New to boards and method

[jmaef]

I am new to the board and new to this method, still waiting on book from library.  Having sleep issues with my 4 month old (just turned 4 months).  One, want to know how many and how long of naps she should be taking.  Two, how many of nighttime sleep hours should I be aiming for realisticly for her to get the amount of sleep she needs total for the day and what is that?  I just can't seem to find consistent info. And am frutrated trying to find the exact info I am looking for on this site.

Also don't have a clue where to start with our nightime sleep issue of sleeping one streach of sleep any where from 3-4 hours and then wakes every 1h 45min to 2 hours  Can usually get her back to sleep with either breastfeeding (me) or passifier (dad) in 5-30 min.  She has started to nap better for me, but not consistently.

I try to keep her on a routine, but not sure if routine is good or not.  Pertinant info might be that I do breastfeed on demand, work part time four mornings a week ( so we are up and getting ready for day between 6:30 and 6:45 am) - she is in my work daycare at that time.  Also we battle chronic congestion (tring all the tricks for that) and I think may be teething too.

Routine:
Up beteen 6:30 and 6:45 AM (Sometimes as late as 7:30 on days I don't work)
   (change diaper and into clothes wash face - then nurse)
Leave for daycare 7:30 am (usually falls asleep in car and wakes again upon arriving at day care - 30-40 minute drive)
Plays at daycare (Timing at daycare varies quite a bit sometimes)
    Bottle usually around 9:00 am and usually falls asleep between 9:30 and 9:15 for varring lenght of time usualy 45 min to 1.5 hours)
    Plays after waking from nap
    Bottle anywhere from 12- 1:15 depending on when she gets hungry
    Second nap at daycare some days - time and length really vary.
Pick up from day care at 1:45 and head home - by 2:30 usually - sometimes falls asleep in carseat if happens let nap in carseat - in my sight of course - for a while.  Some days have appointments or errands that won't wait so am not home as early.
Play time when get home or wakes up which ever is first.
Nurses anywhere from 2:30 to 3:45 depending on when got last bottle and anywhere from 2-3 hours after this time.
cat nap around 4:30 or 5:00 pm for anywhere from 30 min to 1 hour.
Quiet playtime with Mom or Dad - sometimes sits in swing and watches us make dinner
Bottle from dad around 6:00 or 6:30
Bath and quiet play/snuggle time and wind down for bed between 6:45 and 7:00.
Try to start putting down for bed between 7:00 and 8:00 pm (not always sucessful and this is a relatively new bedtime for us - earlier than before by about an hour.)

Fridays and Saturdays are a bit different as we are not in daycare and we are home all day together - I do try to stick to the daycare schedule as much as possible on these days but am not very successful I am finding.  The Friday and Saturday issue is not feeding so much as we are still on demand and have not started solids yet, but probably cereal in the near future, but the issue on these days is getting her to take a nap, she wants to be with mommy and/or daddy if it is Saturday.  Sunday mornings are different as we are at church.

Thanks for any help in getting us headed to better sleep.  And sorry if some of this should have been posted elsewhere.

J

[em_here]

Hi there! i am sure a moderator will move this to the appropriate board. Sorry things are so rough, I am sure you will have some wonderful advice from the ladies on here.

Welcome to the boards 

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

HI and welcome!  With routine issues, the EASY board might be the most help for you.
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?board=41.0

At 4 months, most babies are still on 3 naps, I think....I can't quite remember though - that info would be on the sleep board under naps.
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?board=30.0

You generally want to aim for a 12 hr stretch overnight between bedtime and wake time - so if wake time tends to be around 7 am give or take, bedtime should be about 12 hrs early, so around 7pm.

Consistency is the big key - you want your baby (and you!) to know what to expect around what time.  You'll probably end up feeding her before she gets REALLY hungry and put her to sleep before she's REALLY tired, IYKWIM. If you can try to be consistent with how you settle for naps too, that can help.

You'll get there!  Good luck!

[Grace's Mom]

One, want to know how many and how long of naps she should be taking.  Two, how many of nighttime sleep hours should I be aiming for realistically for her to get the amount of sleep she needs total for the day and what is that?

1.  Naps:   At around four months babies are transition from 4 naps to 3 naps (moving from a 3 hour EASY to a 4 hour EASY) of ususally two 1.5-2 hour long naps and one cat nap of about 30-45 minutes.

Here is an average 4 hour EASY (however not all lo's are on a 4 hour EASY right at 4 months...as all lo's are different)

7am wake and feed
9-11 nap
11 wake and feed
1-3 nap
3pm wake and feed
5-5:30 nap
7 feed
7:30 asleep

2.  Night time sleep:   10-12 night time sleep hours (we try for a 12 hour day and a 12 hour night).

The great thing about EASY is that it's flexible and is molded to each individual babies needs. There is not one magic routine that will work for every baby.  The best thing to do is watch your baby for a few days and see what patterns come about, from there kind of piece together a unique routine for you and your baby. 

For routine info visit EASY.  At the top of the EASY thread is a link called FAQ's...click there for info in regards to routine.
For sleep info, visit our SLEEP boards.  Under each one of the subcategories you'll find specific FAQ's there too even info on how to teach your baby independent sleep. 

-Melissa

[daybyday]

just wanted to welcome you to the boards. Hope to see you around!..

~Marie