6 mo EMW

[Johnnyha65]

Hello,
This is my first post, but I'm constantly on here getting help & reassurance just reading other people's posts.
My LB will be 28 weeks on Wednesday (adjusted as he was 2 weeks early), has been on solids for over a month and we have been getting EMW for over a week they are anywhere between 5-6 am. They are completely throwing off our days and naps and making hime very grumpy. could someone advise what I should be doing re BT, Naps  etc. Here is our EASY for yesterday:

GU 7am (awake from 5.30 is, this was when I heard him, left in his cot)
E 7 milk
E 9.25 (refused solids and was overtired so fed to sleep just 3 oz)
S 9.30 -11.15
E 11.15 milk
E  12.15 solids
S 2.10 - 2.40 (tried to settle in cot from 1.35 but played and the cried, had to be rocked to sleep)
E 3.10 milk
S CN in car seat 4.50 - 5.15
E 5.15 solids
E 6.20
S 6.45

[jessmum46]

Hi there,

It looks to me like you're in the midst of the 3-2 nap transition and needing to drop the catnap . Have you read this? All about the 3-2 transition- 5/6 months

I think you're right that he's ended up getting a bit OT and needs to do a bit of catching up.  We were in much the same situation at that age - you will get through it, I promise!  The first thing that you could do to help him is to temporarily bring bedtime a little earlier.  At the moment his day is a little over 13h, and by shortening it you may find he is able to sleep in later in the morning because he's not so tired when he goes to bed. 

The next thing I would do is to start his day at 6am if he is already awake by then, again as a temporary measure, or when he wakes if it is after 6am.  The long period of awake time in his cot is really throwing things off for you at the moment and it would be better to get a solid routine starting earlier than ideal, which you can then move forwards to your more ideal 7-7 day.  I would put him down for his first nap at 3h A time (but no earlier than 9am - so 3h based on a 6am WU) and do anything you can to extend that nap to at least 1.5h, or 2h if he will take it.  If you get a good nap, then aim for 3h for his second A time and again do anything you can to get that nap to extend to 1.5-2h.  If you get a good second nap, aim for him to be asleep in bed by 3h A time.  If either nap is short, you will need to shorten the following A time to perhaps nearer 2h30-40.  This may mean some really early bedtimes some days (we did as early as 6pm during the 3-2 and lately even as early as 5.30pm!) but it looks like you're at the point now where the CN is causing more trouble than its worth.

What do you think to that as a plan?  Oh and to reassure you - during nap transitions we've definitely done lots of APOP but if LO is normally an independent sleeper, they should get back to it quickly once they aren't so OT

[Johnnyha65]

Thank you it's so helpful seeing it there as a plan!!  I had a feeling that it may be time to drop the CN which on a positive note means one less nap to have to deal with but, boy it's hard going!! Just when you get one thing sorted... managed to drop the dream feed there's something else!

I'll try and get the plan underway asap however, i'm visiting my parents for a few days which has thrown things way off already and involves 2hr car journey home! 2nd nap today I only managed to get him to sleep at 2.30pm and that was after 3 1/2 hrs A (not for want of trying) and after a big meltdown, he's now woke after 20 minutes, but won't go back to sleep now as the nap has taken the edge off, he's impossible for me to get back off we just end up with a melt down! I've left him in his cot playing and moaning.  What would you recommend for the rest of today?

This is how today has gone so far:
WU: 5.35 (heard him chattering at 5.35, he chattered for a while and then cried which means hunger)
GU 6.30 
E 6.35 Milk
E 7:50 Solids
S 8:55 - 9.15 fell asleep in the car but woke when I stopped for fuel
S 9.45 - 11.00
E 11.15 Milk
E 12:15 Solids
E 2:15
S 2.30 - 2:50

Thanks for your help

[jessmum46]

Ugh doesn't sound fun . If you're travelling I would just wing it for a few days until you get home - things are always all over the place when you're not at home.  For today I'd be tempted to just shoot for a really really early bedtime and hope he tacks on sleep.  Even if he wakes after 10h or so (often the case when OT) it may just be early enough that his body still thinks its night time and he can be resettled.  Remember tomorrow is another day!

There's a support thread here too Anyone want to talk about the 3-2 Nap transition? Part 2

[Johnnyha65]

Its a good job I have extra hands to carry him round, when he's OT he just wants to be carried around which is back breaking! He's now asleep, fingers crossed until 6am.
Thank you for your help, i'll give you an update in a few days & check out the support thread

Tomorrow is certainly another day!