EASY All over the place Help!!

[juliec]

Not sure where to begin!

Have been on easy since 8 weeks my main aim to teach my lo to sleep independently as never really achieved with with dd1. Started very well although still have never achieved long naps and we tend to have 45mins (arhh!) unless out and about, but have been able to get my lo to settle and at night she will go to sleep from awake on her own (hurrah)!!

She is now 17 weeks and I feel we are going off track, i have a 2yo so I cannot plan my day around ensuring my dd2 is in bed for all her naps which does not help but I try to put her down for at least one of them in bed. We are on a 3 - 3.5 Easy but I feel I am struggling to read her cues, her activity time has extended now so I look to put her down for a nap after 1.45mins the first nap is not a problem. But after this things go to pot especially with 45 mins naps, I also find she will not always settle despite looking v tired ironically she doesn't yawn or rub her eyes just starts to fuss and grizzle (which is probably too late!). Shpat does not always work which it used to and I am worried about trying pupd! So sometimes I cannot even get her to nap! and end up confused if she is tired or not?

She has slept really well at night since she was 10 weeks old and will sttn without a df, I have found though she is stirring more at night especially if she gets out of the swaddle. I kinda feel she is now dependent on the swaddle to sleep which is a worry as at what point do i try to wean her? Initially she would go to bed and I wouldn't hear a peep from her but now she cries out a number of times and struggles to settle herself I go in and shpat her as she often isn't awake but grumbling in her sleep.

I feel I am stuck at a 3 hour Easy and am trying to extend to 3.5, she seems quite happy with feeding at these times, today she fed at 6 (which is v unusual but went back to sleep till 8.30) 9, 12.30, 4 & 7 and she doesn't df. I am conscious she maybe ready feedwise to go to 4 hours but my health visitor said she needed the calories of 5 feeds (she is bf) and also cause naps are all over the show getting a pattern is a nightmare at the moment!! Not every day is a 12 hour day so if she has slept longer I am trying to squeeze in 5 feeds to less time. I know I should wake her up but some days it isn't possible as I am dealing with dd1.

Everything feels all over the place help!

[*Becky*]

This could be written by me - so similar. My DS is 18 weeks on Wednesday and we have the same problems. I am struggling to get on a EASY that works as each day varies and I have noticed he is more unsettled at night and also like yours will sleep well for the first nap but then we also have the 45 minute naps and I think he ends up a little OT by bedtime. Can't offer any advice unfortunately but I am with you!
Becky

[* Paula *]

Hugs, I am sorry you are going through such a rough time.

Can you post what your day currently looks like so that we can try and help you tweak your routine?

E
A - how long
S - how long

We always found that the first nap of the day was always the best nap.  This nap is an extension of their night time sleep, so they do go down quite well for this nap.

One thing to remember is that the first A time of the day is generally the shortest, so if you are doing 1 hour 45 mins first thing in the morning, your lo may be ready to go to 2 hours for the second A time.

45 minute naps is a sure sign that your lo needs a longer A time, so it might be worth increasing it a bit to see if you get a better nap.

I understand your concern about going onto the 4 hour EASY, but if your lo is ready to do it, she may acutally end up taking bigger feeds throughout the day.  Also if you wanted to sneak an extra feed in there, you could always cluster feed the last two feeds of the day to try and get extra calories into your lo.  Just a thought.

[juliec]

Everyday varies slightly, today looked like this

E 8.15
A
S DD1 had swimming lesson so DD2 fell asleep in car on route at 10 but woke at 10.25 at Creche
A
E 11.15 (had an expressed bottle but only took 3oz as so tired!!)
S 11.30 - 12.10
A(tried to put back down again at 1ish but would not have any of it)
E 1.30 (Didn't want to leave till 2.15 as didn't have earlier full feed and had also cried lots when trying to put to sleep)
A
S 3-4
E 4.30
A
S (None will not catnap during this time!!)
A 6.30 Bath
E 7 and bed by 7.25

So in effect only had 1 hour 40mins sleep all day! Although got up at 8.15 so had extra sleep then?! Probably should have tried her again earlier than 3 for a sleep but she didn't really show any cues.
Not really sure how to tweak as we are also driven by DD1 activities like swimming, every day we are out of the house by 9.30-10ish (apart from weds/thurs). I also do not wake her at the same time everyday I tend to let her wake up naturally which is generally between 7-8.30 I wouldn not let her go later than this.

I am thinking of going to 4 hour now she is able to stay awake longer and only focusing on having 3 naps maybe easier? Then cluster feeding 3, 5 & 7?

She has stirred a couple of times this evening but that has been cause her arm came out of the swaddle!!