Desperate...need help re naps...

[stinkystonk]

I'm sorry if this has already been posted before but I'm in need of some help......

Our dd is 26 weeks old weighs 14lb 14onz roughly was sttn since she was 12 weeks, 7/7 and napping around 1hr40 first nap 2hrs second and then 45mins cat nap .....until she woke up on her 5th month and it all went pear shaped ...she started waking up in the nite, which we seem to have avoided for the last three weeks..JINX.....but naps are just ridiculous.

She is only taking anything from 15 to 30 mins and waking up talking or crying - its not consistant...Ive followed EASY since she was 3 weeks old and she has always been a sleepy baby until now.....Ive posted my routine on EASY forum but we are coming up blank....I'm afraid to do anything, even going out as she has also stopped sleeping in the car....any suggestions..i have RSI from sh/pt which used to work but now once i stop tapping she wakes up!!!.....very rarely does she stay there any longer than a max of 10mins once i finish.

For ref she was breast fed until 8 weeks old, solids introduced at 6months, slept in a moses basket until she gradually went into her cot at 5 months and today has looked like this..

woke at 515 tried a feed at 530 for the first time since she sttn took 5 onz straight back to bed slept from 550 till 710...
E 715 bottle feed
A 740
went down at 810, babbled to sleep showing tiered signs rubbing eyes etc....
S 830
A 855
E 900 Solids..only took 6 spoonfuls
down rubbing eyes and grizzle 930
Sh/pt from 945 until 1045 woke everytime i stopped tapping....didn't stop until after around 20mins...tried two times but was awake and looking very tiered...

A 1050
E 1100 just milk 7 onz
down by 1215
S 1230
Woke at 1255
A 1300
E 1430 - tried solids....grizzled and spat out so tried bottle which she is taking.

Have no idea what to do and feeling really stressed.....if anyone has any ideas please pass them my way...

Much appreciated!!

[emmas]

She's almost 6 months yes?  Her A time is very low - am I reading right you put her down after being up 1 hour?  The average for 5.5 months is coming up for 2 hours.  Sounds like you maybe trying to get her to sleep when she isn't actually tired, but also she is OT through poor naps.

Their cues get quite hard to read around that age - rubbing eyes and yawning can actualy be boredom not tiredness.  Have you looked at the sample routines for lo's of the same age?

[stinkystonk]

First off thanks for the responces and the hugs ....much needed...feel like I'm loosing it and cant see the wood for the trees!!!   Its good to get other perspectives on the situation

It has felt like we have totally lost control with the whole routine and whats scary is that it happend so fast and without either of us actually noticing until it is too late!!    I have to say i agree with the short A times.....I'm used to her cues being 1.rubbing head and ear, then 2. yawning and/or rubbing eyes.......if i think back she doesn't yawn so much any more......

Have looked at the sample routine and will try to keep her up 2hrs.....crazy but i have been so dedicated to the whole routine thingy and to ensuring she takes her naps and doesn't get OT that i have actually created this issue if you think about it...new mum thing i was trying to avoid!!!

will keep all posted and thank you again...Chris xx

[emmas]

You're doing fine!  Honestly you blink for one minute and they've changed their needs - I think it gets easier - when they are about 21 LOL!!!!

Good luck - it will probably take a couple of days to get some results.  Let us know how you get on and if you need any help.

Emma x

[brenda2]

hi chris
hope thing are getting better. just wanted to say i agree with emmas that at over 6 mo (this is what her ticker says) her A time should be slightly longer than 2 hours - even 2 hours 15 min.  so i would definitely stretch her first A time to close to this.  as emmas said bored can look a lot like tired and somtimes you have to help them to stretch it out.

if she doesn't do a long nap for your first one then fine to have the shorter a times to fit in more naps, but if she does do a long nap then repeat the same length of A time.

hard when they change so quick!!

here are some links:

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=128419.0

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64158.0

keep us posted

[stinkystonk]

Ok thought id post an update,

we actually had an hours nap yesterday!!!!!!  Did a very long and ott happy dance to celebrate with my hubby  - the quietest we have ever been which is rediculous as we live in a stone cottage which helps keep noise to a min!!!!  But when good naps go very wrong  you get desperate and even find myself lightly typing on the keyboard as if that will help!! 

Will post back later to let you know how we get on, thanks for advice 

Chris xx