SUPPORT THREAD FOR TODDLERS SENSITIVE TO SLEEP

[Sima]

This thread is for little ones that are very sensitive to sleep and get OT easily.
It seems that those with little ones know how hard it can be to deal with sensitive bubs.  So thought that we could use this thread to support one another.   

[jcsmom]

I'm in! I just cannot figure out ever if my DS is OT or UT. Like today for example, he slept from 7:30-7am and a 1.5 hour nap. Bedtime at 7:30 he was acting super tired but played/ cranked for a ages. He just fell asleep and it is after 8pm. So UT or OT?My guess it UT since he had more than average sleep (for him this is tons of sleep!) but I always second guess. So frustrating. He is the type that never does the same thing 2 days in a row, for his whole life. One day 5 hour A can make him sleep 2.5 hours and the other 1 hour 15. A total mystery! But I am glad that you started this thread. Perhaps it should be called, Loony Mommies Unite, seeing as my DS sleep makes me crazy!

[lesorl]

Im right there with you girls- and I agree with jcsmom... Loony Mommies Unite!

[RACHPEM]

Count me in too!

[Sima]

Jscmom! 
I have exact same problem with my lo.  If she sleeps more nap..then she is UT.  Next day, wake up early...cycle over and over.  However, one thing I noticed is that if she takes more 1 hour nap--especially 2----she sleeps less at night.  I decided that 1 hour nap is better than EW.  I love to sleep in the morning at least till 6. 
Anyways, how is the go by clock working?? I am anxious to see how it works.  I did for sometime..but gave up because NW, EW, crankiness..couldn't take it..but I have to say that moving her forward did work for daylight savings at that time. 
Anyways< my plan is to stick to 1 hour nap and 5.5 awake time after nap...see what happens.

My problem is that I am always trying to compensate lack of sleep.  If she wakes up early, I put her to nap early, then if she wakes up at 12.30 from nap..bedtime early..then wake up early.  Should I stick to one time for nap and work from there.  Also, problem is that she takes short naps of 45 min then I put her to bed earlier by 15 min.  Lets say, if she wakes up at 5.30 and I put her down at 12.30, she might take 45 min nap.  If I set bedtime at 7.30, then she will wake up 5.30 the next day..short nap..etc. 
What do you girls think about about having set nap time but depending on length of nap, set bedtime time accordingly so that lo is not that OT?

[LisaM]

I need to join too, dd seems to hate sleeping - never admits to being tired and probably constantly is!

[Sima]

oh my....need to vent.......I set naptime at 12.30 and her napping has gone downhill!!!!!   

Yesterday
Woke up 5.45
Nap 12.30-1.30  in the car--travelling
Bedtime 7

Woke up  7  had one NW
Nap 12.30-1.15 and rocked her back to sleep to 2

I am constantly frustrated at her sleep pattern......I just don't get it..how she can constanstly be in state of OT.  If more than 6 hours in am, then OT but will take longer nap at times.  If under 6 hours, then 1 hour nap.  Oh my goodness..can't wait for this stuff to end!!!

[Mama2boys]

count me in you all.

[RACHPEM]

I was chatting to my niece yesterday who has a 16 month old and she sleep between 15-17 hours in a 24 hr period, can you believe that? Maya has never done that, my goodness all that sleep, how lovely!
We are off on holiday tommorow, so wishing you all a lovely christmas and new year, and we will catch up in the new year. love to you all, hope you get some sleep.!
Rachael and MAya xxx

[Mama2boys]

Rachael and Maya, have a lovely vacation and may the new year bring lots of long naps and happy night sleeps. (btw sorry for misspelling your name so often......)

[ericapt]

Oh my, this post could have my son's name in the title!  He is soooo sensitive and like so many others have said, he rarely has 2 days in a row that are alike!!!  We've been dealing w/ EWs for 1.5 months now and I'm sure it's related to the rest of the routine somehow, but how can I figure it out when things are constantly changing.  (If you can't tell, I don't adjust to change well either.)  I feel at times like I'm going crazy and I get so frustrated with his sleep issues.  How do some people do so well at just relaxing and going with the flow, while I feel like I'm walking on eggshells in order to keep him on a decent routine?!?  Any advice?
Erica~~

[Sima]

Ericapt-
You are not alone......feel exactly the same way..can't relax about it. 
The more I know..the less I relax too. 
My lo has opposite problem..she gets OT with changes.  I tell myself to relax about sleep..my dh tells me to relax...too:)

[LisaM]

I do find it hard to relax about it all as I feel bad that dd gets so little sleep a lot of the time, however, it doesn't seem to bother her all that much...just mummy who gets worked up over it.  Anyway, I have definitely got better about letting it go lately.  I realised that whatever I do makes absolutely no difference to her sleep so have tried to stop stressing when she has a really bad night etc and just get on with it.  Erica - She is the same as your lo, we hardly ever have a day the same - occasionally she will do something similiar for about 3 days/nights but then will do something really different again the next day so we can never assume she will wake at a certain time etc.

Anyway, hope you all have a peaceful, restful (!!) Christmas x

[jcsmom]

I see a common thread here. They all seem totally inconsistent with their sleep! Ever since my DS was a newborn, he has never done something more than 2-3 days in a row. Then I think I have him all figured out and he switches it up on me. I am totally a person who like a schedule and things to be predictable day to day so I have really struggled accepting that my DS just is not this way and probably never will be when it comes to sleep. Anyone else like me?

[ericapt]

jcsmom and everyone else--  Yes, I am TOTALLY the same way!  I am having such a hard time relaxing and just enjoying my LO.  Yesterday I felt like a was going to have a serious meltdown and when DH came home from work we had a long talk about how I was feeling.  It really helped.  One thing he suggested is that I find a group to meet with (a lot of times I feel so isolated from the world because I plan my life around Hayden's naps).  Yesterday was the first time that I really realized that I am in DESPERATE need of some company/adult conversation on a more regular basis.  After that long talk with DH I decided to sit down and try to figure out if there was any relationship with LOs good days and bad days and when he went to sleep, how much napping he did that day and how much night sleep he got (I keep a sleep log every day with nap times, bed time and any NW's etc.).  After looking at this I found that maybe it isn't quite as bad as it has seemed to me.  LO can still have a good day (get enough sleep) on EW days, I just have to try really had to be flexible and adjust our day accordingly.  My conclusion was Bad Naps = Bad Nights (duh!), but about 2.5 hours of naps = Good Nights!  So, my new goal is to try to go with the flow and adjust our routine as much as I can to make sure LO gets about 2.5 hours of naps.  Hopefully he sticks with this requirement for at least a while so I can have some success and not feel like a failure.  My advice to everyone is to try to get together with friends/groups maybe 1-2 days a week (or whatever amount suits you) to help maintain your sanity and also take a look at your LOs routine to see if a pattern can be found.  My LO averages 10.5-11.5 hours of sleep most nights with the occasional 9.5 hour night thrown in because of a long NW.  He gets about 2.5 hours of naps and his day is 13.5 hours long on average.  Hope this helps somebody and I am always looking for advice to help my LO and I.  Best wishes over this weekend and Happy Holidays to all!
Erica~~