think I need a routine tweak? restless NWs in 10 month old

[{{{Angela}}}]

Hi, I hope it's okay that I start a new thread.  My old one is getting a bit long and the issues have changed since I started that more than a month ago.  We've stopped feeding in the night, and she is no longer OT really.

She actually STTN on Tuesday so I will post our routine from that day. 

7:10am wake, eat, play
10:10am nap
11:10am I woke her, eat, play, etc.
2:30pm nap
4:00pm I woke her b/c Xavier had swimming, I'd normally let her sleep 2h
5:30pm dinner, play, bath
7:20pm in bed, asleep around 7:35?

On Wednesday (yesterday), I tried duplicating that routine.  We went to the mall after her 2nd nap and got home a bit late, everything was rushed, but she was in bed by 7:20pm.  It took over an hour to get her to sleep, sitting up, crying, sitting up, crying....finally fell asleep with patting her back.  She then woke from 12-12:45am and 4:30-6am.  She was restless during those periods; she would cry, settle with some back patting, be quiet for 10-15 minutes, then cry again.  We didn't go in right away, but waited until she was really crying.  I thought she might be OS from all the activity before bed.

So today I tried the same routine, only she napped from 2:15-4pm (I put her down at 2:15 every day and she takes 0-15 minutes to fall asleep).  Very low key evening.  Down for bed at 7:15, quiet for 20 minutes, then the whole sitting up, PD, crying business again, for an hour.  Finally had to pat her back but she was still crying and rolling about.

For a long time she had been OT and I reduced her final A time and it was much better.  Now I wonder if she needs more awake time during the day and a short (3h) final A time.

I don't think she is teething but I do give her homeopathic teething stuff before bed, just in case.  She is 10 months old, and sleeps independently for her naps, and 50/50 independently at bedtime.

Any ideas? TIA!

[enna77]

our routine is almost identical to yours and we're starting to get signs of needing a change so will be interested to see your responses

[{{{Angela}}}]

hi Enna!

[Bryony]

Hi there!

Do you want me to lock your old thread so that you can concentrate on this one?

There is a great link in Naps called "9/10 month sleep gone wonky" or something that you might want to check out!  I'd give you the link but I'm on holiday at the moment and can't access all my links.  I think you may be right that she's ready to increase her A time. Perhaps reduce the morning nap to 45 mins?

Bryony

[*Nicola*]

reduced her final A time and it was much better.  Now I wonder if she needs more awake time during the day and a short (3h) final A time.

That's what we do

Our A times are about 3.5, 3 hr 15 and 3

ETA: In fact, since having to change our routine for school our last A is sometimes 2.5 hours

[deb77]

We did that too.
A times were 3.15, 3.20 and 2.45 for along time.

[charmie]

Hello girls;)  I'm going to be following too.


xxx
charm

[{{{Angela}}}]

What kind of naps are/were you doing then Nicola and deb?  Nicola I think you said she has a long one in the morning and a short one in the afternoon?

Bryony, yes, please lock my other thread.

Today I will try extending her first A time by 5-10 minutes and shortening her nap by 10 minutes.  Let's see what that does.

Her night was not too bad last night, despite taking an hour to fall asleep.  She was asleep around 8:20pm, woke and settled quickly with a quick pat on the back around 10:30pm and I'm pretty sure she was awake at some point during the night, moaning and thrashing and maybe whining but she didn't need us.  Cried out at 5:20am, then quiet...cried out again at 6:30 then quiet ...I left her until 7ish, when I went to get her she was dozing.

She is starting to pull herself up if she can get the right leverage.  Now all we need is another milestone to mess everything up. 

[deb77]

Had a quick look through my diary from this age. ( ds is now 13 months)
Our day was pretty much like this give or take.
Awake 6.30
A time 3.15 mins
Sleep 9.45- 11.05 1hr 20mins
A time 3.hrs 15/20  mins
Sleep 2.20-3.25 1hr 5 mins
A time 3 hrs
Sleep 6.25

I'm pretty sure that at one point he was only going 2.45 til sleep but can't quite remember when.
this worked for us until he was nearly 12 months when he began ew and we started the journey towards one nap. We haven't made it . We are now down to a 20 min nap in the am and 1.5hr nap in the pm with only 2.45 a in between.

I hope that helps a little bit

[~Natalie~]

I was going to ask how your night was after the long hour to put her down, but you answered that.  It is great that she didn't need you all those times

I think extending the morning and afternoon A times is probably a good idea.  I usually leave the last A time alone at 3hours and just make the others longer.

[sherry lynn]

Just marking my spot, will come back later and read.

[{{{Angela}}}]

I'm having a bit of trouble extending her A time - she is just so tired and ready to sleep. 

So far, we are
7:10-10:20am A time
10:20-11:10am S
2:24pm asleep again, but was crying during wind down, she was soooo tired

I think I'll let her sleep until 4?  And then in bed by 7pm?  How does that sound?

[Bryony]

That sounds good to me! 

When extending A times, I am sure you know, but keep the last part of the A time as low key as you can so that she's nice and relaxed.

If after a few days this doesn't work and you think it's making things worse then we can review but I would give it a go for 3-5 days

HUGS!!

Bryony

[~Natalie~]

I think it is a good plan too  

[{{{Angela}}}]

Yup, I keep it REALLY low key...I let Xavier watch TV and I'm upstairs with Z for the last 20 minutes of A time, reading and snuggling and walking around with her while she's drinking her milk.

So far so good, into bed at 7:02pm and not a single peep out of her.   If she wakes up before I go to bed, I'll probably be back here ranting about it.