What is going on?

[lilybug25]

Hi Lo is 4months and now will not nap during the day anymore. she is on a 4/4 Easy and until 10 days ago she was sleeping 2 hrs/2hrs/40 mins. then it started going down FAST. now she is only sleeping 30 minutes eash nap if that. We tried leaving her to settle herself that didn't work(never leave her more then 5 minutes), we tried going in there before the 30 minute mark to place my hand on her chest when she starts to stir, that didn't work ( and this always worked in the past). I have even tried staying in the room the WHOLE NAP and she still got up. She went through a growth spurt last week  it's not that, she teething but she has been for the last 4 weeks and its not that. Nothings new and we haven't change anything. When she gets up we do a 1.5 - 2 hour A then back to bed. Its taking almost 40minutes to get her settled down now ( was a less then 10 minutes last week) then up again in 30  minutes. This is taking over the whole day and i'm so fustrated. She use to go to bed at 8 now we put her down at 7 ( asleep at 7:30). she sleeps the whole night ( DF at 10:30) bottle at 5-6 am then up at 7am. What the heck is going on, i can't handle this. Up down up down and when shes up whinning whinning ALL DAY cause she's OT.HELP

[becky1969]

Can you show me how yesterday went spelled out in E A S format? 

So

Awake 7 am
7-7:30 BF

S 9:00 tried for sleep, took until 9:40 and then she woke up at 10:10

BF 10:30


S put her down at 12:00 but she didn't fall asleep until 12:30, awake at 1:00


etc. etc.

that will help me figure it out for you!

[lilybug25]

OK this is how yesterday went ( also not Bfing shes on the bottle)
awake 6:00 am ( after bottle wont go back to sleep, got out of cot at 6:50am)
a-7-8
s- went to sleep at 8:20 to 8:45 (20 Min's)
e-9:30
a-9:45-10:00 ( lost it so back to bed)
s- went down at 10:20 -11:00 ( 40 Min's)
a-11:00- 1:00
e- 1:05( after bottle lost it so back down at 1:25)
s-1:35-2:00 (25 Min's)
* tried to get her back to sleep took 45 minutes but she did!!
s-2:45-4:45 ( 2 hrs)
e-5:00
a-5:10-6:30
bath-6:30-7 ( loves the tub gets all the energy out:))
e-7:20( small snack after bath 1-3 oz tops)
s-7:30pm
Dream feed:10:30
woke up today 7:30am
And today almost the same thing only we are at 3, 45 min naps so far and we are just going to extended the last A from 2 hrs to 2.5 hour then put her to bed for the night.

[becky1969]

OK! That tells me lots.  Thanks!

I can see where you went wrong yesterday.  The very first nap of the day happened 2h20 minutes after she woke up.  At 4 months old, most LOs can handle about 1h45 of awake time.  So she was awake 30 minutes more than she could handle, which explains a 20 min waking.

Then the 2nd nap she was only awake 1h15.  I realize she only slept 20 minutes, but for some reason they all have a limit where you can't put them down TOO early or they have an UT nap (which is what she did, at 40 min).

Her next sleep happened 2h05 later.  Too late, especially since she has 2 crap naps in her.




See what I'm saying?

So, let's start to day with a VERY strict 1h45 A time and see how she does.  That means even if you lay in her bed from 6-6:50, her A time starts at 6.  If it takes 15 minutes for her to fall asleep typically, then you need to have her IN BED at 1h30 (which means wind down starts at 1h20).  I have a feeling, tho, with better timing she'll probably fall asleep in 5-10 minutes, so I'd start wind down at 1h30 and have her in bed by 1h40.

See how that goes!

[lilybug25]

Thanks for the advice! I think that OT is the problem, we are gonna try putting her down at 1.45 mark instead for at the 2 hr mark. She started yesterday not going to sleep if we are in the room, we leave she goes to sleep and its only taking 15 minutes  Took 3 weeks of lots of trial and error ( and headaches and frustration) but independent sleeping is now fully in place!!!
Its been 1.5 into A time right now and shes cranky so bum change and off to bed she goes.

[lilybug25]

Tried putting Lo down at 1.30 mark and she screamed and screamed. So the naext day we did it at the 1.45 mark went to sleep fine but still wont sleep more then 45-1 hr. We have changed her A time so that she has a more calming wind down time ( just laying on the couch for 10 minutes before putting to bed). More fresh air( that would work when she was 2 months old). open window so the rooms colder( that use to work to extend naps also). I even started using a herbal deep sleep spray on a cloth under her bed sheets. NOTHING IS WORKING. I can't go out, I can't have ppl over because she always up and always cranky. I'm getting so ( swear words here) offed that i just dont know what to do. I feel like I have tried everything on a 3/3 rule( 3 times a day for 3 days) to see if even a slight difference and NOTHING. maybe this post was more venting but i can't help it. ANY suggestions at this point would work.

[Colin Macs Mom]

bumping for you

[Shiv52]

Hi there

Sorry you are still struggling.  Well done on the independent sleep! 

Tried putting Lo down at 1.30 mark and she screamed and screamed. So the naext day we did it at the 1.45 mark went to sleep fine but still wont sleep more then 45-1 hr.

Ok based on your posts and this especially I think she was really not ready at all for a nap after 1.30 and still UT at 1.45 as she gave another short nap. 

Here's some info I always use:

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64158.msg476652#msg476652

4 months 1 hour and 45 - 2 hours
5 months 2 hours - 2.25 hours
Late 5 months/early 6 months 2.25-2.5 hours

So if 1.45 is getting you a short nap I'd try adding 10 minutes (2 hours might be slightly too much) to see does that get you a longer nap.  I'd be consistent with 1.55 for a 3 days and see how it goes.  The fact she was in such a great routine and having such fab naps a few weeks ago makes me think she is just ready for more A time.   

she has a more calming wind down time ( just laying on the couch for 10 minutes before putting to bed

This is a great idea and always worked for me when extending A times.  If you extend further to the 1.55 I'd be inclined to help her manage the last 25 minutes of A time so making just walking around quietly looking and talking about things and then your last 10 mins on the couch.  Will ensure she doesn't get too OS or OT while extending the A time. 

HTH xx

[becky1969]

Agree 100% with PP.  Think she's still UT. 

[lilybug25]

I think  your right Shiv52, My little sister who lives 5 hours away randomly showed up this morning so i went out all day and DH watched LO. He put her down at 1.55-2 everytime and she slept( she did get up but he went in and stood by her bed and she went back to sleep). Each nap was 1.30-1.45 We will keep going with this tomorrow and see how it goes. (cross your fingers for me!!)

[Shiv52]

Fingers and toes crossed!  They were great naps yesterday!  Hope you enjoyed your day out with your sister! 

Good luck today xx