Overnight, 5.5 month old went from napping 3.5hrs during the day to napping 1.5

[okinawamama]

Like the title says, my (then) 5.5 month old was consistently sleeping about  3.5hrs during the day, and literally within 24 hours, he began 30-45min napping and he's never gone back to the long naps.

Here was his loose schedule prior to the naps falling apart

A: 7
E: 730
A:
S: 930-11:15
E:
A:
S: 150-320
E:
A:
E:
S: 645

Literally, this is the following day
A: 7
E:
A:
S: 930-1015
E:
A:
S: 1030-1115
E:
A:
S: 130-215
E:
A:
S: 4:30-5
E:
A:
S: 7

Right now, we vary between getting  a 30min and 45 min nap. 30 min used to mean UT and 45 OT, but now I'm not sure. I try and extend every time, but it rarely works. Yesterday after a 45 min nap, I was able to extend for an additional 45 minutes, so maybe it still means OT? I've stood beside his crib, and he doesn't jolt awake, he just lifts his head up and wakes up.

Here's the pertinent info
*he sleeps with a paci, but I don't think it's a problem. I watch him on the video monitor and I've seen him self settle without the paci . He also often wakes and the paci is still in his mouth.
* he is settles in the crib, but I do have to pat his butt to get him to sleep, so he's not a completely independent sleeper
*he's in a dark room with white noise and no swaddle
* prior to the naps falling apart 2.5ish hrs A time got us decent naps.
*he is 6 months old today.
*he has reflux, we are tweaking meds a bit, but the short naps and such started before the meds were an issue.

[okinawamama]

thought I'd do a quick update on our first nap of the day.

A: 610 * tried getting him back to sleep, he may have dozed a couple of minutes* out of bed at 650
E: BF
A:
E: solids
A:
S: 9:30-10 He woke at the thirty minute mark, by lifting his head and looking around, no crying. I went in and tried to get him back to sleep, he wasn't having any of it so I left him in there. He's been in there for hte past 12 minutes rolling around and playing with his paci's.

[ZacsMumme]

Hey Stephanie, two things are jumping out at me...one routine and one not.

1) Do you think he could be about to have a GS?there is a huge one around 6 months. I think I remember Z as having one around this time but not really noticing his E intake, just wonky sleep and then he didnt fit his clothes

2) Your LO could definitely be ready for an A increase, so the first nap could be UT then getting OT by the end of the day. The waking from the first nap and playing sounds like UT.

What do you think?

[okinawamama]

yay, thanks for the reply. I was just coming back to beg

As far as the growth spurt, I'm not sure. Right now we are feeding as often as we can because he's having some weight gain issues. He currently eats three "solid" meals a day and then I feed him an hour before solids and whenever he acts hungry. It may be working because he's gained 6oz in eight days (which was what he gained in 6 weeks prior to operation fatten Bram).

So, routine. Where should I start? Today I did a 3hr A time and he gave me a 30 min nap, but I wasn't able to see how he woke because we were at someone's house and I just kept popping over to the room to hear if he was crying. Should I try a 2hr 45 min A time? What about after a short nap? What time should I shoot for. This kid doesn't have a single tired sign. My husband often jokes that he's never actually seen Bram tired.....so I don't feel like I can watch for signs.

Again, thank you! I feel like just having someone to brain storm this with gives me hope!!!! He was a good napper, surely he can be one again.

[ZacsMumme]

Ohh I just thought of another thing that happens at 6 months. It is an ugly developmental leap - one of the worst for us too! http://blogginaboutbabies.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/wonder-week-26/

So yes, I think you are onto it, if he was doing a good nap on 2.5hour first A  I would push him out to 2hrs40mins for a few days, then 2hrs 50 and see what happens. Then you can go for 3hours if you need to. The jump in one go could make him OT. Has he always had high/low/average A times in the past? Is he touchy/sprited or textbook/angel?

He was a good napper, surely he can be one again.

He will! The fact you had him napping well at 5 months is better than my Z was. He short napped for a good 2months. Almost killed me with all the W2S

Great he is gaining weight well. Just checking...have the short naps coincided with introduction of solids? Some LOs get sore tummies with solids, or having them to close to BT etc....

[okinawamama]

alright, so here was yesterday
A: 7am
E: 8:
A:
E: 930 solids
A:
S: 950-1040 woke happy and wouldn't settle
E: 1140 BF
A:
E: 1240
A:
S: 130-200 * went down late due to an impromptu meeting with DS1 teacher. Was going to try for a 2.10min A time?
E:
A:
E:
S: 4-445

So yesterday I thought the first nap was UT (2.50min A) and then an OT ( 2.50min A) and then not sure on third ( 2hr A time)

so, I thought today I'd hang out right around the 2hr 50min A time again just to be sure what was going on, so here's today so far
A: 7am
E:
A:
E:
S: 950-1020 this time he woke crying but still wouldn't settle. What could this be. I would have thought yesterday was UT but today possibly the same A time got me an OT nap?  ???p.s the nights were almost identical. Waking twice and going right back to sleep so I don't think that it's residual OT from a bad night or anything.
E:
A:
E:
S: 1255-125 I tried starting at 1230 but he just wouldn't settle down. Not sure if it was OT/UT. he woke with a startle, and then began to cry about a minute later. Tried resettling, and even APOP but he wouldn't go.

[ZacsMumme]

Just checking...have the short naps coincided with introduction of solids? Some LOs get sore tummies with solids, or having them to close to BT etc....

Sorry to ask again. Its just so many LOs do get sore tums if they have too much solids too quick. I remember we were having ENW and once I offered less dinner and earlier they went away.

I think this could be one of 3 things
1) Teething causing discomfort or reflux flare?
2) Solids causing upset tum or reflux issue. maybe an intolerance or allergy?
3) Developmental.

If it is OT/UT which it could be...then I think you may need to stick with a 2hr45min first A for a few days to see if you get a consistant 30 OR 45min wake and see how he wakes. If its always 45 or 30 but he is happy then possibly UT, if not then OT/developmental....
If you get a short first nap then I would go for a 2hr20 ish A time, not much later - to prevent OT build up. Then if you get another short nap give a 2hr A then another 2 or till BT.

Hang in there!

[okinawamama]

you know, it was about 10 days after solids that the naps went to pot. How would I know if they're the culprit?

I have no idea what's going on. yesterday I did the exact same A time as before, and he gave me 1hr10min nap. I just don't understand why the exact same night, and exact same A time yield such different results. 

Today has been a complete wash because we did a Halloween festival this morning and so Bram slept for 10 min in the sling, and then had a 30 min second nap, and I'm getting ready to put him down again in a minute or two, I'm sure it will be another 30 min nap, which then puts us at a weird wake up time (315ish)....too late to really to a CN but too early for BT. Sheesh.

[ZacsMumme]

Can you post his solids times and what he is eating? I know for us it was offering too much of the wrong thing (ie harder to digest food) to close to BT. It could be similar with naps IYKWIM?
(GS) for the tough day I would go ith a early BT and long, quiet WD

[okinawamama]

alright, I'm back. I tried backing off with the solids and only feeding meals twice a day...usually breakfast and dinner. our day usually goes like this

A: 715
E: 730/8 BF
A:
E: 900
S:945/10-1030
E:11 BF
A:
E: 1230ish BF
S: 1245-1:15
E: 3:30 BF
A:
S: 4-430
E: 530 solids
A:
E: 645ish BF

so before backing of the solids one of the BF would have been a solids meal. So far we've introduced rice cereal, apples, banana, carrots, pears, sweet potato and avocado. Which foods are considered hard to digest foods? To be honest, I BF almost any time he seems hungry. We're having weight gain issues and so I'm trying hard to get as many calories in him as possible. My pediatrician has suggested taking him off any sort of feeding schedule, so I'm just kind of loosely watching the clock.

I'm so frustrated with the naps. We still get 30 minutes almost every time whether I do 2hr A time or 3.5. I'm so confused/frustrated. I can't tell if they're UT or OT. During his A time he's happy and full of smiles....but I know that 1.5 daytime sleep just isn't enough.

[ZacsMumme]

How are his BM? Ill pop back on soon to have a nosey at your EASY