Questions regarding nap extensions and pushing A times

[Tabathagucci]

No problem, hope she's better soon!  Ok will push to 3 hrs tomorrow and see how it goes.  So weird, he was super cranky early on in his first A time today so put him down at 2 hrs 20 mins and he slept an hour and 40!  Maybe just an off day or OT from yesterday as it wasn't the greatest nap day!  Thanks Kara!

[Tabathagucci]

Well we had early morning wakeups all over the place which threw our morning off and resulted in a 40 minute first nap so I can't test the 3 hour A time today.  We'll likely end up with 3-4 short naps unfortunately.  Days like this just really discourage me.

[*Kara*]

Hugs hun - we all have those days.  When they happen, try to remember that tomorrow is a new day

[Tabathagucci]

Thanks!  This is do tough and I never seem to have more than a couple days in a row of good naps.  Yesterday I was able to extend the first nap to 55 minutes.  I carefully watched his cues during the second A time and he didnt seem to show any so I put him down at 3 hours.  He slept 45 minutes and I was able to extend for almost another hour. 

Today I used 2hrs40 mins in the am instead of 2.5 hrs, but my cat was locked in his room and her meowing woke him early at 27 mins.  I let the cat out and let him be and he fell back asleep for about 10 mins.  I APOP'd And got another hour.  Second A time I used 3 hours and got a 25 min nap, APOP'd again and got another hour and 15. So it appears 3 hrs is too long?  Or maybe too long after a broken nap?  Not sure what to do next...

[*Kara*]

I would try the 3 hrs again and keep it for a few days to see how he does... one day with a cat interruption (oh do I know all about cat disruptions!) isn't enough...

[Tabathagucci]

Ok will do!  I think that's my problem, I try something for one or two days and then give up too quickly. Thanks Kara!  Hope the LO is feeling better.

[Tabathagucci]

Also would like advice on how to handle the mornings because when they're a mess, the day tends to be messy (spotty sleep and uncertain first A time, short first nap and throws the whole day off).  He has still been pooping when he wakes for his early am feed and very often will stay asleep for a few minutes when put back down after diaper change and feed then wake up again.  I try to paci and pat shush to sleep but we go back and forth a couple times and it just messes it all up because its not solid sleep. I've tried moving the dream feed back and he just wakes earlier and poops and still won't go back down and tried moving it later but he still tends to wake before 10 hours sleep and poop.

If I let him stay in my arms for the morning he will stay asleep, but otherwise mostly wakes up.  I don't mind this but feel I am creating a monster by doing that.  So until I can resolve this pooping issue or it resolves itself, how should I handle these mornings?  I can try to just get him up but then I'd have to put him to bed early (before daddy gets home) and have a feeling he'd just start waking even earlier then.  Help!  Thanks!

[Tabathagucci]

With a 2 hr 40 min A time this am, he woke at about 30 mins.  I was able to get him back to sleep for 10 mins, but then couldn't get anymore in the crib so he's now sleeping in my arms.

 I feel like I am just reinforcing bad habits by continuing to replug the paci and letting him sleep in my arms.  I honestly feel like I am getting nowhere.  Maybe he's too addicted to the paci?  I don't think we can handle weaning that right now.  We are going to try weaning the swaddle this weekend in hopes that he'll find his fingers soothing ( has not worked yet but maybe he will learn) or that he will find the paci on hs own.

Just feel like we have so many issues and they are all perpetuating each other.  The last time we had consistent morning naps months ago, it was when I woke him at the same time every day so maybe that would help but cant even do that because he poops at 5 and sometimes goes back down and sometimes doesn't.  And today he pooped at 4 so we have zero consistency.  Anyway, sorry just lost and frustrated and still need lots of help.  Hope you can help me clean this mess up.

[*Kara*]

Oh do I know all about the dreaded early morning poop!  DD used to wake at 5am like clockwork and poop!  No way could I get her back down after 10 hrs of sleep and a full on bum change! 

There are many ladies here who have dealt with the early morning poops!

We have all tried many things and have come to the conclusion that there really isn't much you can do about those early poops.. they seem to stop once baby is established on solids around 8/10 months of age.  I know that sounds dreadfully far away, but DD did stop around 7 months with the AM pooping deal!

I would wean the swaddle first and see what happens... DD started to have more sleep issues with it around 5 months of age as she would wiggle to get her fingers and would get stuck half out of the swaddle.. then she would fully wake up upset that she was stuck...