DESPERATE! DS sleeps 30-45 mins!

[Lindsay07]

My 11 week old DS used to sleep REALLY well, up until XMas (which was really busy, but we've been home for 2 weeks now...)  Now, he goes to sleep fairly well, but will not stay asleep longer than 30-45 mins.  Then he'll be shushed back to sleep, and do it again...He USED to be able to get himself over the sleep cycle humps, but now he seems to have forgotten!
I spent the entire day today in his room, reading a book beside his crib just waiting for him to wake and shush him back to sleep so that he didn't wake up too much.  And doing it while he's lying in his crib just doesn't cut it anymore, he NEEDS to be picked up.  I CANT do it again tomorrow!!!  What is happening?  What do I do about it?

Here is our routine:
E  5:00 am - feed 6oz
A  none
S back asleep by 5:30am

E 7:30am 6oz
A crib/mobile, change diaper - he is yawning by 8:20-ish - but now he's getting cranky by this time too....but he's only been awake for less than an hour!
S asleep by 8:30-8:45am - is he supposed to sleep the full two hours until the next feeding?

E 10:30am 6oz
A sit in front of fireplace, read a book - yawning by 11:20-ish
S asleep by 11:30-11:45am

E 1:30pm 6oz
A tummy time, chill out - yawning by 2:20pm
S asleep by 2:30-2:45

E  4:30pm 6oz
A hang w/mom and dad - yawning by same as above
S asleep by 5:30-5:45pm  (this is not a catnap...I've tried waking him and doing a bath before last feed, but it was really upsetting for DS, didn't like it...)

E  7:30pm 6oz
A bath, get ready for bed
S asleep by8:30-8:45, sometimes 9pm.  Tonight, just now in fact, he woke up 2x since putting him down at 8:45pm.  Was shushed/patted back to sleep easily.  He USED to sleep straight thru to 5am!

E  DF 10:30pm 4oz

I feel like he should be awake longer so that he gets a good sleep.  In fact, he used to be awake for 1.5 hours, then sleep for 1.5 hours. I've been trying to stretch it so it's like that again, but he gets cranky.
I have NEVER been able to put him down awake, as he's ALWAYS cranky.  I walk him upstairs, talk about nap time, swaddle him, sit in the rocker for a bit, sing a song....by this time, he's getting fussy, and full out crying seconds later. 

I posted in bottle feeding, wondering if he should be eating more oz less times/day?  Maybe switch to a 3.5/4 hour EASY?  But what to do with him if he's getting cranky/tired at the 1 hour mark?

PLEASE help!  I am desperate! 

[Colin Macs Mom]

Just bumping this up for you 

[dizzy]

Only advice from getting it wrong for months myself. LO is not getting to sleep soon enough and so is over tired I think. Don't get into habit of rocking and carrying him round the room it is back breaking in the end trust me I know!!!!! and so hard to break.
Is LO rubbing face or ears? Does LO go quiet and less interested in activity time? They are signs is tired. You need 4 s's if not already doing it I think.

[brenda2]

have you tried wake to sleep?

it does sound as if he is over tired.  maybe also try an earlier bedtime like 7 or 7:30.

[Lindsay07]

Thank you!
It's still happening...
brenda, i would love to put him to bed sooner, but how do i work that into his feedings?  He is eating every 3 hours, although he is spitting up like crazy, so id hate to feed him any sooner than the 3 hours.... since it starts at 7:30am, it works out to last feed at 7:30pm, then bath etc.... could you post a sample schedule or something? 
Thank you!  I'm still going crazy! 
I feel like he's going thru the terrible two's a little early!  Maybe he'll grow out of it???

[deckchariot]

If he's spitting up a lot, have you considered maybe reflux?  Or could it be some type of reaction to the formula you're giving him?

I'd definitely try moving bedtime earlier.  You could try feeding at 7 instead of 7:30 - maybe do 5 oz at 4:30 and then 5 oz at 6:30/7.  Better nighttime sleep should help with daytime sleep.

In general, 30 min naps mean overtired, 45 min naps mean undertired (though that's not always the case), so maybe keep a log to see if his naps are more 30 min or more 45 min.  If it's more 30, I doubt he needs to be awake longer.  If it's more 45, then he may be ready to extend his  A time a bit.

Hang in there!!!

[brenda2]

how's it going?  sorry for a late reply...

don't go to a 4 hour EASY - he's not ready for that amount of awake time... maybe in a few more weeks...he's almost 4 months old?

i would make your 4th nap of the day a catnap, 5:30 - 6:15, wake him up and feed him at 6:15, this will be your clustering as it's going to be sooner than 3 hours since his last feed.  then bath and bed by 7:30 (12 hours after his wake up).  then the dreamfeed like you've been doing.