How to switch from 3 to 2 naps

[ericapt]

Michelle-
I know what you mean about the monitor.  I actually felt more stressed out listening to him because I didn't know what he was doing, but now that we have the video monitor I really feel like it helps me because I know he is safe and not hurting.  I definitely think WI/WO is the way to go with Hayden because picking him up just seems to make him more mad.  He has a little temper and becomes very irritated and upset with this.  Today started out really well.  I'll just post our routine so that you can see.

E  6:30 am  he woke and BF  (woo hoo!  He started stirring at 5 am on the dot, but didn't wake and then slept until 6:30)
A  7:45  solids (he did seem fussy at 7:30, but how could he be tired after 1 hour A time since he slept 8:10 pm-6:30 am)
S  started nap routine at 8:15 and he was almost asleep while I was reading, napped 8:45-9:45 (better)

E  10:30 am BF (I was able to hold him out for 4 hours this time, don't know if I should have since he usually nurses every 3.5)
A  11:45 am solids
S  started nap routine at 12:10 because he seemed to be getting tired, again he was almost asleep while I read to him, but napped 12:30-12:50.  He started coughing, so I'm not sure
    if the coughing woke him or if he woke and then started coughing.  Tried until 1:40 to get him back to sleep with no luck, but he actually wasn't acting tired

E  2 pm BF
A
S  it is now 3 pm and DH is doing nap routine with Hayden, but he doesn't seem tired or crabby today(?)

So, it seems like 2.25 hours A time before 1st nap worked better, but I guess it could be because he had a better nights sleep too.  I don't know how to tell which variables are helping and which are hurting our routine.  Also, the 1st afternoon nap was only 20 minutes, but like I said he seems happy today.  Is it possible that his internal clock is sort of out of wack which is causing the irregular naps?  I know that is probably a difficult question, but I have read alot about childrens sleep issues and it seems that this happens.  I just don't know why it started happening when we were on such a regular routine for so long.  Maybe I just didn't progress him (as far as naps and A time) as he got older so he got stuck(?)  I don't really know I'm just guessing.  Well, even though he has only taken 1 nap today I feel a little better because he is happier.  If you have any thoughts about today or can suggest other references/sources I am all ears.  I hope that your day is better than yesterday as well.  Did your LO sleep ok last night?  Is she doing better today?  I'll wait to hear from you soon.
thanks again,
Erica~~

[deckchariot]

oh Erica - that's a much better day!!  YAY!  Since he handled the 2.25 A time in the am, he might be able to handle a bit more later in the day (often that first A time is the shortest).  I'm guessing it was indeed the coughing that woke him.  Not much you can do about that - other than try some meds or that plug in vaporizer thing, and just waiting.  I'm so glad he's happier though!!!!  How did last night go?  I'm hoping he slept in a bit again for you.  I think if you can keep being consistent with that A time extension and wi/wo, you can indeed re-adjust his internal clock.  Some babies just get a bit out of whack and you can re-align them to where they used to be (in terms of starting their day), so I suspect once he's napping better, those EWs will fade away.

I think it's fine to extend him to 4 hrs - if he's not screaming for food, he's ok to wait a bit.  If he's hungry at 3.5, go ahead and feed him.  But if you can move him towards 4 hrs, that will certainly help with the napping routine!  It looks like you're seeing some definite improvement!!!!  Well done!!!!

oh, we are trying to merge this thread and your other thread on General Sleep - that way Lou and I are just posting together instead of trying to follow one thread and posting on another.  We'll let you know how that goes, but we'll both be there on the new thread!  You're doing great!!!

thanks for asking about Abby - she's doing just fine - she just got up, so I should go greet her smiling face

[ericapt]

Thanks again Michelle.  Lou told be that you were trying to merge the 2 threads, so I won't post too much now.  Just to answer your question.  Hayden took a 30-minute nap and a 1-hour nap yesterday, then went to bed at 7:45 (nearly fell asleep nursing) then woke at 4:45 am this morning.  I fed him at 5 because he seemed hungry and is still sick.  I put him down for a nap at 7:45 and he only slept 40 minutes.  I think I'm going to try to take him to the doctor today. He isn't crying hard, but he doesn't seem like himself and obviously he isn't sleeping well.  I'll let you know about today, but Lou suggested that I keep a sleep diary and from 6:30 am sunday to 6:30 am monday he got only 9.8 hours of sleep.  Then from 6:30 am monday to 6:30 am tuesday he got only 10.75 hours of sleep.  I know he isn't sleeping enough, but right now it feels hopeless.  There is no way to get him on a regular routine when he wakes/eats/sleeps at different times each day.  I can not figure out how his routine got so out of sinc because I didn't change anything.  He just suddenly stopped sleeping well.  Hopefully the pedi will have some advice.  I'll keep you updated.
Thanks, Erica

[deckchariot]

I'm sorry he's feeling so poorly - that will certainly not help his sleeping.  I've found that when Abby's sick, I kind of just have to ride it out and really wait on any long term solutions til she's feeling better.  Let me know what your ped says and in the meantime, do the best you can working off that 2.25 A time from yesterday.  It really will get better - it always gets better!!! 

[ericapt]

Well, the ped says it's just a cold and he didn't seem too concerned that Hayden's amount of daily sleep has dropped from almost 14 hours/day to 10.5 hours per day in the past few weeks.  When we got home from the doctor he had just fallen asleep in the carseat, so I put him to bed.  He slept 15 minutes, then seemed hungry so I nursed him and he fell asleep while I was nursing him.  Usually I would make him stay awake for at least a little while, but I decided to put him down considering he hasn't gotten much rest.  As soon as I put him in bed he woke up.  He isn't crying at the moment, but usually after a few minutes alone awake he starts.  I know his cold can affect things, but he was already doing this 2 weeks before he got the cold, so I don't think that's the main problem.  I'll just keep trying to get him to sleep; I am totally exhausted.
Erica

[deckchariot]

oh Erica.....I really am sorry it's not improving.  No doubt the cold is not the main problem - I just don't know that you'll see much progress while he's still sick.  And you need your rest too - lest we have sick mommy and sick bub - and that's no good for anyone!  Did the ped offer any advice for helping with the stuffiness and coughing? 

Talked with Lou, and the plan is to lock this thread and link it to the one over on General Sleep - so that's my plan and I will see you over there

[deckchariot]

For the continuation of this thread, please visit us at:  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=129725.0

TIA!