Author Topic: 12 week old short naps and frequent NWs  (Read 838 times)

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Offline jnjurgy6

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12 week old short naps and frequent NWs
« on: February 02, 2014, 17:07:56 pm »

Mr. EJ was born on Nov 10 (10 days early).  He is 12 weeks old (appx. 11 adjusted).  He has no health issues that we have discovered yet. 

Up until 10 weeks, I BF on demand (tried someone to stick to 2-2.5 hours), let him sleep on me for naps.  He slept in a rock’n’play next to our bed at night. 

On Jan 17, I started to put him in his crib for naps and bedtime.  We have not had naps or bedtime in any other place.   We also started the 3 hour EASY cycle as printed in the BW book (first feeding at 7). 

He had a pacifier dependency and one night I woke up almost every 45 minutes – hour to replug.  We CT the pacifier 3 days ago (starting Jan 30 afternoon).

He has always only taken 25-45 minutes naps.  In the last two weeks he has taken three 2 hours naps (without assistance to get back to sleep) and two 1.5 hour naps.  He has only taken a handful of naps longer than 45 minutes with assistance.

Nap Info:
Routine – Diaper change and two short books (appx 10 minutes).  4 S’s and then shh/pat in crib. Usually takes a total of 30-40 minutes to get him to sleep once start. 
Duration: Wakes up 30-45 minutes after put down
*I try to shh/pat in the crib, if he starts to cry too loud then I pick him up and try to calm him.  Once calm for 1-2 minutes in arms, I put him back down to shh/pat.  I put him on his side.  Sometimes I let him sleep on his side, other times I roll him onto his back.  The times he has slept the longest, he was on his side, (but more closely on his stomach, as our prop isn’t very high) and he is swaddled.  So that worries me and I try not to let him sleep that way. 

Oh yes, two of the three two hour naps he was asleep on his stomach (no swaddle), the other was asleep on stomach with swaddle (slightly propped on side with blanket, not complete stomach).

I have no issues having him sleep on his stomach.  Both husband and I are stomach sleepers.  He has amazing head control and strength. 

Bedtime Info:
Routine:
Jan 17-Jan 24 – Bath at 6:15. Lotion and then nursed.  Usually asleep by 7.  Sometimes would nurse to sleep.  Usually would nurse, be drowsy, and then I’d lay him in crib and shh/pat.
Jan 25 – now – Nurse 6:30, bath 7. Then 4S.  Usually can be asleep by 7:30-7:45.

I changed the order because I didn’t want him to become dependent on nursing to sleep. 

I dreamfeed him around 10:00 – 10:30.  Sometimes he wakes and so I feed him awake.  Then he wakes up at 12:30-1 (husband shh/pats).  Wakes again between 2:00-3:00, feed him.  Wakes every 45 min to an hour after that until I feed him around 6:45-7. 

Husband and I are exhausted.

Issues I need help with:
How to extend his short cat naps.
Almost hourly NWs.
Have a very OT baby currently, how do I get him to get more sleep and break this cycle.  (I think he’s OT because of the above issues, but don’t know how to fix).

Today’s EAS (so far):
E – 6:45 a
A – 6:45 – 7:40
S – Began NT routine at 7:30, asleep 8:05-8:30.
-Tried to get back to sleep until 9:45 (cried a lot).
E – 9:45
A – 9:45-10:40
S – Began NT routine at 10:40.  Asleep by 11.  Husband put him down (didn’t do naptime routine…).
**We’ll see how long he sleeps.

Offline Sarah - Enfys' Mum

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Re: 12 week old short naps and frequent NWs
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2014, 19:14:31 pm »
Hello, and welcome. I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice. The first few weeks are so hard but it does get better. I would say a couple of things. First, I swaddled both my girls till six months and three months and they were side sleepers.  They never ever settled on their backs either.  But it's not safe to swaddle and put a baby down on their tummy. In fact official advice is that babies should always sleep on their backs.  I had to decide whether I would accept the risks of putting them down on their sides and you will have to do the same. Secondly, at this age, I would accept that some naps might have to be in the car, stroller, etc - to avoid over tiredness. And finally, looking at your nap time routine, I think it might be too long.  I don't know about your sons temperament but both mine found a nappy change very exciting and I wouldn't do it immediately before a nap!
« Last Edit: February 02, 2014, 19:40:17 pm by Sarah - Enfys' Mum »





Offline jnjurgy6

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Re: 12 week old short naps and frequent NWs
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2014, 21:47:04 pm »
what do you use to help position baby to side sleep?  I think he would would prefer to side sleep with swaddle or stomach sleep without swaddle, however, I think he needs to be swaddled. 

Also, I will stop changing his diaper as part of his naptime routine.  Thanks for that suggestion. 

Any help with NWs?

Offline Sarah - Enfys' Mum

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Re: 12 week old short naps and frequent NWs
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2014, 23:19:49 pm »
I used a tightly rolled up towel or blanket.  Do you think he still mises his paci? I just re read the part where you said you only weaned it three days ago. No experience here with paci weaning, maybe he's not yet learned to go from one sleep cycle to the next without it and you just need to keep going for a couple more days?





Offline TB9

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Re: 12 week old short naps and frequent NWs
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2014, 02:29:58 am »
I think it may just take some time and perserverence on your part to get better sleep  :-\  He went from sleeping on you for naps and in a rock and play at night with a paci, to in crib without paci...so there is a lot that he needs to adjust to.  Also, if hewas feeding every 2-2.5hrs during the day and is now feeding on a 3hr schedule, he will need time to adjust to that as well.

I think I would keep having your dh settle him if he wakes at night before the 3hr mark since the last feed.  But if it has been 3hrs since his last feed at night, go ahead and feed him.  So if dreamfeed is at 10pm, if he wakes at 1am then feed.  It could be that those wakings every 45min-1hr are because he is used to eating more frequently during the day   :-\

You are doing a great job, I think you just need to give him time to adjust :)