please help - I can't make sense of anything

[mmom]

The walk did not work yesterday.  He didn't go down until the 5 hour mark and unfortunately, he woke 1 hour later.  He was so miserable yesterday.  I did try for a 2nd nap, but he just wouldn't take it.  I ended up putting him down at 5 and he woke at 4, and fell back asleep until about 5.  At 5:30, he did the "get me outta here!" cry, so I got him.   It was about a 12 hour night though, which was necessary given the night before.  I wish the walk would work everyday, so I could keep pushing that nap back, which would lead to a later bed time every night and hopefully, a later wake up.  I am going to keep trying when it is nice out and when it doesn't work, I will just put him down.

[LizzieN]

You stay strong sweetie, it will take time to get the sleep pattern better...just keep trying to focus on your successful days and put the other one down to "tummy" days or something like that!!

Hang in there
xx

[lilac83]

Great news about the 12hr night! Keep trying with those walks. At least he'll be getting some rest in the morning even if he doesn't fall asleep.

[mmom]

Today was pretty good.  The walk did not do the trick.  I came back to the house, gave my LO a snack and put him down.  I wish I knew the exact time he woke this morning, because I wasn't sure what A time to do.  He slept from 10:15 - 12:50.  I am wondering what that will mean for tomorrow morning.  I tried putting him down at 6:15 for the night, but he played in his crib until 6:40.  I am praying that taking a good nap does not mean sleeping so much less at night, that he wakes even earlier.

[mmom]

My LO woke at 3:30 screaming.  He cute one of his teeth yesterday, so I am assuming it was the 2nd one causing the discomfort this morning.  But he would not settle.  At 4:30, when he was still crying, we brought him to bed with us.  He did fall asleep for maybe 1/2 hour, but woke when I tried to move my arm from under his head.  My whole arm was asleep and yet I was still kicking myself for trying to move it.  So, I don't have any idea of what kind of A time do to this morning to produce some sleep.  I am going to aim for a 30 minute nap and then a proper nap later.  However, I am not sure what time to make it.  Any thoughts?

[lilac83]

Wow, great nap yesterday! That NW sounds like a tooth getting ready to cut. I think for now you have a good plan of trying for a short AM nap but if he doesn't take it to lay him down in the early afternoon. I would just stay with that. With the NW he may have a better chance today of taking that AM catnap and then 3hrs - ish later do the PM nap!

[mmom]

Today went as planned.  My LO had a 30 minute cat nap and then he went down for a nap 3 hours later.  He only slept for 1.5 hours though and was somewhat cranky at times.  I wish that tooth would cut already.  It takes him longer to settle for bed time though.  Prior to me lengthening these A times significantly, he needed a longer A before bed.  Does that still happen for some LO's when they go to 1 nap?

[lilac83]

Looks like a great day! Some will still like the longer A time before bed, some will want a shorter A time before bed and some are very accustomed to their normal bedtime and will refuse to fall asleep much before or much after their "normal" time. So basically it will take a bit of trial and error to figure out one nap day bedtimes. I think you have a very workable plan going at the moment!

[mmom]

Is one bad night of AP going to set us back in a horrible cycle?

Things have been so good.   My LO has been going to sleep without a fight and sleeping during nap times.  Today he slept 2 hours 40 minutes, even after having a longer A time than  I wanted because of a dr appt. (5 hours 20 minutes).  Tonight I put my LO down and he started screaming.  This went on for over 1 hour.  After WI/WO and just standing there with my hand on him, I had to rock him to sleep and hold him for a while.  Did I just ruin our progress?

[LizzieN]

No, just try not to do it next time sweetie!!! He was probably having some pain or OT, we took a soft approach to PU/PD WI/WO because of our LOs reflux and tbh I think our LO would sleep brilliantly if the reflux wasn't there, so I think you have done what you had to do.  Today is a new day, keep up with your normal good techniques and don't worry about last night
xx Lizzie

[lilac83]

I agree, one night of AP won't totally ruin the process. He knows how to go to sleep by himself, he's way past the training stage, so the occasional APOP isn't horrible. That's an amazing nap today though! Good for him!

[mmom]

After taking over 1 hour to get to sleep last night and finally falling asleep at almost 8, he still woke at 5.  Ughhh.

I don't think it was reflux.  I think it was this stupid tooth that won't cut.  He keeps biting his hand and making a funny sound, so I know it is bothering him.  He does it all day long and I imagine it is worse for him when he lays down.

[lilac83]

I hope that tooth cuts soon!