4.5 mo EASY/Nap Schedule

[kristen52607]

Hello! I wanted some tips/advice for my son's current schedule. A little back info: Diagnosed with reflux at 6 weeks old, which then turned into a milk protein allergy. We are still on a hypoallergenic formula (Alimentum) as well as Prevacid and he still spits up frequently but is gaining weight. Overall a happy baby and that's all I need! I also have a 2yo who has always been an angel baby and did anything without a fuss. This one.. not so much

We are on a modified 4-hour EASY due to his nap situation. He is also waking 1-2x a night but generally is only hungry at one of those times and the other I can usually get him back to sleep either by rocking or taking him in bed with us. I work full-time so I have to get my sleep somehow! Below is our general schedule.

E: 7/7:30 (5-6oz)
A: 7:30-9:15
S: 9:30-10:15

A:10:15-11:30
E: 11:30 (5-6oz)
S: 12:15-3:15 (I don't let him sleep over 3 hours but he probably would if I let him)

E: 3:15 (6oz)
A: 3:15-5:15
S: 5:15-6

Bedtime routine
7:00 Bath, Swaddle, Bottle
In bed by 7:30-7:45

Night wakings are very sporadic. He will sometimes go from 7:30-4:30/5 but other nights he will wake at 1:30 and then sleep until 7.

How does this look? This is a very loose schedule as his days vary by what's happening when he's with the sitter. 

I will add that he generally falls asleep on his own and will only every now and then need a little help. He also wakes up from his 45 min naps very happy and chatty. This schedule seems to be working other than the sporadic NT wakings.

[katie80]

Hi and welcome to BW!

I think the routine you've posted looks just fine. It's still very normal at this age to have 1-2 NWs. When you don't feed him, but just get him back to sleep does it take a long time or is he pretty quick to go? The only thing I'm thinking is that eventually that long 3hr nap may start to interfere with night sleep. You'd know this by a longer NW or possibly an EW. My DS1 did a similar routine and I think right around 4.5-5mo I started capping the long nap to 2.5hr, so that's something to think about. But otherwise, if it works for you, then go with it.

[kristen52607]

I can usually get him right back to sleep pretty quickly just by picking him up and rocking for a few minutes. The trouble is putting him back down and keeping him asleep. If I try to shh/pat it just makes him angrier. That's why he will end up in our bed because he goes right back to sleep when that happens. I've been tempted to set an alarm for 30 minutes so I can put him back in his crib but haven't tried it lol

However, If he's inconsolable, and doesn't quiet down when I pick him up, then I know he's waking because he's hungry. I feed him a bottle and he goes right back to sleep and I have no issues putting him back in his crib.

Last night he slept all the way through the night from 8:30-6:45! I was in shock. But of course my sitter texted me and said he fought his nap for a while and then was so overtired he only slept for 15 minutes. It's like if he has a great night sleep then all his naps go to h3ll.

[katie80]

Hmm, so maybe it is time to start thinking about cutting that middle nap back, if a good night means worse naps. You could do it by just 15min to start, either by pushing the A time before or just waking him earlier.

I can usually get him right back to sleep pretty quickly just by picking him up and rocking for a few minutes. The trouble is putting him back down and keeping him asleep. If I try to shh/pat it just makes him angrier. That's why he will end up in our bed because he goes right back to sleep when that happens. I've been tempted to set an alarm for 30 minutes so I can put him back in his crib but haven't tried it lol

This could either indicate a bit of UT, as he's not tired enough to keep sleeping when put down or just a prop issue (it's not uncommon to have trouble putting down after rocking in the MOTN at this age). When you say he gets angrier with shh/pat is that after you've rocked him? Have you tried to shh/pat right away instead of picking up and rocking?