Did I do the right things tonight?

[monopod]

I am hoping that that was the main reason because we're still ok with no dummy And I'm glad that I took the decision to junk it before it became too much of a problem!

[*Nicola*]

Good move I think x

[debo620]

yeh! thats great Monopod.

Nicola, thanks for that link. I think the 2hr NW are a combination of a few things. not prop-as he is falling asleep independently most of the time (unless OT and I end up doing p/s)
perhaps a combination of chronic OT (very hard to break) but also he really does not have age appropriate awake times (due to the OT) and thus feeds are still at q3hrs (perhaps not hungry enough)

weird naps yesterday.
was asleep by 7:15pm,
woke at 9:15pm---I settled him with p/s by 9:45 (alot of crying)
woke at 11:40---fed him
woke at 4am fed one side only -back to sleep independently
woke at 5:15 with gas and settled quickly by 5:30
woke at 7

I am a bit afraid to push his awake times because I have my older son here and really I dont want to be having to spend the time helping him settle if he gets OT.

[*Nicola*]

Deb have you seen this link?  Sounds appropriate to your situation ...

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=53450.0

If you think it is time to push the A times but are worried about OT then doing it ONE A time at a time 5 minutes at a time is the best way.  Once you have stretched the first A time to where you want to be you can then begin to move the second A time, and so on kwim?  It can be a bit of a catch 22 situation trying to increase A's when you have an OT baby

Callie is an angel baby and stretched As easily but with touchy Ciara who was meltdown queen it was a bit tougher What worked a treat for us was to do usual A time, then the 'additional' A time in her room, walking around, lights dim, low low key activity.  Then as soon as I seen the 'get me to bed' signs I could go for it.  So no having to then relax her for windown, close curtains etc. 

I'm guessing you've posted on EASY about stretching those A times?

x

[debo620]

thanks Nicola, yes I have a thread on EASY which I have sort of let die because his naps were better. Actually his A times have increased over the last month but it is really trial and error.

[monopod]

Deb, regrettably I don't have any wisdom to add to Nicola's but I'll keep my fingers crossed for you all. I really hope things improve for you soon. I know how tiring those NWs can be

On my front, today has been a little odd. I would have thought that he would be more well-rested after his good night last night, but he was tired earlier than usual the whole of today instead

[debo620]

strangely, I find that happens to us too. I have read that if a baby is OT, the more rest they get the more signs of fatigue they show??

[monopod]

They don't make it easy do they  Ethan doesn't seem OT at the moment though... we're having fairly good naps (are there other obvious signs of OT apart from 30-45 min naps??) I guess it's that old chestnut about sleep begets sleep??

[*Nicola*]

Depends on the baby ... maybe being super fussy to settle for naps, repeated NW's particularly before midnight.

If he has been going down for naps earlier and the day ends a bit earlier than usual then just roll with it and be sure to get him to bed a bit earlier too.  Avoid OT, have a nice evening to yourself and start again tomorrow

[monopod]

That's what I did today Nicola  He was indeed fussy to settle at naps because I wasn't sure whether he was actually tired and probably kept him up longer than he should have been. He actually went back to a 3.5h EASY today, but thank goodness he slept well - he woke up at 7.20, we had 3 naps of 1h 35mins, 1h 20mins and 1h 45mins, I managed to keep his final A time to 1h 50mins and he settled fairly quickly and fairly independently tonight after a brief spell of crying - asleep by 7.20pm! I think this is the first time we've ever had a 12h day almost to the minute!

I am noticing that it is taking less time and less effort to settle him at bedtime - DH thinks that it was the dummy all along!

[*Nicola*]

Sounds wonderful

TBH I would suspect the dummy too, particularly if things are getting better all round.  Regardless, if it's gone now you won't have to worry about it weeks, months or years down the line

x

[monopod]

Yay! I feel really thankful that we nipped it in the bud!

Thanks for your support Nicola 

[*Nicola*]

Very welcome

[monopod]

ETHAN SLEPT THROUGH THE NIGHT LAST NIGHT 

[*Nicola*]

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done!