LO wants 5pm bedtimes and no bedtime feed

[OJ30]

Hi all,

I really hope someone can help me.  My 15wk old LO has suddenly decided that his night-time sleep begins between 5 and 6 pm and is now waking at 5am ready to start the day.  He is a serial 45 min napper throughout the day but always took a 1 1/2-2 hour nap in the late afternoon.  We would then get him up for a bath and bedtime bottle, putting him down to sleep between 7 and 8 pm.  This was working really well.  Over the last 2 weeks he has refused to eat at bedtime beacuse he is too tired and just wants to go back to sleep for the night.  As a result he does not eat between 4.30pm and his df.  Not sure what to do next.  We have tried giving him his bottle immediately after he wakes but this is also being refused.  Is this just a phase?  The other problem is that because he now thinks 5pm is his bedtime he is waking so early and refuses to go back to sleep.  I am exhausted from such a long day that begins so early.  A friend of mine has a baby who does the same but at least he sleeps right through from 5-5.  We still have a df and a night feed to do!

I really hope someone has some advice.  I have also posted this on feeding board as the two problems are related.

Many thanks in advance.

A very tired Jo x

[*Natasha*]

Could you post your routine for us please?

[OJ30]

Here goes;

It's more EASASE than anything else because of his short naps.

5.30 Wake up
6.30 E
7.45 S in cot swaddled
8.30 A
9.15 S in cot swaddled
10.00 E
11.30 S in my arms
12.15 A
12.45 S in cot swaddled
13.30 E
15.00 S swaddled in cot
15.45 A including walk (he sometimes naps in pram)
17.00 E
18.15 S swaddled in cot
20.00 E (has to be woken gently by unswaddling him and leaving for 15 mins)
20.15 A Bathtime
20.30 Bedtime
22.30 Df

Hope this helps.  Over last 2 weeks he has often refused to feed at 8pm but has been happy to have his bath and massage.  He still goes down easily to sleep at bedtime.  He has also been a little harder to put to sleep at 6pm, very fussy and needs resettling 3 or 4 times before he goes to sleep properly.
He generally wakes sometime between 2 and 4am for a feed and takes 4-7 oz at this time.

Thank you for your help in advance.  Feel free to pull the routine apart!  I am trying but it has been very hard with my spirited lo!

Jo x

[elmarie]

I do think that you have an OT baby.  45min naps are not restorative so by bedtime is will be really OT.  It seems as if he is having 6 short naps a day?  I am exhausted for you just reading it LOL. 

You will have to start extending those naps to stop him being OT.  He should also be able to handle 2h A at his age.  Have you tried using PU/PD to extend naps.  I also think it is time to start moving him onto a 4h EASY... he needs 2 naps of  1 1/2h and a catnap of 40min.  Here is a sample routine for his age:

7am wake
9am  sleep (1.5-2h)
1pm sleep (1.5-2h)
Between 5-6 catnap of 40ish min to get through supper and bath time
7.30pm bed
11.00pm dreamfeed (until 7-8 months or when solid food is firmly established


Let us know if there is anymore q.

Elmarie x

[OJ30]

Many thanks for your reply and advice.  We did try to extend naps for ages but gave up trying when w2s and shush pat did nothing to help increase the time.  Haven't tried pu/pd yet because of his age (only need to wait a week now!) but also worried this may be too much because he is spirited.  Will try this in the next few weeks.

Had a look at 3.5 hour sample EASY on board and tried to follow this for 2 days now.  It seems to be doing the trick as he took a bedtime feed both nights and had a better sleep last night.  As a result so did we!  We will continue with this for a few more days to see if it lasts.  I'm not sure he is up to 4 hour EASY just yet and cannot manage 2 hours A just yet.  Sometimes 1.5 hours is all he can manage.

Thanks again.  Will keep you posted.

Jo x

[elmarie]

Jo you can use shh/pat-yes, sorry your Lo is a bit young for pu/pd.  Good luck and keep us posted

Elmarie X