you and the late bedtime works for me - go figure!!
Thanks Sherry about the tip on the 2-1 nap switch - I'm already planning for it by pushing his morning nap gradually later and later (baby steps)!
Sylvie - it looks like your DD is maybe catching up from her NW's by taking a long morning nap. :( Hope you get things sorted out soon.
Jen
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Jen - that sounds like a good night to me :)
Toni - I forgot to answer the question about his night sleep. It was crap last night. And got an OK nap today, but he woke crying and is still grumpy :( I think he was a little OT. I thought he went back to sleep after his 5:45 waking, but DH doesn't think so. He said he looked at the monitor before he went to work and Lyle was quietly rolling around :( I still put him down a little later because he seemed fine, but I got this cranky toddler now :( So he slept from 8:35Pm - 5:45am, YIKES!!!
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Well Zoe only fell asleep at 430 so this will move her bedtime close to 830. Hope this won't affect her night to much. I'm really thinking hard about the 2-1 switch. But if we do She'll be in bed earlier for a while. DS never didn't do the switch until he was about 16mo. Such a difference.
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One more thing you could do is make sure that the longest nap is only 1.5 hours. We did that for a little bit. It will help make the day not as long.
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Hi ladies,
Sylvie, I think that zoe is maybe taking too much day time sleep, Like Sherry say cut the first nap down and see.
Don't worry about putting her to bed early it will only be for a few days until she adjusts.
Jen, I think that was a good night, he seems to be getting better each night- you have to focus on his improvements or it gets you down.
Isabella STTN again 3rd night running. I think it is no sleep after 3.30pm and 3.45 A time before bed, Plus sleeping on her belly is making a big difference, I'm still learning my self it's really just trial and error.
I really hope it continues, last night was exceptional no murmuring at all, I was so scared something had happened I hardly slept all night.
Our house is so creaky that it is hard to move around without waking her up and once she wakes that's it .. GAME OVER.
So trying to sneek in and check is really hard so i find it comforting when I hear her little noises on the monitor.
Set naps went out the window yesterday so gonna start again tomorrow x
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Yah, I know I should cut her morning nap, but this is the time of day where DS and I go outside to play on a nice day. Everything is so much about Zoe all day, being high maintenance that I feel like I owe DS that time together. She had 3hrs exact yesterday for naps, and as you all said it should be the max, any more and it would disrupt her nights and I've noticed that it does, so if I cut any nap short I'll cut the pm one to 30mins.
Last night she did not to bad, she had a hard time settleing at first but as usual, if DH goes to her when she wakes the first time she sleeps till her feeding. She woke at 12 & 3, then up at 745. I love the later wake up. She didn't feed much at 12 so I think this is why she woke at 3. So tonight I'm sending DH at midnight, but he'll have to do this every night from now on till she realise that it's not feed time yet.
She's been eating more solids in the past few days so hope it means less milk feeds at night.
Toni, that's great about Isabella(love her name BTW, was my list of names) STTN again. Good things come in 3's so hope it continues. And hope you can sleep to. I know what you mean about creaky floors. We always have to tippy toe when Zoe's sleeping or she'll wake up. She's such a light sleeper(or could it be that she doesn't want to miss anything) Even when I put her back down in the middle of the night I have to be very carefull to leave to room or she'll wake again. And I hate that I can't check up on her before bed being scared to wake and not going back to sleep.
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Sylvie - it's funny that you mentioned Isabella's name :) If Lyle was a girl his name was going to be Isobel :) So Toni - I love the name as well :)
Lyle is a super Light sleeper as well.
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Sylvie, Sorry things still aren't going well at night, they will get better, if Bell can anyone can, she was waking every 15 mins at night for 4 months.
I still think maybe she is getting too much day time sleep, I know you like your time with your ds and I don't blame you, but it's just a thought.
4th night on the trot she STTN, but woke at 5.30am and wouldn't go back to sleep...but her down after 3.15 A time and only got 30min nap and a very very grumpy baby.
She is very poorly today with a terrible cough and cold so maybe i should lower her A times... i'm always crap at judging when to let her nap.. Anyone got any ideas.
xx
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Hi Jane,
Things are still up and down must mostly up, naps has improved dramatically and sleeps through 5 out 7 night which i am more then happy with.
How are things going for you? You having a good weekend x
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Our nights are improving. We're down to 1-2NW. I was wondering what you all do with NW. She used to wake up screaming and full out cry but lately she does this mantra thing where she never did this before and I don't know when to interven. Last night she did this twice for 15min and since I couldn't sleep so I went in to feed her and help her go back to sleep. I have this controlling thing where I have a hard time letting her go longer. I just have to see how she is.
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Sylvie - is she crying? Or more just like noises? How much is she feeding at those times? Glad to hear that things have improved again :)
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It wasn't her usual cry. Her usual cry is very distinctive, almost like a scream. But last night she kind of squacked with lots of pausing so I figued it was mantra. When I went to pick her up she was doing this lying down on her belly and as soon as she saw it was me she started crying. The feeds don't seem to agressive. She'll suckle until I have a let down and once it's over she suckles again then I change her sides just in case and to prevent a real hunger wake up 1hr later. When I switch her sides she'll drink for like 30sec and I'll here her swallowing every now and then. I've had so many NW with her since she's 3mo that I don't dare not feeding just in case.
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:) Well maybe the light is at the end of the tunnel for you then. That's a lot of improvement.
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Hi All
So new to the board, got referred over. I had no idea there was a NW for spirited. I just went through and read some of the posts and can I just say - wow - its good to know that others are experiencing the same things. You know I never know whats happening with my lo. We have NEVER slept thru - maybe one or two nights in 8 1/2 months and boy am I tired hahaha. I have just started to work out and that is actually helping with the sleep deprivation ( for me). I dont have any immediate problems so just wanted to stop in and say hello fellow sleep deprivation mummys! haha.
Is there any hope for the sttn at some point?
Jolene
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Hey Jolene
Yes there's hope for STTN!!! It took 10 months in our house, but we got there. I have a theory - a work in progress - that spirited babes really act out some of their mental / behavioural development in their sleep. The Wonder Weeks book is great as it spells out a little what leaps happen and when, and how we can help our LOs through them. Really helped me!
Hope you get some rest
Charlotte
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So there is hope - thanks! I definately know that my lo is super sensitive when it comes to his naps, I either get him enough (down to 15mins) and if he has too much or not enough we feel it with nws and fighting me to go down. Its amazing.
What is the book The Wonder Weeks is that a bw? I have to look into that, I was also told to get one on problem solving by Tracey, so maybe I should just go look them up now.
Thanks ladies. I pray that we all sttn and that when I have my next baby its a textbook baby - no Im not pregnant - just think that if I fell pregnant w another spirited I might die :)
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With a spirited baby you absolutely have to have to get The Baby Whisperer Solves all your Problems. At least for me, it was a must. I'm surprised you haven't heard of it before now. I was at my wits end at 4 months and that's when I bought it :)
Working on reading the toddler book right now.
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just think that if I fell pregnant w another spirited I might die :)
Amen sister
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just think that if I fell pregnant w another spirited I might die :)
Amen sister
Two spirited LOs... Isn't that how women become Saints?
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Hmmmmmmmmmmm....
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Hi ladies
Ok so Chase has been sick for about 8 days with a cold. Hes been ok up until about 4 days ago and was waking up (as usual) but then instead of it being a paci popped back in or a bottle (I know, he doesnt need it - long story). But anyway the last couple of nights hes waking up at different times 12am, then it was 3am and he seems wide awake. He doesnt want to be rocked, hes screaming, doesnt want to lay with me, he doesnt want to lay in crib and when I try to hold him and walk around with him lying (which I usually do at last resort to settle him) hes fighting me. After two hours the first time i had DH come in and he got him back down. The second night he did the same and it took me a while. The other thing hes doing in the same couple of days is missing his second nap. Hes fighting it and absolutely screaming his head off.
Im wondering if it has anything to do with his movement, in the last week he has began to really move around on the floor, hes able to sit up by himself and pull up on things and hes not crawling but almost. Hes thrashing around in the crib when hes fighting a sleep and then he hurts himself, banging head or something.
Im at a bit of a loss there is so much going on with him. Digestive issues again, hes been vomiting quite a bit moren than usual last few days too and has a cold. I also had a bad poop yesterday, found blood. So things are all out of control. As far as handling these things I know where Im going with it. But what i need to know is, he is fighting eveerything that used to work for me before (to get him to settle and go down). Do you have any recommendations??
Thanks
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Could Chase's digestive system be bothering him more than usual? Any new food? Sorry I'm no help but huge hugs to you and Chase.
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Thanks Sylive and Yes his stomach could be bothering, it could also be his reflux getting worse, teeth and a stupid cold. Im just at a loss as to settling him. Its so hard now hes getting biggeer (heavy!) and its late - I cant even AP! ha.. Definatly a spirited babe. Maybe even touchy.
He actually did ok last night, and tonight I got him down already and it was quite easy. Maybe his belly is feeling better (we've identified problems and its been a few days since hes had it).
Just wondered what other mums w/spirited bubs do to settle - Im guessing the answer is anything that helps. My mum said to go run the shower! That used to work when he was younger. ahh, cant wait until hes a yr and a little more settled w/everything.
How r u doing Sylvie?
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Chasehutt do you use a white noise machine or cd or anything like that?
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Jolene, how are things with Chase?
We're still having NW and I have no clue what to do anymore. One thing will work one day and not the next. She STTN twice last week and not sure why she can't do it every night. On those 2 days, she had only had 1 nap and I thouth it was the reason why but no, we had one nap another day after and she woke twice that night. And last night she woke up at 10(took 30mins to calm her, which resulted into a bf), 1230(settled with a soother) 3( would not settle so bfed) 4(took the soother) and awake for the day at 6. So it'll be an early night tonight and hope we don't have another EW. Her routine is unpredictable due to the 2-1 nap transition. I don't think she 100% ready for it but some day's she's just not tired to fit 2 naps. What to do? It's been about a week since we've had a consistent routine, and haven't found anything that works.
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Sylvie, So sorry the sttn didn't continue.. I thought you had cracked it. ???
We are still having terrible nightwakes- still no crying just lays awake and playing happily!
I have no option to try just one nap, but she is waking earlier and earlier so it would be 6hours A time to get to 12 - and thats too early isn't it and 6 hours A is a very long time.
I seriuosly give up and am just gonna have to live with it. x
I hope you have a good night, we have had 2 night wakes already and only been asleep 51mins!!! not looking good is it!
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Good luck for tonight Toni. She's done it before so she can again.
The few times Zoe STTN, she had only had 11hr day with a 2.5 hr nap. I want to try to replicate exacly those days but haven't had the chance yet as she throws me a curve ball daily. And waking to early isn't good. She just has to see a bit of light poking through her door when I open it and we're done. No hope at getting her to sleep again.
I wonder though, she's mastered crawling (she just scooted or comado crawled before) , pulling up and standing in the past few days. I guess this could be the reason for NW. Now that she's on the move there is no stopping her. I think she'll skip walking all together and run instead.
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Toni - I say go for it. I'm pretty convinced the NW are napping related. personally I would give 5 hours A time a shot. I put Lyle down at 11 all the time these days. If naps go to pot then just put her to bed early.
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hello, new to this thread, hope that somebody can help. My lo is 14 wks old and I think that she is Spirited. Nights and bedtimes are very difficult at the moment. I'll see if I can explain it without writing the longest post in history!
She's 14wks old and has been waking regularly in the night, particuarly frequently in the last month - between every 90 mins and 2 1/2 hrs. Last night it was every 90 mins and I can't do this for much longer! I was putting it down to growth spurts and starting to teeth, but not sure I can blame all that for a month's worth of sleepless nights.
She is bf, weighs 5.2kg and won't take a dummy.
Bedtimes are difficult - she seems to go off most easily at around 6.30-7pm, but then wakes 30mins-1 hr later and won't go back down til 9.30ish. So last night we decided to 'go with the flow' and try for a 9pm ish bedtime - it was a nightmare, despite a late quick nap, she ended up ot and screeching til 10pm.
I'm sure this must have happened to other people - what did you do? How did you stay sane?
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Welcome abig09 - A lot of us found the 4 month mark to be extremely difficult. Have you successfully moved to a 4-hour easy. I imagine something is going on with that.
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Well Zoe woke up several time again last night. I think she's teething though, but it could also be time for a change of routine. Somehow I have to change things every few weeks with her. She was up at 630 this morning, had her morning nap from 930-1030, she was half falling asleep while having her morning snack. We had lunch at 1130 then we went to the park for a bit and she fell asleep on the way home at 1, so I put her back to bed and she slept till 215, so another short nap. My delima now is when do I put her down for the night. I feel like she can't handle more than 4hr A time and that's with a day with 1 good nap. She'll have to be in bed by 6 to avoid any OT and that might be to late. I feel like we're in for a lot of adjustment. Maybe I should take this opertunity and just go ahead and switch her to one nap and see how things go. She hasen't had her usual 1.5-2hr nap in a few days. What would you do? I feel like we'll never get it.
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Well tried the short AM and long PM nap and it mad things worst. I'll be going back to long AM nap. If it wasn't for her being a fussy little girl due to teething, I think I'd be doing the switch. I'm just fed up with the NW. I'm starting work first week of August and I want these NW gone. We're not sending DD to daycare and I'll be working night shift so I can't handle being up all night with her and all day. I'll need some solid sleep plus nap when she does.
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How's everyone's nights going?
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We still have NWs. A few weeks ago, we had a pretty good stretch where we only had 1NW, and a few of those nights were before midnight, so I feed her thinking she's hungry as she always takes a good feed on both sides, then slept through till 630-7am. No routine is woking well. We tried short am, long pm nap and made things worst, so we're back to long am, short pm, but our days are getting longer and nights shorter again, so I'll have to start moving her naps forward a bit or shorten the am nap. Her routine has been so inconsistent that I have co clue what to do. Some days she can barely do 3hrs A time and some days she'll do 4hrs no problem. What to do???
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Ours are okay at the mo. Apart from me finding myself asleep in the sofa hunched over the laptop in the wee hours. ::)
I remember that around 10 months I got into a real messy OT UT cycle with DS. For the same reasons - a rough night without good sleep and he couldn't do a decent am A time. Our days generally stretched a lot for several months too - I think some days would last 13.5 hours thanks to EW and attempting to squeezing in the naps with a long enough A before bed.
I found, with Sherry's help, that I had to closely watch DS's behaviour, keep a sleep log (even if it's just in your head) and sometimes be brave... so what I mean is that when you 'know' they've had a good hit of sleep at night (say 11h) but are showing tired signs after 3h, then I'd push it a little because I 'knew' he'd had good sleep. Other times, I'd watch him closely for any hints he was ready for his pm nap, as he didn't show any signs at all - I'd put him down for a nap and he'd resist for hours as OT. Grrr...
I started cutting the nap times at 9 / 10 months. At 10m I knew that he wouldn't sleep well if he had more than 2h15m (or maybe 2h30m) total day sleep.
It is really hard doing the switch. I felt obsessive!!!
Jane: we only ever go away to stay at my folks. And that is now a nightmare. DS used to sleep the whole journey happily so I always drive at night. Now, he doesn't sleep - even when it's dark. Car lights I guess. So he's awake most of the 5 h drive. Then when we're there, I really struggle to get him to nap or go to sleep at night. He won't independent sleep there either. It is a huge cotbed in a cramped room, with a bookcase overshadowing it. I think that doesn't help. He's used to a cot against a wall with a clear view of the whole room and, importantly, the door.
I'm down there for 5 days next week. Hope to sort the sleep somehow.
Hope everyone's nights improve
Charlotte
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OOOOOH, I think it just dawned on me TODAY that my little Miss Elli is spirited! THe quiz was tricky because for some questions I can pick up to 3 answers, but in general I had the most spirited answers....although she is "happy" spirited at least for the most part. But now that she's older, things are harder....getting her to bed, changing her...keeping our days consistent. THe only consistent thing is NW...sound like many of your posts...many early wakings (seems like she can't settle in for the night).
DH had her for about 24 hours while I went out of town with DD1 and she drank about 40 ounces in that period (some in her cereal). So two of my questions were answered...is she getting enough food in the day and is she really hungry at night (yes to both). Unfortunately, she is totally freaked out by me leaving the room, etc nit that I am back! Is this an age (almost 8 mo) where the los are prone to SA?
DD1 is sick, so I am just juggling to get DD2 back onto "Mommy's" routine and then try to sort out "WHY?!" there are so many NWs. Part of our problem is she full on crawls and stands and cruises, and had no idea how to lay herself down to sleep. We practice "sitting back down" but how do you get them to lay down? Or is it lie down?" I partly feel though she's physically doing things early, she might not be "mentally" ready for this stuff. Does that make sense? Anyhow...
on good days we get 2, 1.5 - 2 hour naps, on bad maybe one good nap. I try to not go more than 3.5 hours in the evening, and no more than 3 early in the day, but I think this need tweaking.
Well good to be on board, good luck tonight everyone!
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Hi ladies, after the night I had yesterday I thought I could do with a place to share my woes!!! We went cold turkey to wean NFs about a month back and now I don't really feed her at night at all. Sometimes if she wakes around 5:30 I feed her.
But it hasn't really cut down the NWs. I"m not sure whether it's due to a need to routine tweak or teething or a whole bunch of other stuff, but just wanted to get on board and say hi.
I'm hope everyone has a good night and weekend!
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Hi! Thanks for your response. I didn't actually realise until yesterday there was a NW support for spirited babes. And BOY I could do with that!! I actually have a separate thread running, and Sherry, who I noticed was also on this board, has been helping me along with a few other lovely ladies.
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=150886.msg1714186#msg1714186
Jane, I tried once for a few days to limit the AM nap. IT worked for 2 days and then everything went crazy and I didn't know where to head from there. So I went back to letting her sleep the way she wants during the day and yesterday's routine was decent one, but we still had NW and EWs..yuck!
Wake - 6:50 and BF
A time - 6:50 - 10:35 (she seems to handle between 3hr 45 - 4 hr A time before Am na)
S - 10:35- 11:50 I didn't wake her
A - 11:50 - 3
S - 3 - 3:40 (woke up happy after short nap)
A - 3:40 - 6:40 (I put her to bed early after a short PM nap)
S - 6:50 - (NWs - brief crying ag 10:30, 12-ish, 2-ish, up at 5:20!!!)
I fed her at 5:20 but she really didn't settle back to sleep. She slept on/off while feeding and then woke up bright at chirpy around 5:50/6 AM. Grrrr!!
I have been trying to keep her AM nap time consistent (between 10:15 - 10:45). Despite the EW today I put her down a bit early around 10:10 AM. We'll see.....
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Hi there,
I think I have a spirited 5 month old on my hands. We have been struggling with sleep, for, oh, about 5 months. He continues to wake up and want to play in the middle of the night. He is sometimes awake for 2 to 2 and 1/2 hours! It seems to me that he has short A times in the day because of his rough night, but doesn't nap well either. Here is our "routine."
8:00 awake
8:30 bf - doesn't usually take a full feed
9:00 cereal
9:30 nap takes awhile to settle in - lots of fussing - sleeps from around 10 to 10:30
10:30 to 11 or later, I keep trying to get him back to sleep - sometimes he goes for another 1/2 hour
11:30 bf
12:30 nap - again lots of fussing - sleeps from around 1 to 1:30 and I keep trying for more....
3:00 bf
4:45 try for catnap - rarely works - if it does it takes a looooong time to settle
6:30 bath, then bf
7:00 bed - again lots of fussing - sleep at around 8:00
10:45 pm - bf - sometimes wakes up and wants to play
nightwaking around 2 am and sometimes up for 2 hours and if he wakes again around 4:30 or 5:00 I feed him because I'm not sure if he's hungry. He sometimes takes a full feed, sometimes only one breast, but doesn't nurse to sleep.
It seems that we're in a vicious cycle and I don't know how to get out of it. Is this his nature or am I doing something to keep him awake?
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KylersMom - Hi.
I went through the same exact thing at 5 months. It is actually the short A times that is causing the long NW.
I was so reluctant to push out the A times because he was just so tired in the morning. Well a whole month later, of every single night going through that. I just pushed him to 2 hours A time cold turkey at 6 months. I couldn't take it anymore.
He did wake up OT from his naps. But, thankfully, a lot of the time I could get him back down.
I'm not saying you have to go cold turkey, but you definitely need to push those A times out.
That is why he is fussing when he goes down, and why you are having such a hard time extending the nap. If you push him, even to the point where he is a little OT you might find that extending the naps becomes easier.
I think this is a common mistake we make as moms of spirited LOs because we fight the OT for soooo long when they are just little bitty things, that we are reluctant to move out the A times, because they are genuinely tired, but they are tired because they are keeping us up all night :)
Moving to a 4 hours easy didn't solve all our napping issues, but it did get a whole lot better, and the NW became very quick just need resettling, rather than 2 hour long sagas :)
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I think I have a spirited 5 month old on my hands. We have been struggling with sleep, for, oh, about 5 months.
You're in good company!! The spirited can be tricksy sleepers IMO :).
Sherry's posted exactly what I'd do and did. ;D I was reluctant to increase A times because the OT monster attacked so badly and so often before BUT my DS did big jumps in A time. Like he'd wake up one day and just seem to need an extra 15 mins awake time! Took me a while to recognise the cues of wakeful NWs - introducing their own unofficial A time. Once I did, things got lots better. ;)
Charlotte
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I noticed he was a little behind the norm with A times. You're right, I'm terrified of him being OT. It is ugly. So, you're suggesting that I ignore his sleep cues for awhile and keep him up for 2 hours before naps? It's worth a try! I'll try over the weekend and get back to you. Thanks!
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You don't necessarily have to go straight to 2 hours. You can go just 15 min more if you feel more comfortable with that. You'll just ignore the signs for a little while. It's like their bodies get "used" to that amount of A time so they start showing sings, but they really need to be pushed, and then they will adjust to the new time.
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I wouldn't jump too high too soon either - the 15 min increments was the max I could do over 3 days. And even then, I took it really slow! I'd take it gently as Sherry suggested (there hasn't been a pickle Sherry hasn't steered me through yet!!).
I used to add slowly to the first A time and then watch closely for how he coped for the rest of the day. But I was often too shy at increasing A time.
Tired signs can be bored signs too. And they might not know it themselves. I used to add to the A time by having a little quiet time at the end of the usual A time, before the WD. I'd steer clear of noisy toys etc to avoid him getting OS during the extra time. If that makes sense?
Another way might be to have a little walk around the house or in the garden before the WD to give a change of scene.
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Your too sweet Charlotte. It doesn't seem like I've helped you with much in a long long time. I hope all is well.
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Yup, mostly well here. But you did walk me through the first year so I can vouch for your advice!!
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:) Thanks
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Things are going much better already. We are doing 2 hours awake now and have only had a couple OT incidents, but he was still easy to settle. He's waking now from an 1h30 min nap. :) The NW is still a problem, but I guess I can't expect it to disappear instantly! He is still waking for a feed and takes a very long time to get back to sleep afterward....but it seems shorter now....last night was only 1h30 min awake (including feed)...not sure how best to settle him back to sleep. We feed in the dark so not to wake him too much and when finished we rock in the chair while I pat his back for awhile until his eyes start to go. It seems that once I lay him down in his crib, he's wide awake again. Then, I don't think I'm supposed to pick him up unless he cries, right? Should I just stay with him and pat his back?
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Well.... that's kind of a tough one. So I'll just tell you what I would do.
From now on I would just feed him and put him down. I would stop doing the rocking, I think it's prolonging the NW and it may become a prop down the line. I would just feed him, burp him and put him back down. Then you could pat him if he's crying. At that age we also did the shhh. But I think he's nearing the age where that doesn't work so well anymore. And that does wind some spirited LO up as well. You could do pu/pd but that's just picking him up, reassuring him and putting him back down AS SOON as he stops crying. That just wound Lyle. We never did pu/pd. It tends to wind a lot of little ones up. Patting worked a lot better. It might take awhile though.
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The night before last, he slept right through until 5:50 am and I kept him up....mistake though....I don't think he was ready to get up and was a bit off and had short naps all day. Last night, he slept until 3:45 am and I fed him. He went right back to sleep, so I didn't need to do any patting or pu/pd. The problem with pu/pd is that he's generally not crying....cooing usually for 1/2 hr to 3/4 hr until he gets fussy. I'll try patting next time he's wide awake.
Bad nap again this morning after 2 1/4 hrs awake. I think I should push his awake time out another 1/4 hr. He didn't appear tired to me, but again afraid he'd be OT, that I put him down. I'm so unsure how to read him these days. What do you think? Thanks for your support.
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Spirited Lo are always hard to read.
If he's just cooing, then leave him to it. Don't intervene at all unless he is crying :) It will help him down the road. I know it's hard not to because when they are awake, we are awake, but he'll let you know if he needs you. :)
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Thanks for that. I feel bad not going in - he might coo for 3/4 hr and I feel like I should be helping him, but I see what you mean. I could get in to some a/p that way. He needs to get himself back to sleep. The last few nights have been good. Some N/W, but it is getting shorter. Cheers!
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YEY!
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hi guys my 5 m/o DD is spirted and has ALWAYS had the worst sleeping problems! shes such a light sleeper too...and nothing really AP's her! when she was first born she didnt nap at all!! since then its always 30-45 min naps until recently i can get one or two long naps a day...with me on the couch if im real still and cover her eyes...i know im not suppose to do it that way but ive had 5 months of an OT baby without one good day ever! shes not horrible at night but has been having terrible EW recently...