I'm not sure where to post this

[nolejen]

My soon to be 11 month old had been doing great following BW. Now it seems to be falling apart. Bedtime still goes great though, he falls right asleep. The problem is that he is waking anywhere from 5 am-7am. He is not consistent with his wake time. He used to go from 7:30-6:30/7 every day. One day he will wake up at 5, the next it is 6:15, the next it is 5:45, it varies every morning. I do the PU/PD until 6:30 when I just get him up for the day.

Naps are the same way. He will fall asleep (for the most part) great. But some naps are 1 hour 45 min, other days they are 45 min, then it will be 1 hour 15 minutes. This is for both morning and afternoon naps. Although the afternoon nap usually only fluctuates from 45 min-1 hour 15 minutes. It isn't as crazy as the morning nap.

What can I do? Anything?

[rob1lu2]

Ah, Yes, the famous 2-1 switch. We've got a million of those! Welcome to the club, of which I am a former member!

Check out this link:

babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=95670.0

And then let us know what you think.

Lu

[nolejen]

I am a little confused by it still. I am guessing I should start by waking him from his morning nap after an hour? And putting him down for that morning nap 20-30 minutes later?

 

[rob1lu2]

OK, it depends on what's going on. I'll give you my example.

Thing One started the 2-1 switch around 10 months. She started waking up early - 5ish. Then I would put her down for her first nap, and she'd sleep great! 2 hours! But when it was time for the PM nap, it was a no go. So here's what I tried

I shortened her AM nap to 45 minutes thinking it would tire her enough for her PM nap. That worked for about 3 months.

Then she started switching it up again. She started refusing the PM nap. So by the time bedtime rolled around I had a SUPER cranky niblet who had woken up at 5 am and had only slept 45 minutes.

So I started pushing the AM nap further and further into the day. Knowing that she would only take one nap.

So for you, I would probably start to push the AM nap further into the day AND shorten it to one 45 minute sleep cycle. Try to make the 2nd A time of the day the longest. And make the last A time of the day the shortest. As short as 3 hours or even 2.5 is fine too. So, you take control of the AM nap by waking him and pushing it further. When y ou push the AM nap, do it in 5 minute increments every 3-5 days.

Does that make sense?

Lu

[nolejen]

Sorta. J isn't refusing any naps. He still takes both. They vary in length with the AM nap having the widest variation (anywhere from 45 min to an hour 40 minutes). The PM nap has stayed pretty consistent at 45-1 hour 15 minutes.
Do you think it would work even though he isn't refusing any naps (yet)?

[rob1lu2]

Yes. As it says in that link, the EWing are one of the signs of the switch. Just because he isn't refusing any doesn't mean that he isn't going through it. You just need to pick what you are going to do and stick with it.

Also, youdon't mention how long his A time is before bed. That should be the shortest A time of the day. If it's the longest or 2nd longest it can contribute to the early waking too.

Let me know!
Lu

[nolejen]

His A time between the PM nap and bed is about 3.5 hours. His longest A time is between AM nap and PM nap is about 4 hours.

I just realized by writing this to you, that it is his second longest A time. Because his A time between awake and AM nap is about 3-3.5 hours.

SHould I give him more A time between AM nap and PM nap? Maybe that will help.

[rob1lu2]

You need to start to extend his first A time of the day.

If you reread the link I sent you, your DS applies to #3, which is he takes two naps but wakes earlier and earlier. True?

So, what this means is that he needs more A time and less day sleep. This is why you shorten the AM nap. Since he's also an EW, you start to move that first nap by 20-30 minutes.

Once you do this, it may take at least a week for his body clock to adjust. Don't expect to see immediate results - especially with an Early Waker!

You may also find you have to juggle the A times, as he may start to get sleep sooner than previously. Just keep playing with it. It's an art not a science!

Let me know what youthink,

Lu

[nolejen]

It has pretty much all gone out the window.    We were out of town while I was at a conference and when we got home, J started to run a fever. I am still trying though, but he is sleeping all the time now. 

[rob1lu2]

Well, as Tracy says, when they are sick you have to throw everything out the window. He needs his sleep and needs to feel better. No one is any good when they are sick!

Just let us know when you pick back up again!

Lu