Naps - trying to extend but just makes him really cross!! Any ideas??

[Jess_C]

Hi Deb,

I am also having this 45 nap problem. Read the link u send. I got a question. Why would u introduce the prefeed snack?
How does that help solve the 45 nap problem.

Jessey

[Jess_C]

sorry i meannt prenap snack

[deb]

No worries, I knew what you meant.

Part of the problem was that around the 3-month GS, their calorie needs take a BIG uptick, but I hadn't apparently quite caught up with her, so she was waking early in the morning for another feed. Then when she went back to sleep before waking for the day, she was already tired when she woke, so we started the whole cycle of short A time, short nap, all day.

By adding in the extra calories/feed, my supply got boosted at the same time she was getting extra calories. When she woke early after that, it was more from habit than from hunger and we were able to get her back to sleep straightaway with a pacifier/dummy and she began to sleep through that waking, and woke up more refreshed and able to handle the longer A time, thus resulting in the longer nap.

[Jess_C]

Thanks Deb, my DD is also 3 months old . She was waking up for night feeds at 1/2am (after dreamfeed at 11pm/12am) and her naps were getting shorter.
Fortunetely, i manged to increaes her A time and moved her from a 3 hr - 3.5/4 hr EASY.

But i am still struggling with the night feed. tried topping up like what u suggested, prenap snack but she wont take it. She will only eat either 3.5-4hrs, She ll nvr top uo within 2hrs of a feed, so i can cluster feed her too. Weird huh? Not sure if her night feed is really a habit or pure hunger.

[moonbeam_me]

Hi Deb,

I am so sorry for taking ages to reply....I have been away and had a nightmare few weeks with LO.

You were right, he does indeed have reflux and is now on meds for it - I breastfeed him in an upright position and his cot mattress is raised with blankets.

It all came to a head while we were away - we even took his own crib from home with us to help him relax but it got to the stage where he was just
screaming if we just went near it at nap time

He has been on meds for a week now and for a couple of days they really helped; he gradually got over his fear of the cot and was going down first time
But the meds made him really constipated and we had to stop them for a while and give him stool softener. Once he had a normal poo (which he did yesterday) we could resume so today he has had it in small amounts but still spat up before bed.

The problem is his sleeping, both day and night, is just dreadful.
The poor little mite wakes up after being put to bed so many times and just wants holding and his back rubbing. As soon as he is back in the cot he wakes after a few mins crying and so the process continues, sometimes for a couple of hours and both he and I are just exhausted

In the day he is struggling to self settle, despite being fine a few days ago. I think he is again associating his cot with pain.
He only sleeps 35-40mins but if I take him out, put him on the bed with me and give him the breast (his ultimate comfort) he will sleep for ages with me (yesterday 2hrs 20mins which is a first!).

I would so love to hear any advice from anyone going through or been through this as I just hate seeing him so uncomfortable and sleep deprived.
Thanks x

[moonbeam_me]

I think I will post a seperate thread about the reflux issues also in the hope this may get some more advice coming my way as extending naps is now the least of my worries! x

[Khalam's Mama]

Good idea. It is best not to teach sleep at all while there is pain. Post a link to your reflux thread so we can follow too. With the elevating the cot beware elevating just the mattress as if it does up not straight it can cause them to slump and actual squash the tummy so Tracy advises to elevate the whole head of the cot like with books. Hope that makes sense.