BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Sleeping For Toddlers => Topic started by: NKmommy on April 18, 2006, 22:26:22 pm
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I always thought my 16 mos old DS was a good sleeper. He seemed to sleep about 11.5 hrs at night, and we finally got to about 2 hrs during the day (or so I thought). But he still seemed to be EXHAUSTED by about 9 am, and again by about 5 pm. I could not understand why his transition to one nap was so rocky (took about three months).
Well, then I got a video monitor. I have discovered that Nathan wakes about 5 - 6 am, and just sits there! Not talking, no crying, just sits up, holding his blanket and facing the door, waiting! I don't get him from his crib until 7, so he sometimes waits an hour or two. Again, for his nap, he is only sleeping a bit over an hour before he wakes and waits.
So I figure that he is only sleeping about 11 hours total. No wonder he is so tired. I would try wake-to-sleep, but he is SUCH a light sleeper that even moving the door handle to his room wakes him completely. I would like to get a white noise machine, but to be honest, I have no clue what it is. Is it an actual machine, or a CD? Also, anyone know of a wake-to-sleep machine? I just need a robot device to tap his back so that I don't have to enter the room and chance waking him up. LOL ;)
Thanks for letting me vent. I know that I am so lucky that he doesn't wake crying, but things are not working the way they are... :-\
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Oh bless him, that's one of the cutest things I've ever heard! Not great for sleep planning, but awwwww :)
We never had a white noise machine - we used a radio untuned (is that a word? - maybe de-tuned) off any stations.
I don't know if he's too young for this, but I have heard that buying him his own alarm clock might work - although it's not early waking & calling for you that's the problem is it? :-\ :-\ :-\
Maybe b/c he's doing this, he may not be ready for 1 nap yet? Perhaps he needs a catnap near the end of the day?
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We had a white noise CD for Henry but it faded and restarted every 60 minutes - and woke him every time.
We used a de-tuned radio but kept picking up random stations - in fact, one time we got a LOUD police broadcast. That woke him up, too.
Now we use (and have used for about 1.5 years) a cheap plastic fan set on high. It makes enough noise to cover the house noises so Henry can sleep.
Other than that, don't know what to tell you. You can't make him sleep - but I know how frustrating it is when you KNOW he's tired but he still won't sleep.
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OK, I'll let you in on our embarrasing secret - we have a <gasp> prop in his cot :o :o :o
It's a toy that projects on the ceiling, and has little birds going round with soft music - ds knows how to work it, and I often hear it start up at around 6am, do one cycle of music (about 5 mins), by which time he's gone back to sleep. Maybe something like that would help your lo?
Ssssshhhh, though, don't tell anyone ;) ;)
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Caroline--I think you're in the clear. IMHO a prop technically was something they couldn't manage for themselves ie. needed someone else to do for them, so the crib projector is good in my books!
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Thanks so much, ladies! I am going to run to the store today and buy a fan, so hopefully that will help with the white noise. Last night he got 9 hrs of sleep, and when I flipped on the monitor at 5am, there he was, waiting. Argggg. I will also be on the lookout for thicker blackout curtains. I am determined!
Caroline - where did you find that toy??? Sounds great. I'm all for hypnosis if it will get him to sleep. ;) LOL
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Hi Sheila,
I can't remember where I bought it - and can't remember what brand it is, even though I look at it every day :-[ :-[
Ds is in bed right now, when he gets up in the morning, I'll let you know.
Mummy brain ::)
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Caroline.... can I join in the confession?
Although I don't consider it a prop we use the fisher price fish tank for exactly the same purpose. Will often starts it up at about 5.30am ish and then goes off back to sleep. It plays 3 different tunes and a few nature sounds like the sea or running water, and it has soft lights and bubbles... its great and certainly heps will sleep. We set it going every night as we leave his bedroom and by the time the music stops hes snoring.
http://cgi.ebay.com/NIB-FISHER-PRICE-OCEAN-WONDERS-AQUARIUM-CRIB-TOY-NEW_W0QQitemZ6051334139QQcategoryZ100226QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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By the way Sheila... I also think that your little man sounds the cutest little thing... how sweet is he just sitting waiting bless him.
I hope you sort out his sleeping soon - maybe an aquarium might be good - its also got a couple of things he can play with on there as he soothes himself off back to sleep with the music.
H xx
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Guess what?!? I got a fan, and put it in the hallway outside his room for his nap (the thing was cheap, and sounds like a jet engine ::)). And he slept for over 2 hrs!!! (He woke at the one hour mark, sat up for a minute, then fell back asleep). I am sooo excited, and hope this happens tomorrow!
Ennypen - Thanks for the aquarium info! Great idea! I will be on the look-out for that. ;)
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That's great!! Hope it continues!
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That's great!! Hope it continues!
Thanks, me too! Quick question - do you leave the fan on at night, or just naptime?
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If he's in his crib, the fan is on. ;D
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I had never thought of any kind of noise other than a lullaby cd to get my girls off to sleep. That was of course until my four year old discovered Martina McBride and Shania Twain. She actually goes to sleep listening to one of their cds!!!
If the baby doesn't start settling for her naps through the day I might have to purchase one of these fans to see if it helps. I am sure she is over tired at night and that is why it takes so long to get her to go to sleep.
I really wish my two girls wouls wake up quietly but they both want Mammy as soon as they open their eyes. I might try to teach them to shout for Daddy instead!!!!
Keep posting to let us know how the fan goes. i might have to pop into town to buy one myself!!!!
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Sarah - Thank you, thank you, thank you for the fan idea! Nathan's naps are now around 2 hrs (today he is going on 3 hrs! :o), and it makes for SUCH better days. The fan is super cheap and soooo loud, but I can now move about downstairs and not worry about waking him. Thanks again!
We are still stuck with such early wakings (usually between 5 and 6 am), but I will pick my battles for now. ;)
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Yeah!! It always makes me feel so good when I can help. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Henry's fan - don't know what we'd do without it.
Yeah!!
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I find if my lo naps for a super long time so doesn't sleep as long at night. You could try limiting the nap--I know strange suggestion when you've been trying to lengthen the nap. :P