naps after surgery

[adusummer]

dear friends,
my 10.5 months old had a cleft palate repair on Jan 25th. she's been recovering amazingly. i slept with her for the first week after and now it's been two weeks since she's been sleeping in her crib (like before the surgery). for naps and the night. it was hard at first and i had to use PU/PD and the shush pat. but now she's sleeping well, about 10 or 11 hrs at night and two short naps a day. before the surgery she was using the paci for sleep and was having between 1.5 to 2 hrs naps. now she's not using the paci (did not want it after the surgery) and having short naps. 25 min to 1hr. she's been on EASY since 4 months. then we moved to a new country and she was off it. had erratic 30 min naps. (she use to wake up crying) at about 6 months i got her on EASY again and did PU/PD to make the naps longer. it worked like a magic and she was napping 1.5 to 2 hrs till the surgery. since we came home i was folowing her same routine.
here's her routine:

her routine before the operation was:
7 - get up and have a bottle
then i change her and she plays in her bed room.
8 we're going down stairs and have solids breakfast
9 i take her for a nap.
at 11 wake up, hug and change
11:30 bottle and play time
12:30/13 launch - solids
play or going for a walk
2-change her and afternoon nap
4 get up and play
4:30 bottle (sometimes not)
play
5:30 - dinner solids - play
6:40 bath, masage
7:20 bottle
7:30 go up stairs, a hug and a song and go To bed.
since we came Back I've been folowing the same routine. the reason i give so many bottles is because she doesn't drink big bottles and no water yet.

as i said, she wakes up  after a short nap, but unlike before, she's in a good mood and playing in her crib, babbling etc. so i let her be there till the "end" of the nap time, thinking, maybe she'll fall asleep again. but she never does. she has red circles under her eyes so i think she's not getting enough sleep. i see how they get shorter every day.
my feeling is that i should do someting to make her naps longer.  or maybe combine them. or is it two early to do that?
i would love to hear what you think and get some advises. please help
thanks.



     

[momofclaire]

I think maybe she is ready to extend her A time a little.  Have you tried that.  Maybe try not putting her down until 9:30 for her first nap? Hope that helps.

Oh and I am glad to see she is sleeping better in her crib at night.   

[*Natasha*]

Totally agree with pp need to extend nap time to at least 9.30am.

[adusummer]

thank you mom of Clair and Natasha. you know, i didn't even think about it! i will try to stretch it to 9:30 tomorrow. anyways when i put her to bed, she's babbling in bed till she fall's asleep at around 9:30, 9:40.
Natasha, by pp did you mean i should do Pu/pd when she wakes up?? even if she's in a good mood?
i guess she's in a good mood cause she doesn't see me when she wakes up. if she'll see me, she'll probably will cry if i don't pick her up.
i do want to get her to sleep better.
thanks again

[katriona]

nope, "pp" = "previous poster," not pu/pd  sounds like you're doing a fantastic job there mommy!

[adusummer]

katy! i just wrote you in the other bord!
and ... thank you!

[adusummer]

hello,
this morning i did like you suggested yesterday. she played very nicely till 9:30. she was clearly tired though. i put her down then, but she fell asleep only at 10:00 and slept till 10:30. 30 min like a clock. i can see the bad habit being established here. i really would like to extend her naps. but not sure how. please help.
any thoughts will be appreciated.
thanks.

[adusummer]

hello again,
i read the FAQ"s trying to find an answer to my situation. but all the cases are for younger babies. my LO is almost 11 MO and is waking up not crying after a short 30 min. nap. her easy look tired. other wise i wouldn't worry.
how long is the sleep cycle at this age?
thanks.

[momofclaire]

When she wakes what do you do to help her go back to sleep or do you just get her up?

[adusummer]

hi mom of Clair. thanks.
since she's in a good mood, i just let her be in bed and play till it's time to get up or a little before that, then i go, all happiness, and pick her up

[adusummer]

hello,
i just wanted to let you know, it's been 9 days now, since i extended my lo's A time before nap and it helped! about a week ago she started to nap a bit over an hour, then slowly got to 1.5~2 Hrs. i did the same with the afternoon nap and she's sleeping for over an hour now.
that definitely was a good idea!
thank you so much!

[momofclaire]

It is really nice to hear that you guys are doing better.  I leave my girl in her crib for naps until she cries and tells me she wants out.  Somedays she will play in ther for 30 min.  I think it's great that I have that extra time and I also think some alone playtime is good for her also. 

[adusummer]

i agree. believe me, i love the extra time. sometimes she'd wake up early but be happy to play in her crib so i just leave her there for a while. when i come to get her, she always pretends to be busy with her animals. funny girl