I have a very sweet, generally happy, SUPER touchy almost 8 month old that I just can't ever quite figure out.
A little background-
*we started EASY at two months and have seen much progress, but have never had a reliable schedule. I'm sure that this is due to how I watch him like a hawk and have in the past gone mostly by his cues. This contributes to the difficulties that we are having now because his cues are no longer very reliable.
*I do split feeds with him because it has really helped with his reflux. The doctor suggested smaller meals as a step to try before medication and it has really helped.
*He is the youngest of four (thankfully very well behaved and not overly crazy) boys -so there is a lot going on in his environment.
*We are trying to FINALLY get rid of the catnap.
*He generally is an independent sleeper and goes down most of the times on his own with little help from me. We did sh/pat in the beginning but never did pu/pd because with having 3 other kiddos honestly I couldn't commit to being in his room so much again so we went with w/i w/o instead. As a very last resort our fallback AP would be bouncing on the exercise ball or possibly a nap in the car.
I really need help trying to figure out how to extend his A's and naps enough to consistently avoid a catnap. I also would love any advice on how to evaluate his behavior the last 15-30 minutes before nap.
6/30
fed at 3:45 am
cried at 6:00 was probably awake for a bit before that
E- 6:00 1 side BF
A-diaper change, walk around with me while I get breakfast for brothers
E- 6:45 solids
A- floor time, walked outside, rubbing eyes started at 7
E- tried to offer second side at 7:45 but he was already very fussy and wouldn't nurse
A-tried w/d still crying and fussing though so I went ahead and put him in bed. ANY IDEAS HERE - I CAN'T FIGURE OUT IF THIS IS OT OR UT. He cried and kicked when I put him in bed at 7:50, but settle when I left the room. He fussed on and off and finally zonked at 8:20
S- 8:20 - 9:30
A- hung out with me while I finished getting ready for the day
E-10:00 - one side BF
A- playtime on floor
E- 11:15 solids
A- playtime again
E-11:55 one side BF
A- w/d - books, songs and offer to bed when he started bussing at 12:15
S-12:25-2:20 (unheard of 2 hour nap). Normally this nap is 1 hr 20 min but I had stretched his A just a bit
E- 2:30 both sides in order to make it until bedtime feed
A- playtime
E-5:20 solids
A-played then pj's and books with Daddy
E-6:15
A- songs and in bed at 6:25 fussed for a few minutes (probably from the way long A after the 2 hour nap)
S-6:30
7/1
fed at 3
awake 5:50
E- 6:00 one side BF
A- playtime
E- 7:00 solids
A- walk
E- 8:05 one side BF
A- w/d of books and songs (snuggly while I held him) in bed at 8:15 happy
S- 8:28-9:30 liked that he wasn't crying when I put him in bed but he only took an hour nap.
E- both sides because we were heading out for some fun and won't nurse anywhere but at home
A- trip to the Children's Museum with big brothers
E- 11:45 solids at Museum
A- getting fussy as we wrapped up the fun
S- 12:30 -1:15 in car on the way home
A- playtime at home
E- 1:45 one side BF
A- playtime
E- 3:45 one side BF
A- tried to do a nap here at 2 hour 30 min of A time in order to back it till bedtime but he CRIED and CRIED and I couldn't get him to settle at all. Finally took him out of bed and he slept in the car (after fussing) on the way to my older sons karate class.
S- 4:50 - 5:10
E- 5:30 solids
A- brothers classes and then drive home
E- 7:00
A - w/d books, songs and played on his floor until he looked sleepy. He had been going down at this time when we always did a catnap, but with trying to get rid of the cat anp he has been going to bed between 6:00 and 6:45 depending on when his 2nd nap ended.
S- in bed at 7:45 rubbing eyes asleep at 8:00 after a little fussing.
But the night was crazy - he woke at 12:00 crying (totally unusual) and wouldn't resettle so I finally nursed him. Normally I can just pop him back into bed and he is fine but he cried when I put him down and I had to pat him for a few minutes. Then he woke up chatty at around 4:15 and even after feeding, patting, doing w/i w/o he never resettled. I even tried APOP and bounced him on the exercise ball for a few minutes but as soon as I put him in bed he screamed. Finally gave up at 6:10 and got him up. Was this because of the late catnap?
I could really use help evaluating what the crying is before going down for the first nap and how to stretch A times past eye rubbing and fussing. Any ideas on how to push his day a bit later? I don't mind getting up at 6, but having to put him in bed at 6 pm is really rough with having 3 older boys that would actually like to have some summer fun!
THANKS for your help!
Christine