5 month old EW, short naps - at end of tether

[TConti]

Hi my 7.5 month old son wakes every morning at 5.45/6am if I am lucky - he used to wake at 6.30/7am and I am almost at the end of my tether I am finding it all very hard to cope with as I have also just lost my mother and my patience is becoming very short!
His routine is:
5.45 Awake
6.30 - Up
7.00- breakfast
9.00- Sleep (used to sleep for an hour now it is suddenly 30 - 45 mins!!)
11.45/1200 - lunch
1230 - sleep (only 1 hour - trying to get it to 2 hours)
1500 - snack
1700- 15 min sleep if needed
1730 - dinner
1800 - bath
1830 - bottle
1900- bed

I just want him to sleep till 6.30/7am again please can someone help me to achieve this I am really trying so hard to keep it together and finding it hard - I have just heard him upstairs talking to himself and he has only been asleep for 30 mins if that and is now crying again - he was soooo tired when he went to bed he was moanign and wriggling I think he is definatley OT but dont know what to do to rectify this?!?!?!? Pleas Help....... Things seem to be getting worse rahter than better - I have been tweaking his routine in order for him to sleep through till 6.30am but nothing is working in fact things are worse than ever - he used to sleep for 1.5 hours in the moring (someone said that this was an extension of his nightime sleep and should shorten it) and to try to lengthen the p.m sleep from 1 hour to 2 hours but this is just not happenign and the consequence of this is my DS being OT - how can I make him sleep and catch up from being OT - he used to be such a happy little boy and is now moaning and crying all the time?!?!?

[*Becky*]

Hi,
I really think you need to give him a longer catnap - APOP if necessary for at least half an hour. If he is only sleeping for an hour at lunchtime, 1.30-7pm is a very long A time, even with a 15 min nap. My lo would not be able to do that and he is 8.5 months now. Keep trying to extend the second nap but I know this is easier said than done.
If you cannot extend the catnap bring bedtime forward to 6.15/6.30pm and see if that helps. I do know from experience about this as my LO was a shocking lunchtime sleeper and I had to make sure he napped later in the day in order to prevent OT. Although the guidelines are to stop the catnap at around 6-8 months some still need it i.e. us!
Personally I would not shorten any naps at the moment and let him sleep up to 2 hours for both naps.
I would also shorten the first A time by 15 mins and see if that produces a better nap. Once he is not so OT you can work again on your routine but until then it is best to just offer LO opportunities to sleep as and when he needs it.
I know it is so tough, we have been there many a time.
Let us know how you get on.
bx

[TConti]

thanks will try it - btw what does APOP mean???
My DS went to sleep at 12.30 and is still asleep now so am really hoping he sleeps at least 1.5 hours will keep y fingers crossed - i forgot to mention that he has had a bad upset tummy yesterday and today (think it might be tooth no: 2) I suppose that could have something to do with the bad napping - never having experienced this am not sure?!? Plus no longer have my mum to ask

Thanks for the advice will keep you posted as to how he gets on
xx

[*Becky*]

APOP means accidental parenting on purpose so basically do whatever you have to do to get them to sleep. For me the only thing that works is the car so if i need to do a catnap that is what we do. Ideally you want them to sleep independently but when they are ill or OT you just need to get them to sleep anyhow. Try to keep your A times a little shorter i.e. 15 mins and see if it helps. If he wakes at 2pm and bedtime is 7pm offer a catnap for half an hour around 4.45-5pm. If that does not work try bed at 6.15pm.
We are here for you
Becky x

[*Becky*]

how are you getting on

[TConti]

things have all gone belly up at the mo - my DS has had a bad tummy bug and upset tummy for the last 3 days - today is day 4!! he has had the worst sore botty ever!! so consequently his sleeping has been a touch erratic - he has slept better during the day as he has been exhausted with his sore tummy but he is waking up once or twice in the night and again he is back to waking at 5.45 again!!! I am hoping once his tum is better then he will sleep better again - his sore bot is waking him up as every mornign I have been in to get him he has had a dirty nappy!!! ho hum life is never simple!!!!

[*Becky*]

aw poor him and poor you! Hope it all gets better soon.
Let us know how you get on x

[TConti]

Ok - my DS is all better - his upset tummy bug has gone - thank goodness as he slept through the night again last night however he is still back to his 5.30/5.45 wakings!! I just dont know what to do - If I wake him from his 1st napt after 45 mins then he is overtired later as he doesnt often sleep for more than 1 hour at the next nap - maybe 1.5 hours if I am really lucky!! Help! Dont know what to do and I am getting so tired with having to wake up early..... If he wakes early then I leave him in the cot till he starts yelling as he wants to get up - usually about 30 - 35 mins!
Am so tired not sure how long I can carry on like this?!??!?!?

[*Becky*]

I know exactly what you are going through. We are having the same thing at the moment and I am totally exhausted. It is horrid!
I would not wake your lo from any naps unless they go over 2 hours. I am pretty sure in your case that he is not waking early due to UT. Can you post your routine for the last day or two again and we can take a look.
Becky x

[TConti]

Hi there!
Yesterday he was as follows:
0545 - awake
0615 - up (as he was crying)
0700 - breakfast
0830 - 0930 - Nap
1200 - lunch
1230 - 1400 - Nap
1500 - snack
1715 - dinner
1800- bath
1830 - bottle
1900 - bed

He then slept through till 0530 - I heard him playing in his cot and chattering then he fell asleep again and woke up at 0700 this morning - perfect!! Wish it was like that every day!
So far today we have had:
0700 - up
0715 - breakfast
0910 - Nap

That is as far as we have got - I amhoping that he just needed a few days to get into his routine being changed slightly as the hardest thing was getting him to sleep longer in the 1230 nap but he now seems to have managed 1.5 hours so we shall see - plus my DH and I took him to the park yesterday and he went on the swings for the first time so mayeb all the fresh air etc tired him out enough to sleep longer this morning ?!?!?

[*Becky*]

glad it is going better Just be careful he does not get OT as 2-7pm is 5 hours A time which is a lot for his age.
bx

[TConti]

i know it is but he just wasnt interested in having a short nap - he should really have had a 20 - 30 min one but just wanted to play and was very happy no moaning until it was time for his bottle and bed then he started!!