2-1 switch - OT crept in - now what?

[anna*]

So we were doing SO GREAT on one nap per day, for about two weeks, then on Sunday we were a bit late for a nap, then the nap was short, then the next morning was an EW - I'm confused though as I was AP'ing back to sleep for the naps so the total sleep wasn't that far off... then today

6.15 start (usually 7.15, 6.45 absolute earliest) - although this may have been due to a teething poo
11.45 nap (usually 12.30, brought forward due to the early start)
12.45 awake (1 hour total. Did PD for 20 mins then tried BF'ing back to sleep - he was having none of it)
Tried for an early night but had guests this afternoon and by the time they had gone... well, bedtime ended up being only about 20 mins early.

Trouble is, tomorrow I go back to work after the Xmas break and Stan goes back to nursery. I have no idea what to tell them about his naps. He usually naps less total hours but earlier (nursery is more stimulating than mummy). Nursery are really accommodating and will basically try to get him to nap whenever I say, but lunchtime is at 11.30. He can have a late lunch but not early, but the lunchroom is directly above the sleep room so if he's trying to sleep overlunchtime, there's going to be all sorts of noise and clattering from the room above, so I don't like his chances.

Man I'm so frustrated. We were doing SO GOOD on one nap, we were even going in to wake him after 2.5hrs... and now 3 days in a row of 1hr naps?? not good.

anna
x

[anna*]

    

My poor boy is so tired, and so worried about me leaving him. DH dropped him at nursery this morning (apparently he was clinging to him, crying - hard to go back after the Xmas holiday), and when I picked him up this evening he took one look at me and burst into tears, trying to crawl to me as fast as he could!!! I think he was just soooo tired (only managed 2 x 30 mins naps  ) and all the emotion just came out when he saw me. He was fine once he was in my arms.

Wake up was 6am today, so I had nursery give him a short nap in the morning - unfortunately, he only took a short nap in the afternoon too. 

Got him to bed for 6.45 (usual BT is 7.15), but there was a complete OT/SA meltdown. Furious screaming, throwing his lovey out the cot in a rage... It took 20 mins of WIWO for him to go to sleep. Our mornings have been getting earlier, and he's so OT I expect we'll be up before 6 tomorrow. Just upset that there's nothing I can do to help him out until the weekend, and feeling that general mummy guilt about leaving him at nursery when I had rather stay home with him.

Aw well. Rant over. Thanks for listening.

anna
x

[Ben's mom]

I am in the same position with my ds. I wish I has advise for you but I don't.  I can totally relate though.   My ds is 14 mo and he is in a horrible state of OT. He also goes to daycare but is in the 12-18 mo class and only give one long nap at 12:15.  We have had EW for what seems an eternity. Things have been Ok but this week has been something else.   He wakes 5:52 a.m.  This exact time started about 3 days ago and am thinking about wake to sleep.  But, that makes me really nervous.  But, when my lo is OT he too screams and wants to be carried everywhere.  Anything sets him off.  He doens't want to play or sleep just is upset.  Last night he cried for an hour before I could get him to sleep. He never does that.  He would cry when I left the room and stop when I did PD then cry again when I would move from the crib.  Finally, he went to sleep and of course at 5:52 he woke.  He hasn't been crying when he wakes but is sitting staight up in his crib seriously fighting going back to sleep.  It is a very viscious cycle and not sure how to get out.  I will certainly give 2 naps this weekend but those are normally short.  He is trying to transition and not going well. 

[anna*]

(((((hugs))))) to you, Ben's mom. It's SO HARD to see them so tired and upset, isn't it? My LO is a really light sleeper, so when I do W2S I generally don't go in and stir him - that will wake him too much. Instead I maybe open his bedroom door and close it again, or flush the loo (his bedroom is right next to the bathroom), so that the sound just makes him wake a tiny bit.

Fingers crossed both our boys figure this one out soon. I hate having to go to bed at 9.30 knowing I will be up before 6! It means we get no evening time to act like grown ups!!

anna
x

[Ben's mom]

I know.  It seriously feels like his sleep is ruling my life.  I never wanted to be like this but the consequences of an OT baby is not pretty.  At least not in our house. My ds is also a light sleeper.  Opening and closing the door may be all I need to do.  I hope so. The thought of waking him to much is an awful thought.  Sleep deprivation is a horrible thing.

[anna*]

I would definitely try W2S, it has worked for us in the past with early wakings.

I sent Stanley to nursery with a note (DH drops him off on Thursdays) reading 'Please, please help Stan to sleep more than 1.5hrs today. Otherwise he gets overtired, and sleeps badly at night, and so gets more and more overtired. EITHER a long nap at 12pm (1.5 hrs+, and a catnap at 4 if necessary) OR (if he can't last til midday) 30mins at 10.30 plus a longer nap at 2. He slept 10.30 til 11 and then 1hr 10mins in the afternoon. Not great, but better than yesterday which was 2 x 30 mins.

I got him into bed for 6.45, hoping he would be asleep by 7, but unfortunately it took him an hour to get to sleep. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that he will sleep a little later tomorrow. 7.45pm sleep and 5.45am wake up is NOT enough sleep.

How was your day today?

anna
x

[Ben's mom]

Well, he had a 2.10 nap which is fine but he fought kicking and screaming go to sleep.  I put him down easily but about 5 min later he was screaming.  It took 45 min to get him to sleep.  I put him down at 6:45 instead of our usual 7:00 because he seemed very tired and because of the night before.  But, after 5 min in his crib he screamed.  Finally, go him to sleep until 6:00 then just sat up and looked around until 7:00.  Very fussy this morning.  He was still sleepy.  I have no idea. How are things with you?

[anna*]

Hi Ben's mom. Sorry to hear you are still struggling. Stan has been at nursery this Weds/Thurs/Fri. Thankfully, today he actually got a bit more sleep.

It was a 6.15 start this morning (ugh), and that was after he didn't get to sleep til nearly 8 last night. So a very short night. bad news. But, at nursery he slept 10.30-11.15 (I asked them to keep the morning nap to 30 mins but whatever) and then 2.20-4. I'd prefer he slept one nap for longer but after a short night that's reasonable, and much better than the last two days. He was in bed before 7 and fought sleep a bit, but was asleep in 15 mins (it took an hour yesterday). I really, really, really hope that he's slowly working his way out of the OT cycle and we get a slightly later morning tomorrow.

anna
x

[Joanna123]

I'm having the same problem with my LO who is 15 month old. She is switching to the one nap but that's not enough sleep for her and she gets over tired in the morning and afternoon. I tried putting her down for a nap in the morning but she won't have any of it. I don't know what to do. And she is also waking up earlier in the morning and from reading some posts it seems that it's due to her being over tired. I hope this ends soon as I'm really stressed out.
Good luck to us all.

Joanna

[Ben's mom]

This weekend was so  much better.  We did 2 naps and I put him down after only 3 hours.  It seems short but he was really tired.  And I got 1 1/2 3 out of 4 naps.  Big improvemnt.

I never did wake to sleep but he kind of did it for me this morning.  He started coughing and coughing at 5:15 and he ended up sleeping until 6:20 a.m.  Then stayed and sat and looked around until 7:00. 

But, back to daycare and the one nap again.  He ends up so OT by dinner. 

Joanna-- sorry you are having a tough time.  I totally understand.  So frustrating.