We're STILL waking up...ugh!

[mari]

Yay, now, if you start to see a slight regression, dont worry, it can happen in the early days, but keep at it, things are definitely looking up.  Well done to all of you, lots of sleepyness is coming your way.

[MDHmommy]

Thanks! And thanks for the warning re: regression....I need that because in the past I have tended to just give up when things go back to they way they were. Thanks so much to you both!!

[MDHmommy]

Ok girls, what's up with this?

We had some great nights, with him waking but getting himself back off to sleep no problem, and then waking at 4:30 am for a PD and 5:30 for the day...bed time taking maybe 2 wi/wos tops...but then last night...

He went down at 6:45 b/c was showing v. tired cues, but woke at 11 (!!) for 2 wi/wos and was up for 30 mins. then woke at 2:30 for another 30 mins (just blabbing in room) then again at 4:30 for a PD and wi/wo, then 5:30 for a PD and then slept till 6:45 (latest maybe ever...)

Could this be the regression Stacy warned of? Or might there be something else going on? And what do you make of this 4:30am business? It's the same every night - just needs a PD and back to sleep for another hour. Should I W2S?

Kate

[MDHmommy]

Thanks Stacy,
Do you know what causes regression?
So the thing with W2S is to make sure that it's really a habit before trying to intervene, and that takes several weeks of observation?

[MDHmommy]

Ok, and it must be on-the-dot, not 4:30 2 nights, 4:45 the third, etc.?

[MDHmommy]

Hi there, I'm resurrecting this thread. I'm at a total loss.

So, we did Wi/Wo, and have been very consistent with it at bedtime and during NW's but, the NW's continue. Maybe 2-3/night. We've got recurrant ear infections and are getting tubes placed on Friday - so I've really got my fingers crossed that these little wakes are due to low-level discomfort caused by the ears, and possibly the molars (we've had 2 come in since I started this thread).

Here's my question: we had been having this 5:30 am wake up for the day thing going on for about a month, I'd say. DH and I would get DS and bring him in bed with us to hang out, drink his bottle, and just play quietly while we got our wits about us for the day. Since DS would stay in bed with us for almost a full hour, we thought that maybe he was still tired (he would spend a lot of that time just snuggling quietly, but not sleeping) and could use the extra hour or so of real sleep.

So we did W2S at 5:00. It worked like a charm, and in fact, I had to wake DS at 7 the first day so that we could go to daycare. Then the second day, did W2S at 5, he woke at 6:45...then 6:30...then started waking on his own at 4...then w2s at 5 then wake at 6:15. You get the picture. We're back to 5:30 again here - but now have a 4am wake up/resettle.

?

[Katet]

I had recurrent ear problems at 6/7yo & ended up with tubes.. before I had them I used to go to my parents bed regularly as I couldn't sleep/woke up with pain... after I got them I never did it again... to my parents it was like magic. I think if he does have ear problems you really have to consider that (with teething) as a cause of the wakings continuing.

[MDHmommy]

Thank you both. You're right about the ears. It's not that bad really, he's pretty happy most of the time, I do think he's pretty well rested. I'll hang in there and see what happens after the surgery on Friday. Evenyone I've talked with makes it sound like the tubes are some kind of miricle cure I'll be so disappointed if they're not 

[MDHmommy]

Hi there, I'm back...

Update:

Tubes were put in about 1.5 months ago, no more ear infections. Was sleeping great - STN maybe 3nights/week and the other nights were just quick wakes for PD and maybe water or Paci...

Then we got a nasty cold (we being all three of us...) and there were LOTS of NWs and it was bad for maybe 1.5 weeks, bad nights, bad naps, bad meals, all of it bad. But, we're all well again and sleep is going very well. 1-2 NW's/night, each very quick for the effing paci  Last night he even STN.

Here's my 2 Qs...
1) Obviously, it's becoming v. clear to me that the paci is a problem, and has been probably since birth...ugh. What do I do? How do I get rid of it? I've waited now for so long that it is def. going to be a problem. He asks for it, wants it, loves it, he even goes all the way upstairs to get the damn thing.
2) We still get a pretty early am wake - usually between 5 and 5:30. I've been handling this as follows: wait for real cry, go into nursery and talk to calm him down (because he's ususally ED) I say, shhhhhh, it's still the middle of the night sweetie, let's go back to bed...eventually, I get him to take the paci from me (I hand it to him) and he'll settle down enough for me to pat the pillow and say, there you go, let's lie down, it's still the middle of the night...he'll lie down and I'll rub his back for a minute or so and then i'll say, ok, mommy's going to go back to her bed now, shhhh, i'll stay a couple more seconds, keep rubbing and then say night night.

he'll ususally sleep then for another hour. At which point one of us will go get him with big morning fanfare ... sing goodmornig to you, etc...

I think I'm handling the night wakes pretty well, but the paci is kind of an integral part of it...

Suggestions?

[MDHmommy]

Ugh.

Seriously, I don't know what it is about this that just scares the crap out of me. Deep down, I really think that ditching it is the right thing...but it gives him SO much comfort and at this point, it's developed into a lovie...And he has STN 2 nights in a row, with the paci (well, actually with about 10 pacis) I'm so CONFLICTED.

I need to get a life..............................................

[MDHmommy]

You are right, I know....

He has, however, STN 3 consecutive nights (a first since, um, JULY) and I think it might be b/c I have dumped 10 pacis in crib.

Will give it a bit more time. If it becomes a problem again, I will wean it.

I'm a total wuss.