I think I'm messing it all up :(

[~Lori~]

my evenings are pretty bad too...LO won't catnap.  Last night he was awake from 5:30-9:30, I think with a 20 min snooze in there. 

[lilalley]

awake for 6 and a half hours straight.  yawn, fuss fuss fuss, yawn (her)  waa waa waa (that's me)

[Evgenia]

Lori, have u tried putting him down for his cat nap earlier? As the days wears on lo get more and more tiered, so an earlier cat nap, followed by an earlier bed time could help him out of an ot cycle.

Lilalley, I know I sound like a broken record but keep up with the shh/pat. 6 and a half hours A is way too much for her age. Next time its time for her nap, take her to her cot/crib and tell urself u will not leave the room untill she's asleep. I actually found with myself, that mental preparation (mine) as just as important as the techniques. When it was coming up to dd nap my dh would take over and I will have a nice little break, cup of coffee, cigarette an a motivational book or go over what i am going to do in a few. And when it was time to put her down (read shh/pat, pu/pd etc for what seemed like forever ) I felt I was mentally and physically prepared. It gave me the streng to keep going, when I knew I was about to give up, I would walk out the room ake a few deep breaths, gather my thoughts and go back in with new strength. If at all possible get ur partner, relative or a friend to come in and help u out, even if all that they can go is to keep u motivated.

Best of luck and Big Hugs to u both

[~Lori~]

so today, I have been putting DS down REALLY early.  Like at 30 minutes awake time I start doing wind down.  for ALL 3 of his naps today he has gone down easily, with no fuss, and sleeping by 45 minutes awake!  Now, of course, watch tomorrow this not work, but I just think even though I was winding him down at 45 minutes, I thought that was early enough, apparently not!  I have been waiting for cues, but by 45 minutes, it's just one yawn, and he has fought sleep.  He has shown no sleepy cues at 30-35 minutes, but as I lay him down, he yawns.  So mine just might be one who doesn't show the cues until too late.

I have been putting DS to bed after his last feeding, at 9...I know, too late.  So tonight, I'm going to try and do his last feeding at 8, and then a DF later.  The DF were not working for us, he'd sleep shorter chunks with that...like his sleep was interrupted.  He has been sleeping 6.5 hr chunks at night so I hope a dreamfeed doesn't mess that up!

[~Lori~]

Here is what our routine looked like today...

7:30 Awake and Eat
8:10-10:30 Sleep
10:30 Eat
11:20-1:15 Sleep
1:15 Eat
2:00 Sleep
3:15 Wake up to go to a dr appt---baby did NOT go back to sleep when we were out
4:15 Feed at dr's office---baby would still not sleep.
4:35 Got home and tried to get baby to sleep, swaddled, put down, put hands firmly on him, would NOT sleep!  Finally got him up and put him in the bouncy chair where he sat, zoned out, sucking on his paci, but not sleeping.
6:00 Cluster feed
6:10 Catnap
6:40 Awake--- go outside for a walk, do a bath
8:00 Feed
8:30 Sleep

So a great morning, BUT it is so frustrating that I can NOT leave the house at all b/c my little guy will not sleep while we are out.  He will not sleep in the bouncy chair or swing.  I tried the baby bjorn last night on a walk and after 30 min, he finally zonked out for 35 minutes.  It is so hard that things that typically work for babies as "accidental parenting" things, do not work for my little guy.  It makes me feel trapped at home b/c even a venture to the store will throw everything off, since he won't sleep.  Does this get better??  Is there any ways to TEACH him how to sleep in other places too?  I have a 3 year, who is in preschool and need to get out to take them (my husband has been doing it since baby has been born) but I'm freaked that it will wreck everyday and mean overtired cranky baby...

[ryates71]

Hi Lori,

I can sympathise.  My LO will not sleep when out - if it's his sleep time he will only go to sleep if on the move (car seat, pram or sling) as soon as I stop he wakes and then will not go back to sleep.  Previously he would manage a quick doze with the dummy but now he has rejected that too. Very frustrating.  I'm hoping it's a temporary thing that he will grow out of.  However, a few times more recently when he has dozed off on a short car journey I have managed to get him to settle in the crib - so maybe there is some hope for you.  I try and time things (e.g. picking up DD from nursery) to ensure that it is within his awake window.

Also he has no sleepy cues.  I have to clock watch like crazy and if I miss the window then he will only sleep 45 mins or less.  However the evening sleeplessness did pass after a few weeks around the 6 week mark so hope it does for you too.  Now he goes down somewhere between 7pm and 8pm and stays down unti DF.

So, basically I sympathise entirely, but have seen with my LO some improvements as he's getting older, so hope that it is a transitional thing and he will become easier to get out and about with.

Keep going though, sounds like you are doing a great job.

Rachel

[~Lori~]

Thank you Rachel, you do give me hope!  I wish my little guy would fall asleep in the stroller/sling!  The random time he will surprise me and do it.

Tanner is 6 weeks old this week, and I'm hoping things will start settling soon for the evening time.  He's been fighting sleep this morning already