Looking for support/tweak to help with EW's.

[*Becky*]

Hi,
My DS is 8.5 months old and we are having wake ups anywhere from 5-5.45am. He will not go back to sleep and I am totally exhausted as he is a touchy/spirited boy so once he is up he is firing on all cylinders iykwim! I am getting a desperate tbh and need some help.
He gets OT very easily but can go about 3 hours after night sleep or a good nap. The last couple of days he seems tired much more quickly and I can't figure out if that is due to the EW's or the crawling, talking etc he is trying to do!
I have tried stretching bedtime from 6.20pm-7pm and it has made little difference really and now I am wondering if he is getting OT.
He still has a catnap, crazy I know but otherwise he has to go to bed at 6pm and then he wakes too too early. Naps have never been great. On a good day 2 x 1.5 but that is quite rare.
This is yesterday - please could someone give me some advice!

Awake 5.40am - up at 6am (I never start the day until 6am!)
E - 6.15am - solids at 7.30am
S - 8.20-9.45am

E - solids at 11am - milk at 12.30pm
S - 1-2.15pm (in bed at 12.45pm)

E - solids at 4pm
S - catnap from 5-5.30pm

Milk and bed at 7pm.

He has always had a short A time after his catnap so don't think that si the problem tbh.

Today he woke at 5.45am.

Just don't know anymore. We had a good few days and then last Wed he woke from a good nap at 2.50pm so we decided not to catnap and just ut him to bed at 6.10pm but think it stretched him just a bit too much as he woke at 5am the next day and then we have been trying to push bedtime back but maybe gone too far too fast?

Any ideas would be great. I so want to get rid of the catnap but until we can start the day at a reaosnable time I can't do that.

Oh also - should I give him a half feed when he wakes? It kind of feels like we are regressing if I do that but it might work???

Thanks so much
Becky x

[anna*]

Does he take lots of solids? You could definitely try doing a night feed at 5.30 and see if he will settle back to sleep. Another thing to mention is that, for us, EWs were always OT. The only things that worked for us were to do an early bedtime, and, if that didn't work, also push the first A time of the day. Around this age we went to fixed nap times: it doesn't work for everyone but it's worth considering - I chose nap times based on a 7am start, and would just stick to those timings no matter what time he actually woke up. There were a few days of OT, but he adapted pretty quick. Like I said, it's not for everyone but just thought I'd throw it out there.

[*Becky*]

ok thanks. Yes he is taking 3 meals a day. Sometimes lots, sometimes not much.
I have a feeling that these EW's are due to OT so will see what time he wakes tomorrow. I just don't know what to do as I think pushing the first A will make him even more tired. Maybe I will try an early bedtime again and see what happens.
Thanks Anna
Becky x

[anna*]

You could try just pushing it by 10 mins - v. low-key, almost just an extended wind-down - and try that together with the early bedtime. The only time my LO ever slept 'late' at that age was after a super-early bedtime.

[*Becky*]

ok will do. I think all this started on Wed when he had a 3 hour 10 A time at the end of the day and then woke at 5am the next day! We are trying to get rid of the catnap but it seems he is super touchy about A times and gets OT so easily.
So...tomorrow 6.30pm bedtime and 10 mins added to A time.
Thanks
bx

[*Becky*]

btw - your little boy is just sooo cute. x

[anna*]

   Thank you!! Let us know how tomorrow goes.

[*Becky*]

Thanks. I think you are right and he is OT. Goodness knows what time he will wake tomorrow
If his usual A time is 3 hours, what do you think I should aim for to get him caught up on sleep? 2.5? Less?
Thanks
bx

[anna*]

I'd see how he goes after that first nap. If it's a short one then cut back to 2.5hrs or even less, if he handles the longer A time first thing and still naps well, stick to your normal 3 hours and do an early bedtime. You could even cut the catnap to 15 mins and do an early bedtime too.

[*Becky*]

thanks. I am scared of early bedtimes as they often lead to 5am starts! Not always so maybe I should try again.
I just would so love a 7am start...or even 6.30am...
bx

[anna*]

I know the feeling. You know you're a mummy when 7.30am is a lie-in, hey?

How was this morning?

[*Becky*]

hmm - bad bad day
He is def OT but not sure how to fix it. I kept him up for 3 hours A time even though he seemed tired but get confused about this as if I put him down too soon I worry he will keep waking early?!
So...slept for 1 hour this am, 40 mins at lunch and then APOP for 40 mins. Trying to rectify this with an early bedtime so let's hope so. Also having big problems with evening bottle. Totally refused it tonight - don't know if he is just too tired or what.
Things going very wrong.
Any advice for tomorrow?
Thanks v much
Becky x

[anna*]

Which was the 3hrs A? In the morning or bedtime? Evening bottle refusal sounds like OT too - when that used to happen here, we would sneak in once he'd been asleep for an hour or so and give the bottle like a dreamfeed.

[*Becky*]

oh ok - that is a good idea. The 3 hr awake time was first thing but think it was too long.  Felt like I was force feeding him tonight - felt really bad.

[anna*]

I think tomorrow then just cut back the A times to 2.5hrs - less if you get a short nap. Do that for a couple of days and once he's caught up on sleep, tackle the EWs then if they don't sort themselves out.