Not this again...going crazy....

[Skipperg84]

So I posted a couple weeks ago about starting the BW routine...it's been about 2 weeks since we started and things went beautifully for the first week:  It took 3 days for DS to get on the routine, he started feeding every 4 hours, started sleeping much much much better at night (waking a few times, doing pu/pd shh/pat to get him to sleep) and we managed to get him to nap the full 2 hours (realized he would actually do this if I put him on his tummy instead!!).  Things were perfect, I was actually starting to get more than an hour of sleep at a time since he was born, my husband was able to help out at night instead of telling me to go feed the baby then roll back over to fall asleep again (grrrrr).

Now, DS has decided that he can roll off his tummy and is now rolling all over the place - waking up more frequently at night, doing the 45 minute nap thing again (I'm going to pull my hair out).  I'm just so physically and emotionally exhausted!  I thought I had finally tackled his sleeping issues, I don't have any more energy to deal with this (I'm actually feeling more tired now that I've gotten a few good nights of sleep).  My husband is in the military and is leaving for 7 weeks to go do training and I'm desperate for DS to get back to his good routine before he leaves, I physically cannot do this alone I will go crazy!!!!  Ok this has become more of a vent than anything else, sorry to go off track...I guess I just need encouragement. 

I know babies have disruptions in sleep when they learn new things, how long does it last for?? I'm just worried this won't pass because him being on his tummy kept him from jolting awake and he was able to have his thumb right there for him to suck on to go back asleep.  Now he just rolls off his tummy and screams and screams!!  HELP!

[Colin Macs Mom]

It's a very common thing, don't worry.   Those developmental things have to be ridden out to some degree, but you can help it go faster if you give him tons of time to practice during the day. With milestones, babies have an urge that they can't exactly control to practice and master the skill - so if they don't get the time they need otherwise they will do it in bed. I remember when Colin learned to pull up and sit back down he spent one ENTIRE day in his playpen doing just that, and nothing else. 

So, it will help if you lay him on a blanket on the floor for example during his A times, so that he can do his homework

[Skipperg84]

Thanks for the advice...I will try to give him lots of tummy time to practice!  Yesterdays naps were 45 minutes each - everytime at the transition point, he flipped back over and woke himself up so it took me another hour to get him to go back to sleep.  It's just so frustrating to think that I had finally gotten my child to sleep well and then a few days later have it taken all away.  I'm seriously so frustrated and I'm trying not to be upset with him since it's not his fault, but I've been trying to get this kid to sleep since he was born - 5 months of no sleep, no rest, no time for Mommy and I just don't know how much longer I can go on for...

I need a day off!!!

[Evgenia]

Hey Skipperg, {big hugs}. It can be real tough at times, but hang in there!
I agree with Colin Mac's Mom, and jus wanted to add, that when I introduced the easy routine to my dd it all went great for about a week and then we had a major set back. And in one of her books Tracy warns that after about a week of establishing the routine los could regress to NW and short naps, and all she suggest is to be consistent with new routine and techniques in order to get back on track.

[Colin Macs Mom]

Oh believe me, that needing a day off is normal too! Is there someone who can help out? Give you a few hours to yourself?

[Skipperg84]

Thanks again...yesterday I took off and left DS with my hubby because I just needed a break!  Today has been the same - waking up after 30-45 minutes, rolling off his tummy and taking another hour or so to put him back to sleep.  THen he will only sleep another 30 minutes or so!!  I have been consistent with pu/pd and ssshhh/pat...but I am still just so exhausted from it!!  I know I just need to stick with it, I felt like I was so gung-ho in the beginning because I was desperate for ANYTHING to work and it finally did, now when it's back to the same thing again it's just such a let down!

I know I just have to keep with it and hopefully at some point this child will decide to nap longer than 30 minutes...I've been reading on here to give it a time limit, maybe that will help.  Just to give myself half an hour to see if he will go back to sleep then give him more A time and try again.  It's just difficult because he is still so tired, he just gets all worked up again and it's even harder to get him to sleep!!  AAARRRGHHH!

[Colin Macs Mom]

Good for you! It's so important to take those breaks for yourself now and then.

Regression is normal, so don't beat yourself up. Just stay consistent and go with the flow. And if nothing else, most LOs outgrow short naps around 6 months