Last night was better... first nap today after 2.5 hrs?

[choffmann]

My DD is 8.5 months old.. breastfed... may possibly be teething or even a cold.... We are very much in an OT cycle... sigh...

She got up today at 545am after being up every hour at night from 6pm-11pm with wakings to eat at 12:15am and 4:20 am (she usually only wakes once to eat).  This has been her schedule so far

545am - wake
615 - breastfeed
745 - solids (i ran late with the feeding)
8:20 put for Nap - took 20 minutes to settle (i ended up having to pat)
8:38- finally asleep - woke at 9:05am - i patted for 12 min - went back to sleep at 9:14am got up at 9:45am
945am - awake
10:15 Breastfeed


- Only took the two 30 min long naps with the long time to settle... she is already rubbing her eyes being up just a half hour.  I have no clue what time to put her for her nap.  Just curious if anyone has any suggestions...

Thanks!
Christy

[mauimommy]

Poor thing! Has she always had a hard time sleeping? If not maybe she is teething and is having very uncomfortable feelings in her mouth. I would try some oragel or the homeopathic teething tablets for babies and see if it helps. I remember watching my nephew when he was a baby many years ago and he was having trouble settling down for sleep because he was teething and after I gave him the teething tablets he crashed out due to the instant relief he felt. Maybe feel in her mouth and see if there are any new teeth coming up. Hope this helps!

Nancy

[lilac83]

With the horribly rough night, I would lay her down today whenever you see her rubbing her eyes. She has a lot of sleep to catch up on. I know she seems to have shorter A times than average, so maybe try keeping her A time to 2.5 hours unless she starts acting tired before that. Hugs, hang in there!

[DavidsMomma]

Hugs Christy, I would also think to be laying down at the first sign of tired.  Hope she catches up soon!

[choffmann]

Thanks!!

Nancy - she goes in spurts - sometimes it is no problem to get her to sleep and other times .. not so easy!  She is touchy and sensitive to OTness... I beleive she is teething or a cold (or both).. so i gave her motrin... 

Robin and Kris - she shows tired signs almost as soon as she wakes! She used to just yawn and i would put her down then. But then i realized later that stopped being a tired sign... then i found out rubbing eyes was her signal until recently... now that doesnt always mean she is ready! LOL  She rubs her eyes and yawns even on a good sleep day/night after an hour of being up.  Now i have been waiting until she is fussy no matter what i do with her... give her new toys, put her in different places, etc... until that doesnt work then i put her to bed.

I put her to bed after 2.5 hrs.. she wouldnt settle so I patted her... she finally went to sleep at the 2.75 hr mark... so far its been about 20 minutes... no peep but we didnt get to the 30 min mark yet! LOL

Thanks again... i guess she will be going to bed at 5pm tonight! LOL.... i can never get her to take a 3rd nap...

Christy

[choffmann]

ok so second nap i put her down at 2.5 hrs... took 15 minutes to put her to sleep - she cried for ten minutes i patted for 5 (her mantra cry at first)... thirty minutes later... up ... so i patted her for 12 minutes - then she slept for 4 minutes more. 

Its only 1ish and her bedtime is usually 6pm but she got up at 545am and even if i put her to bed at 5pm ..there is still 4 hrs A time... She never ever takes a third nap.. so i dont know what to do.. Its really really windy or i would take her for walk but i may do that anyway and use the plastic sheet and blankets... its just i dunno if i will be able to breathe in the wind...

What time should i try to catnap her if I dont get to go for a walk? 3pm?  Sooner? what do you think? She is already rubbing eyes at 25 minutes after wake up!

Sigh... she is making me crazy! lol

Christy

[lilac83]

I would try a very short A time, like 2hrs. She's probably very OT from the bad night and now bad day. So, yeah, around 3pm. Good luck!

[choffmann]

thanks... 3pm didnt work.. its now 317 and i cant get her to sleep.. i am a mess... she is a mess.. thanks for trying

Christy

[lilac83]

If you can, take a 15 minute break and then try again. I would just AP her at this point. Swing, stroller, car seat, wear her, whatever works. I'm sorry you're having such a rough day

[monopod]

Christy, hi... and (((hugs))) I agree with Robin... AP, whatever it takes. A drive maybe?

What is your wind-down normally like?

Hang in there!

[choffmann]

nothing is working... too windy for a walk, my dh has the car.. i dont have a swing anymore... i tried to nurse her to sleep.. didnt happen... tried to rock her in my arms, not working either... She is exhausted... which doesnt make things better at all...

and I am feeliing crappy...

Our winddown is - pull down shades, close curtain, put on white noise (hair dryer cd) and then grobag and then i sing a couple songs, then put down and "go to sleep" and walk out...

Thanks again...

Christy

[monopod]

Deep breath, Christy. This too shall pass! If she won't sleep, can you do a super-early bedtime?

If it makes you feel any better, in December Ethan went NINE hours without a nap. He finally crashed at 4pm for about 40mins. And we still made it through the night. You will too!

The reason I asked about wind-down was that Ethan needs a fairly long period of quiet time before we start his 'wind-down' proper. We lie in bed together and read books and talk, and when he finally gives me a definite sleepy sign, we do our wind-down (cuddle and songs, zip into sleepsack, lights out). Not sure what your A is like just before bed but is that worth a go?

[choffmann]

thanks.. i am sorry.. just exhausted ... and i know she is just so tired... but nothing i was doing was working... and i just needed some time without a fussy baby..but that wasnt happening. 

I did give her a very early bedtime - about 515pm... she fell asleep nursing so I put her to bed.  She cried for two minutes as she woke when i put her down but she has been quiet for 45 minutes so far...

Maybe i do need to do more quiet time before... she didnt like a long wind down before which is why it was short now...but maybe now with moving and all.. she can use more relaxing before bed....and at this point i would try anything! LOL

Thanks for listening and the advice!

Christy

[lilac83]

I am really crossing my fingers for you that she has a good night! You both need some rest. I agree with giving a longer wind down a try. Let us know if you need anymore support tomorrow!

[choffmann]

she had a horrible night... was up every hour until 11pm... then she cried for 45 minutes.. i was trying not to feed her (it was just a fussy cry).. but it was midnight at this point, and i couldnt take it anymore.. so i fed her... she slept until 540am.

I guess I will try to put her for her first nap after 2hrs A time??? 

Thanks for your help

Christy