Nap Transition

[rob1lu2]

Hi Everyone!

Mods, I'm not sure whether to post here or Props or Pu/Pd, so please feel free to move it! 

My twin daughters have been sleeping in Amby Baby Hammocks. We have decided to transition to regular cribs. We figured we would do their naps first and then once they were comfortable in the cribs during the day, we would make the move permanent by having them sleep in cribs at night.

Things have not been going so well and I have some questions.

They are finally able to get to sleep within 10 minutes, but usually wake at the 20 or 30 minute mark. I give them a chance to resettle but I believe they are so upset at not being in their Ambys that they don't resettle. So here I go to extend the nap. Here's where I get caught up and need your help.

1) Tracey says if you are going to do pu/pd at this age to wait until they stand up and then just put them down. My girls don't stand on their own. What do I do?

2) In the Ambys, if they would wake early and I would have to soothe them, they could not see me. Now they can unless I am crouched on the floor with only my arm over the side of the crib. Granted that sucks, but should I not let them see me? Does it just distract them more? Also, when they are both crying (which of course they are) I have to kneel and put one hand in each crib to help each Thing. Is that right?

3) They usually slept 2-90 minute naps in their Ambys (Oh, those were the days). Now I'm getting wake-ups after 11 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes and 30 minutes (it also doesn't help that only one will wake up and then wake the other one). I know that's OT, so I'm trying to extend the naps but they end up crying for 45 minutes at which point they either fall asleep for another 11 or 15 or 20 minutes or nap time is over and I have to get them up. so they are short on sleep (obviously), Do I shorten their A times? Do I try to add another nap? I've been giving them earlier bedtimes.

4) What can I do to make their cribs more comfy? They are so vast and firm in comparison to the Ambys. At this age can they have a softer mattress (egg crate) or some blankets or pillows or something? Again, I think they are used to the cocoon feeling of the Amby.

5) Will it get better?

6) What should I do differently?

Thanks!

Lu

[deckchariot]

Lu - I'm sooooooo sorry.......I'm actually not sure what to suggest or where is the best place to post for this.....so let's see if others mods weigh in.....

A couple thoughts though - with pu/pd, I still do pu/pd with Abby, because she doesn't stand on her own yet.  I do wait for her to reach for me though, if she doesn't reach, I try to comfort her in the crib.  Do they seem to ramp up their crying when they see  you?  If so, then maybe try just the arm thing (we did that with Abby for a bit too).  Does the sound of your voice help?  I remember reading in BWSAYP that the sound of your voice can be comforting even more than physical touch sometimes.

Do they have lovies?  If not, I might see if you can't get them to be interested in a stuffed animal or something, and you can put that in their cribs with them.  Abby loves her Pink Bear and Edward the Cow, they're always waiting for her in her crib, and she hugs them while going to sleep.

If their wakings are fairly much at the same point during each nap, you could try w2s to help get them over the "OH NO I"M NOT IN MY AMBY" hump.

When Crabby Abby appears and refuses to nap, I do shorten her A times a bit - I will breastfeed, 30 min A, then solids, then 30 min of super low key A, then wind down and to bed for the next nap.  That seems to work for her.

No promises, but, yes, I do believe it will get better!!!!

[Aly Mac]

Hi LU,  sorry you've been having such a hard time with the transition.....they must have been real comfy in the ambys.  I'd say you need to treat it like any other prop.  Though I've had zip experience with these (no one I know here in Aus even use them).  I might put a post in the mod forum re: the ambys and see if others have any experience. So hang in there.

1) Tracey says if you are going to do pu/pd at this age to wait until they stand up and then just put them down. My girls don't stand on their own. What do I do?

YOu can pick them up, comfort them, then when they settle put them down again, but not sure if you really want to do that with both of them - not sure of the logistics.  I would also do what Michelle recs.  Try calming them in their crib.  Has pt/sh or a version of pat ever helped before?  If so do that, I still do it with L at times.  pat and rub the tummies.

2) In the Ambys, if they would wake early and I would have to soothe them, they could not see me. Now they can unless I am crouched on the floor with only my arm over the side of the crib. Granted that sucks, but should I not let them see me? Does it just distract them more? Also, when they are both crying (which of course they are) I have to kneel and put one hand in each crib to help each Thing. Is that right?

what happens when they see you?  At some point they are going to see you when you come in, maybe now is better than later?  try it and see what happens.

3) They usually slept 2-90 minute naps in their Ambys (Oh, those were the days). Now I'm getting wake-ups after 11 minutes, 20 minutes, 25 minutes and 30 minutes (it also doesn't help that only one will wake up and then wake the other one). I know that's OT, so I'm trying to extend the naps but they end up crying for 45 minutes at which point they either fall asleep for another 11 or 15 or 20 minutes or nap time is over and I have to get them up. so they are short on sleep (obviously), Do I shorten their A times? Do I try to add another nap? I've been giving them earlier bedtimes.

Are you waking them if they go into their next E time Lu?  If so, a good practice to do that, but if they are really ot, I would let them sleep at least 15mins in, just to tank up their sleep. They are 9months+ now aren't they? Def shorter A times if a shorter nap.  And another nap if a particulary bad day if they will take it, if not def early to bed (you may need the peace too...)

4) What can I do to make their cribs more comfy? They are so vast and firm in comparison to the Ambys. At this age can they have a softer mattress (egg crate) or some blankets or pillows or something? Again, I think they are used to the cocoon feeling of the Amby.

I'm with Michelle - loveys if they don't have them.

5) Will it get better?

It always gets better love.  Just sometimes it's hard to see through it all.

6) What should I do differently?

I don't know for sure, but do you think they may be confused, or at least regressing each day, by putting them back in their amby's at night?  It's a tough one, as they need hteir sleep at night, but maybe it's part of the problem.  I don't know much about twins either, but have you thought about putting them in together?  you prob have hey, but at some point they have to sleep alone...

I'm sorry I'm not much help Lu, but will see if we can rustle up some more minds on this for you.  It's the weekend, so we may not get too much action, but lets see.

[Bryony]

Lu - I don't have any experience with an Amby but Katie stayed in her moses basket much later than most (she's a petite little thing, and she liked it as it was all cosy). When we transitioned her to the cot I did the following:

- rolled up a blanket which I placed across the cot so that she could snuggle her head to it - just like she did snuggling up to the moses basket. She still has it now    and sleeps with her head up against it

- draped a sheet over the side of the cot so that if I crept in to extend naps she couldn't see me 

- stuffed rolled-up blankets down the sides of the cot so that it was nice and soft like the moses basket if she wiggled to the edge.

Now I suspect it's not quite the same issues that you face but I wondered if there might be similar approaches you could use to make the transition less of a big one for your two?

Bryony

[KellyC]

Hi Lu

Both my boys slept in Ambys (DS1 until he was 7 months and DS2 until he was 6 months).

With both I actually started at night time because they were easier to settle at bedtime than at naptime and didn't get 45 minute wake-ups etc.  After the first night in the cot they took all their naps in it too.  I do wonder whether Aleesa has a good point about the twins being confused by getting put back in the Ambys each night.

I'll tell you what I did with Nate as that was very recent and I can remember!  To begin with I put him in the cot on his back in a sleeping bag which I tucked under the matress at the end (so he couldn't roll and he felt more secure).  I also had a sheet and I laid one third of it under the matress, put it over the top of him and tucked it in the other side.  I then took 2 small rolled up cot blankets and used them to secure the sheet by wedging them down in between the matress and cot bars.  Basically I wanted him to feel as snug and comfortable as he could.  The first night I put him down he was virtually asleep but got upset when I put him down and he realised he was in the wrong place!  I found that turning him onto his side so he was facing away from me and rubbing his back in a way that jiggled him a little helped him to settle.  I soon realised that he preferred sleeping on his side or tummy so I took the sheet and blankets away and stopped tucking his sleeping bag in and now I actually put him down on his tummy at the start of each sleep because he's so much more likely to resettle from a short nap if he's on his tummy when he wakes.  I don't have a problem with putting him on his tummy because he can get there and back himself and is very strong.  I tried giving him a lovie but he wasn't interested and I always worry about him having things in there with him so I haven't pushed it.

With Zander I used PU/PD both in his hammock and in his cot.  With Nate I hadn't taken him out of the hammock when it came to resettle him so I decided not to pick him up out of his cot either.  It's up to you of course but I felt PU/PD was just too different, he wasn't used to being comforted by being picked up and cuddled.

Kelly x

[rob1lu2]

Hi All!

And thanks for the replies! Your suggestions were super helpful and things ARE getting better!

Here's the latest and greatest.

I did a version of what you recommended, Bryony. I placed rolled up blankies around their heads and tucked other blankies around them. I also placed them as far up and over as they could be, so that they were cozy on two sides.

When they have flipped out, I put my hand on Inez, which is what I have always done. And this soothes her. Sometimes she will grab my hand and hold it. I let her, as she is also sucking on her lovey. Sylvie will tolerate her head being rubbed, but only for a little while. After a bit she'll grab my hand and do one of three things: Laugh and try to put it in her mouth, Hold my hand or Fling my hand away.

The past two days they have slept their entire naps in their cribs. AND the best part (besides not having to help them through their crying for over an hour) is that once they wake up they are happy! Also a good part is that they aren't crying when I put them in there. YAY! 

I figured I'd give them a few more days and then transition to the cribs full time. It's so weird b/c *I* love those Ambys so much. Maybe more than them! It's weird to see them inthe cribs - they seem to little and the cribs so big.

Kelly, someone else from my BC had also suggested doing nights. My hesitation with that is that I am spoiled with having full night's sleeps! I didn't want to deal with potential NWings. But I'll have to face the music sometime!

Thank you so much!

       
Lu

[Bryony]

Sounds like you are doing great - I am really pleased! 

[lyndsy_p]

marking, as I am interested to see how it goes, but sadly I have no real advice!

[KellyC]

Great news    I love the hammocks too, I was so sad when I packed it away (both times!).

Kelly x

[Aly Mac]

So glad things are going well Lu!!!  They grow quick enough into those cots!

[deckchariot]

Lu I'm so glad you're having some success!!!  Keep us posted!!

[rob1lu2]

BREAK THROUGH!

So today was very good. They both slept 2 1/2 hour naps in their cribs this morning. Then Inez required another nap this afternoon, and took down 45 minutes in her crib.

THEN when I was putting Inez to sleep, what we have always done in the past is place them in their cribs, wrap them in their blankets, take them out of their crib and put them in their Ambys. Well, tonight I put her in the crib, handed her her Eeyore, started to wrap her and she turned to one side and snuggled in. So, I paused and pondered what to do? So I finished wrapping her and she was already doing her bed time chat, so I bent down and kissed her good night. And she was fine with it!

So we'll see how tonight goes. But if it all goes well I think I can pack Inez's Amby away!

Might try Sylvie in the next few days. 

Lu

[Aly Mac]

Such good news Lu!!!!!  Such great girls!

[deckchariot]

You go Inez!!!  whoo hoo!!!  So glad it's going better Lu - that is, of course, because you are AWESOME 

[rob1lu2]

I'm only awesome because they are awesome!

She did a great job. Slept the entire night through!

I think it's time to move Sylvie over, though don't know if DH will be down with it. We'll see, maybe tonight!