45 min nap monster

[Pens Fan]

Hi Alexa,

Wanted to give it a week before I posted an update.   So 45 mins naps mostly seem to have sorted themselves out.  We are managaging around 2 hrs of A time now.  We are seeing two types of nap trends.  Morning naps LO still wakes up after 45 mins but settles himself in around 5 mins and we get around a 1.30 - 1.45 nap.  Afternoon naps LO tends to not wake after 45 mins and sleeps from 1.3 to 2 hrs.  However we are now seeing some change in behaviour at nighttime.  LO has been waking around 2am ish- He hit 4 months on Saturday so gave it the benefit of the doubt and fed him in case it was a growth spurt.  He was waking trying to find his thumb then crying out every 5 mins and would not settle.  He is also then waking around 5am or 5.30am sometimes he goes back to sleep within 5- 10 mins.  Other times thats him awake for the day.   Again trying to find his thumb.  He is still semi swaddled- 1 arm out.   Today we started our day at 6am.   I am not sure what to do - I have tried to leave him in the cot and let him self settle sometimes he does - but he is started to wake DD up and she is then tired and grumpy.  Any suggestions?

[~Alexa~]

NWs and EWs are no fun!! Sorry you are having them!

When he wakes up in the middle of the night does he cry or chat? Does he need you to fall back asleep? Do you always feed him?Does he take a full feed? When he wakes up early in the morning, what does he do?

Could you post your routine so I can take a look and help you out?

[Pens Fan]

Hi ya,

I have only fed him in the night in the last 7 days twice at 2am and twice at 5am (gave him the benefit of the doubt in case it was a growth spurt).   If I do feed him in the night which I try not to do unless he cries properly and gets upset and cries get louder and escalates I only offer 1 side - he is exclusively BF at the moment. 

So last night we had fun and games......  He woke at 4.08am ( he has woken at that time for 2 nights in a row) he does not properly cry - he cries out and more grumbles and groans.  He then lifts his legs up and finds his thumb - he is quiet while sucking his thumb for 2-3 mins then cries out again and so the cycle repeats.  He did not settle till 5.30.  I did not feed him, or try to help him go back to sleep.  I kept reswaddling him as he was wiggling out of it and in the end I left both his hands free.  I also gave him a muslin square around 5.15 as he seems to like to hold it in his free hand (not really comfortable with this in case it goes over his head while sleeping).  He then woke again at 6.30am and I fed him then.  Again not crying just grumling chatty and trying to find his thumb.   Here is the routine from yesterday - note this is not typical as we were at a charity picnic so his routine was thrown a little.

E 6am
A- 6- 8
S 8- 9.45 (I woke him to feed him before we went out)
E 9.45- 10.05
A 9.45 - 10.20 feeding getting him ready and in the car
S 10.20- 10.40 - he fell asleep in the car.  Woke when we got out of the car
A 10.40 - 12.20 in baby carrier while we did a charity toddler waddle with DD
S  12.20 - 1.05 asleep in carry cot
A 1.05 - 1.40 baby carrier
S 1.40 - 2.05 asleep in carry cot while we walked back to the car
E 2.00 - 2.15 ( he was fed in the car and only took half a feed)
S 2.30 - 4.30 car journey
E 4.30- 4.50 full feed
A 4.30 - 6.30 including bath, baby massage
E 6.30 - 7 - full feed
S 7.00
DF 10.30 full feed
NW 4.08 - 5.30
S 5.30 - 6.30
A 6.30

We are working on 4 hour EASY now as much as possible- I have to tweak it because DD has pre school and activities but try to stick to it as much as possible.

Thanks for your advice.... yawn... a sleepy mum :-)

[~Alexa~]

There is usually a GS at around 4 mo, so I'm wondering it this could be causing the NWs!!  I would offer him both breasts and see if he takes a full feed.  If he does, and goes back to sleep, then he was hungry and we need to tank him up during the day. 

The routine you posted is not very reliable b/c as you said, you were out and about, and things can be soo different!
Take a look here.  http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=66001.0

Have you thought about introducing a lovey?
Do you think the swaddle is still helping your lo? It sounds like he wants to find his thumb!

[Pens Fan]

Hi Alexa.

So a quick update on where we are now.  45 min nap monster has been well and truely bannished.  We are now seeing two lovely 1.30- to 2hr naps a day and a cat nap later in the day.  We are still having NW.  LO was going through a growth spurt was feeding at every opportunity.  I fed him for 5 nights and then he had a couple of nights back sttn.  But he is now back to waking once.  its at random times sometimes as early as 1.30 and sometimes as late as 5ish.  When he wakes he is hungry and takes a full feed - so both breasts.   When he wakes in the morning he is less hungry but still takes 1 and a bit breasts.  Do you have any suggestions on how to get him back to sttn?  He is 18 weeks now and is on 4 hr easy - starting at 7am and going to bed at 7.30 pm and a DF around 10.30pm.   

Thanks in advance Eliz

[~Alexa~]

Hi Eliz!
I'm happy things are going good with you and your lo!

Could you post your routine including your lo's feeding schedule so I can take a look and see if we can fit in one extra BF to avoid the NW?
Though, having one NW to feed when exclusively BF is very normal.

Hugs

[Pens Fan]

Hi ya here is the routine for today;

7.30 am Wake up
E 7.40 - 7.50
A - 7.30 - 9.30
S 9.30 - 11.40 (I woke him up)
E 11.40 - 11.50 (not really interested had one side)
A 11.40 - 1.20
E 1.20 - 1.30 (Topped him up as was showing signs of being hungry)
S 1.30 - 3.30 (I woke him up)
E 3.30 - 3.45 (both sides)
A 3.30 - 5.15
S 5.15 - 6 ( I woke him up)
A 6 - 7.15 - bathtime, and bedtime
E 7.11 - 7.23 both sides and then reoffered both sides as seemed still hungry

I will plan to DF around 10.30

Thanks in advance

[~Alexa~]

Your feeding schedule looks fine, just be careful with snacking! if your lo snacks during the day, that encourages the NWs b/c he doesn't take a full feed during the day every 2.5 hrs.  So, try to stick to 4 hr feeding schedule and see if that helps.  Now that your lo is going through a GS, you can try to clusterfeed him in the late afternoon.  So may be something like this:

E. 7.30 am
E. 11.30 am
E. 3.30 pm
E.5.30 pm (Clusterfeed just while going through a GS)
E. 7 pm

[Pens Fan]

Hi Alexa - last night he woke around 4ish and I ignored him- he did not cry just grumbled - he then woke at 6am and I fed him at 6.30am.  Today I have really tried to ensure that he takes good long full feeds.  Fingers crossed that we can get him back on track. 

Will try that cluster feed at 5.30 - will work it out with his cat nap as he is normally asleep at that time.

Thanks will let you know how it goes.

[~Alexa~]

Good luck!! Hope things get better soon! My lo is going through a GS too and he woke up every 2 hrs last night!  I hate GS!! haha

[Pens Fan]

urgh.... we had a bad day today- LO woke at 1.20am and I did not feed him - think he had a poorly tummy lots of wind - so gave him tummy massage.  Then he woke at 4.40 and I gave him one breast as he did not settle.

Slept thru till 7am and was not interested in food- snacked a couple of times at 9 and 11 but did not take a full feed till 3.30.  I am thinking he has not had that many calories today so expect a night waking again...

Ho hum we will get there....

[~Alexa~]

I'm sorry you had a bad night! Any reflux? Heartburn that could be causing the NWs, the snacking?

[Pens Fan]

last 2 days have been pretty good routine wise.. we are on the 4 hr EASY now with 2 good 2 hours naps.  The NW has stopped and LO is sleeping from 7.30pm to 5.30 am with a DF around 10.30.  He seems to wake for the day at 5.30 now - I have not fed him till 6.30am the last two mornings.  I don't think he has reflux as he has no issues lying on his back - but in the day he does spit up a lot- I am going to see HV on Monday and also have him weighted.  Any tips on how I can extend the 5.30 am wake up to 6.30 or 7? 

I put him down for his first nap around 9am.

Thanks
Eliz 

[~Alexa~]

Have you tried feeding him at 5.30 am to see if he goes back to sleep? It could be that he is hungry and that's why he is waking up.  Some babies (especially angel/textbook ones) don't cry immediately when they are hungry.  My lo did that....He would wake up at 5 am and stay awake in his crib until I got him.  I tried feeding him at 5 am, and he went right back to sleep and woke up for the day at 7 am.  I gave him another short feed at 7 am too so we started our day with E.  Also, I treated the 5 am feed as a night feed, so I didn't talk nor turn on any light! 
So, consider the option of hunger.............

[Pens Fan]

hi Alexa- I have been feeding him around 5.30 when he wakes up - I let him have one side and then top him up at 7ish.  He falls back asleep when he is feeding at around 5 but I don't think he is then eating as much in the day as he is not really that hungry.  I think we have created this circle of not enough calories in the day ad then topping them up in the night.... any suggestions on how I can break it.

Cheers
Eliz