Working on EASY for the last 10 days and getting NOWHERE! HELP!!

[My little Liam]

I have been on the EASY routine for the past 10 days but I feel like we are going backwards. I think I have had only 1 successful 1hr30 nap! the rest have all been 30 or 40 minutes. I am so frustrated that i cant figure out my DS correct A times and I think that he is now more OT than before!! His night sleep has also gotten worse because he is so OT.

Here is my EASY from the last 10 days:
(Tal is my husband)

Day 1: Thurs. Aug. 30th

W+E-0705
A-0705-0850
S-0850-0930 (fell asleep easily in 2 min. woke after 40 min. tried to resettle, fell asleep again at 0945 for 5 min.) After 1hr45 A - UT
A-0950-1050
E-1050-1100
A-1050-1132 (put to sleep at 1115 to sleep at 1120. was not interested in sleeping. whining for putting him down, then talking to himself until 1132 when he fell asleep.)
S-1132-1207 (woke after 35 min., tried to resettle but then pooped) After 1hr40 A - UT
A-1207-1330 (started to get fussy around 1300 but tried to hold out as close as possible to 1hr30 if A time.)
S-1330-1405 (fell asleep quickly) After 1hr20 A - UT
A-1405-1435
E-1435
A-1435-1550
S-1550-1725 (fell asleep in stroller, i woke him) After 1hr45 A - GOOD
A-1725-1900
E-1900
S-1920
NW-2220 (wouldn't fall back asleep with paci, BF but wasn't hungry, only 1 min.)
NW-0310 (BF and then at 0340 left to fall asleep alone)
EW-0620 (left alone to fall back asleep, gave paci a few times but did not work)

Day 2: Fri. Aug. 31st

W+E-(0620) 0650
A-0700-0835
S-0835-1000 (fell asleep easily but woke up crying) After 2hr/2hr15 A - GOOD
E-1000 (was very hungry)
A-1000-1200 (bad mood all morning. teething?)
S-1200-1245 (cried a few min. before falling asleep) After 2hr A - UT
A-1245-1305
E-1305
A-1305-1535
S-1535-1605 (tried to put down to sleep at 1445, fell asleep for 1 min. then popped eyes open and was ready to play) After 2hr50 A - OT
E-1605
A-1605-1840
E-1840
S-1845
NW-2140 (wouldn't fall back asleep with paci, BF)
NW-2220 (wouldn't fall back asleep with paci, tossing and turning, BF)
NW-0220 (wouldn't fall back asleep with paci, crying hysterically, BF)
NW-0430 (wouldn't fall back asleep with paci, crying hysterically, BF)

Day 3: Sat. Sept. 1st

W-(0640) 0650
A-0650-0750
E-0750
A-0750-0845
S-0845-0930 (fell asleep easily) After 2hr A - UT
A-0930-1035
E-1035
A-1035-1140
S-1140-1210 (in Tal's arms) Tried after 1hr45 A, fell asleep after 2hr10 A - OT
A-1210-1330
S-1330-1400 (in Tal's arms) After 1hr20 A - OT or hungry?
E-1400
A-1400-1600
S-1600-1630 (put down at 1540 but was OT and would not settle until 1600) After 2hr A
A-1630-1650
E-1650
A-1650-1815
E-1815
S-1835
DF-2300
NW-0330 (wouldn't fall back asleep with paci, BF)
EW-0530 (wouldn't fall back asleep with paci)

Day 4: Sun. Sept. 2nd

W-(0530) 0610
E-0615
A-0615-0730
S-0730-0900 (easy to put down) After 2hr A - GOOD
E-0900
A-0900-1055
S-1055-1125 (fought me to sleep for 5 min.) After 1hr55 A - OT
A-1125-1145
E-1145
A-1145-1315
S-1315-1410 (cried hysterically, Tal put him to sleep in his arms) After 1hr50 A - UT or OT?
A-1410-1430
E-1430
A-1430-1610
S-1610-1645 (in stroller) After 2hrs A - OT
A-1645-1835
E-1835
S-1855
NW-2235 (cried hysterically, wouldn't relax for 10 min. BF)
NW-0300 (was quiet in crib until 0320, BF)

Day 5: Mon. Sept. 3rd

W-0700
E-0700
A-0700-0900
S-0900-1020 (complained and cried a little, but was asleep in 5 min.) After 2hr A - GOOD (UT)
A-1020-1315
S-1315-1435 (was not interested in sleeping after 2hr A time) After 2hr55 A - OT
E-1435
A-1435-1655
E-1655
S-1700-1740 (was OT so fell asleep BF) After 2h25 - OT
A-1740-1900
E-1900
S-1935
DF-2300
NW-0200 (was talking to himself, settled after 30 min. with paci)
NW-0330 (BF)
EW-0530 (BF and fell asleep with me)

Day 6: Tues. Sept. 4th - BAD!!

W-0720
E-0730
A-0720-0925
S-0925-1000 After2hr05 A - OT
E-1005
A-1005-1145
S-1145-1230 After 1hr45 A - UT?? HAS TO BE OT!!
A-1230-1315
E-1315
A-1315-1430
S-1430-1515 After 2hr A - NAP TIME OF UT BUT HAS TO BE OT!
A-1515-1830
E-1830
S-1835
NW-2230 (BF)
NW-0300 (spoke to himself for 30 min. then started to cry so BF and back to sleep)

Day 7: Wed. Sept. 5th

W-0640
A-0640-0730
E-0730
A-0730-0825
S-0825-0905 (fell asleep very easily with no crying)After 1hr45 A - UT or PACI
A-0905-1020
E-1020
A-1020-1100
S-1100-1135 (put down at 1040 but was talking and complaining until 1100) After 1hr55 A - UT??
A-1135-1220
E-1220
A-1220-1330
S-1330-1440 After 1hr55 A - UT
A-1440-1530
E-1530
A-1530-1650
S-1655-1730
A-1730-1900
E-1900
S-1920
DF-2230
NW-0300 (paci)
NW-0400 (BF)
NW-0550 (BF)

Day 8: Thurs. Sept. 6th

W-0705
A-0705-0800
E-0800
S-0805-0920 (fell asleep while BF) After 1hr A - UT
A-0920-1025
E-1025
A-1025-1210
S-1205-1235 (would not fall asleep. i think i put him down too late) After 2hr50 A - OT
E-1240
A-1240-1420
S-1420-1525 (showed tired signs after 1hr15 of A time but would not sleep. left in crib until ready to sleep) After 1hr45 A - UT
E-1525
A-1525-1705
S-1700-1730
A-1730-1800
E-1800
A-1800-1900
E-1900
S-1910
NW-2130 (BF)
NW-2230
NW-2400
NW-0100 (BF in bed)
NW-0300 (BF in bed)
NW-0600 (BF in bed)

Day 9: Fri. Sept. 7th

W-0640
A-0640-0800
E-0800
A-0800-0850
S-0850-0930 (fell asleep pretty easily) - After 2hr10 A - UT
A-0930-1000
E-1000
A-1000-1130
S-1130-1205 (slept in car. woke when parking) - After 2hr A
A-1205-1245
E-1245
A-1245-1350
S-1350-1410 (slept in stroller. woke because of noise) - After 1hr45 A
A-1410-1515
E-1515
A-1515-1615
S-1615-1600
A-1600-1730
E-1730
A-1730-1845
E-1845
S-1850
NW-2000 (BF)
NW-2130 (BF)
NW-2230 (BF)
NW-0250 (gave paci, fell asleep but tossed and turned nonstop. finally BF)
NW-0415 (gave paci)

Day 10: Sat. Sept. 8th

W-0620
E-0630
A-0620-0830
S-0830-0900 (fell asleep easily) - After 2hr10 A - OT
E-0920
A-0900-1045
S-1045-1115 (fell asleep after a few minutes with Tal) - After 1hr45 A - OT
A-1115-1200
E-1200

What is going on?!?!

[My little Liam]

Next nap put down after 1hr30 A time and got 45 min. How is 1hr45 OT and next nap 1hr30 UT??
I dont know what to do anymore...

[willowsmummy]

how old is he hun? does he self settle? Is he swaddled? sorry lots of questions xx

[willowsmummy]

hugs tp you hun, sounds very tiring!! Ah i can see he is nearly 5 months!! handy ticker it could be the 4 month growth spurt!! Ive heard that its a real difficult one in terms of sleep regression!! x

[My little Liam]

He will be 5 months next week. He self settles with a paci but doesnt really ask for it in the middle of the night, it is just for settling. he has never been swaddled, he really hates it. He has already gone through the GS.

Anybody have any idea how I can tweak my EASY to make everything better???

[willowsmummy]

He coukd be going through a mental leap http://www.thewonderweeks.com/index.php/about-the-wonder-weeks/your-babys-10-leaps/mental-leap-4

give it time and try not to watch the clock!! Its easy to get stressed that way!! Watch for his tired cues and dont put him for a nap until he shows signs even if its beyond the 2 hour A TIME. My DD is 12 weeks and does 2 hour A times. Not all babes will follow the guidelines xx

[jessmum46]

(((Hugs))) - you must be really tired

Agree could be some developmental things going on here, but NW that frequently are usually due to being extremely OT, discomfort or prop issues.  Any teething at the moment? 

If you are completely honest with yourself, do you think the paci/BF at night have become props?

For example:

S-1850
NW-2000 (BF)
NW-2130 (BF)
NW-2230 (BF)
NW-0250 (gave paci, fell asleep but tossed and turned nonstop. finally BF)
NW-0415 (gave paci)

Your LO fed at 18.45 before all these feeds - I can't imagine he was genuinely hungry?  Did he feed to sleep each time?  I would really try not to feed at a night waking unless it has been at least 4h since the last feed, and instead try to settle him with shh-pat.  It may take a LONG time and you need to be prepared for that - if you do shh-pat for 20 mins and then give up and breastfeed, you haven't achieved anything   To give you an idea, the first time I did it it took 2 hours, and then LO still woke 2h later.  However it took 20 mins the second time and 5 the time after so it does get easier if you are consistent. 

I think the reason his naps are so all over the place and you're struggling to work out A times could be that he has a lot of OT built up from the disturbed nights, so even if the A time is right, you can still get an OT nap.  I agree with pp - forget the clock for a few days, follow his cues, put him down when he seems ready to sleep and try to help him catch up a bit.

(((Hugs))) again, and please try not to expect too much of yourself or your LO (this coming from a Mum who wanted to do everything 'right' from the day DD was born ) - it WILL get easier as LO gets older.

[willowsmummy]

Is he genuinly hungry when he wakes or is it habitual? if he is hungry and takes a good feed i would speak to HV about weaning him! My DS was about 5 months when he weaned, boys for some reason have a muh bigger appitite than girls xx

[My little Liam]

The night that there was tons of BF is not normal I know, but we had guests over and I couldn't spend the entire evening in his room trying to get him to sleep so I had to APOP, I know it's bad.
The night before I brought him to bed with me because I was so tired I couldn't handle the NW anymore and when he sleeps next to me he will not relax without the boob.
Anyways, I know that it's bad but those were 2 times where there was no other option.

I think the NW are due to extreme OT because of 10 days of bad naps. He didn't have good naps before we started EASY, but he was taking 5 45 min naps a day which is still more than now.
The other thing is at he is a really big mover and likes to sleep on his side but he rolls on to his back all the time and gets frustrated so he sticks his legs in the slots to stay propped on his side and then cries when they get stuck. I think the crazy moving also wakes him.

I don't mind putting him down when he shows tired signs instead of going by A time, but he shows them 30-60 min after waking in the morning or after his naps and then if I put him down at that time he either doesn't want to sleep or wakes 40 min later so he is obviously UT. It's difficult to really know with him when the right time is.
If I put him down too early he will talk and play in his crib and wont sleep till he is OT and if I put him down too late he will kick his legs and cry and then he will fall asleep up to 1 hour later so he is them EXTREMELY OT.

He is really a textbook baby regarding everything except sleep and it is driving me crazy!
He doesn't really like the sshh/pat and I don't really need it because he knows how to put himself to sleep when he wants to. If I put him down for a nap at the correct time he will be asleep in 2 minutes and I don't need to do anything, the problem is finding that correct time and it is literally impossible...
I need to somehow figure out how to do that and then I think his night sleep will be better. The question is how do I do it?
I will try to put him down tomorrow going by his cues and even if I get 40 min naps all together it will be more sleep than now. Maybe in a few days his cues will slowly lengthen and start after a longer A time when he is less OT.

Any other suggestions??

[willowsmummy]

i would just put up with 40 min naps for a few days so he can catch up on sleep!! Hopefully even if he just has 4 or 5 40 min naps the NW may improve and break the OT circle he seems to be stuck in.

Have you tried a wedge to keep him on his side if thats how he prefers to sleep??

[willowsmummy]

also if he has a 40/45 min nap you will need to cut his A by 20-30 mins, but for now i would let him catch up on sleep

Let us know how you are getting on hun x

[*Kara*]

Just popping in with some hugs and to mention that a dream feed and one night feed is expected at this age.. without a DF, some LO's will need 2 NF's.  Usually drops to one when solids are started.

Also, those super frequent BFs mentioned above (understand it was AP) can actually disrupt his sleep more than help it... overfull tummy makes for unhappy baby.

[*Kara*]

Please continue to offer advice on this thread:  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=241886.75

This thread has been locked in order to keep advice in a single location.