4am is too freakin' early

[clazzat]

Can we be pleased that they are getting teeth and jabs at the same time so that they get it over with? 

[clazzat]

Okay, we're still having problems, so I thought I would come back to you good ladies and see what you think.

Anna - we tried your suggestion for a couple of days and it was not a success.  We ended up with short lunchtime naps and screaming OT at bedtime - without doing any good with the morning wake up!    We went on holiday after that, so we stuck with what we are used to as I thought it would be easier than trying a new routine in a strange place.  While we were away we were very active and she was very tired, and she slept until 5 every night - not ideal, but okay.  I know that she is getting her molars, and the 5am wake up seems to go with teething.

Now, however, she is moaning for a lot of the night (probably 2.5-3 hours in total) - we don't go to her as she is not really upset, just whinging - and waking up very early again.  We had another 4am this morning, and she did not go back to sleep.

I have been wondering if she is having too much day sleep - she is sleeping 30mins in the morning and 2h+ at lunchtime (probably 2h15 for the last few days) - waking at 5ish and bed at 6.30.  I was going to try to cut her morning nap today, but tbh she is so tired and in such a bad mood that I have put her to bed as usual, but I was wondering whether to try to shave a bit off the lunchtime nap.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to the best way to do this?

TIA.  Cx

[LucySol]

4am poor you!! thats awfull!!
could you knock 15 mins off for a few days and see if that helps?perhaps wake her 15 mins earlier? i have read on here so much sucess with the ew just with knocking 15 mins off the nap! worth a go!!

i dont know if its too much sleep..we are nowhere near that much!!  have you looked at the sample routines for an idea?

[clazzat]

We were out this morning so she went down 15 mins late - I think I will try waking her at the usual time and see how we go with that.  I think what I'm finding difficult is that M is a real sleep monster, and was sleeping about 3 hours a day at this age (with 12.5 hour nights!) and I'm trying to do the same with E!

[LucySol]

how was the wake up this morning Clare with her going down later for her nap? any different?

[clazzat]

I woke her at 6.05 (since we are trying to get a 6am start so that she goes down at 6.30) - but she was awake from12.30 till 3.30 so I don't think it counts!   

How was your night?

[LucySol]

OMG that is shocking!!! what are you thinking teeth or too much day sleep??

night was good but she was awake by 5.20!! Booooooo!!!!

[clazzat]

I think there is stuff going on - she did have a bit less sleep yesterday (about 30 mins) than usual which I would think would have made a difference if it was linked to the waking up.  She is teething (obviously - she's less than 4... ), coughing a lot, and walking so much - we have always had big developmental disturbances, so I think it's just one of those things.  The other thing is that my parents are staying, and she has never slept through the night when we have had people staying - go figure!

5.20 is quite early - heading over to your thread!

[clazzat]

Well, we have had a better couple of nights - one night where she cried for about 15 mins at 1am and woke at 5.30, and one where she cried out 2-3 times but very briefly and woke at 5.30.  Both mornings we have brought her into bed and dozed until 6.30 - such a luxury! - so I guess the next thing is making sure than doesn't become an issue. 

She's been happier during the day as well - not sure if it is because she has slept better or that she has slept better because whatever is wrong has eased off a bit.    She has been having about 15 mins less sleep (so 30 mins AM, 2h PM) which might be making a difference as well.

Why don't they come with instructions? 

[LucySol]

lol Claire!! i always say that!! why havnt they read the book about what they are supposed to do!!

i know the bringing into bed became an issue with E waking earlier before but imo if it was me i would just do it to get some more sleep...but thats just me!!! probably not the right answer tho!!

[clazzat]

We're certainly going to go with it at the moment - this way we are getting an extra hour in bed (or 2.5 hours if you count from the earlier wake-ups we have had over the last week!) and it's what we need just now.  Our next challenge is to move her day forward before the clocks change...

[Isabellasmummy]

Glad she is doing better - stupid question but how do you push there day forward?

We had a 5.30am wake up this morning the first in a very long time but not sure why but have a feeling it will  now be a regular occurance!

[clazzat]

Is she teething?  I'm pretty sure that's the main culprit for EWs round here.

From the weekend we are going to do everything about 15 mins later for a bit - and hope that we don't have a ridiculously EW to contend with - and then once she's used to that, move everything another 15 mins.  I really don't want to have the clocks going back and end up having to get up at 4!

[clazzat]

Have discovered 2 new molars today - hoping that is why she has been so unhappy and that she is going to settle down again.  There's only one left to come through, so maybe then we will get a break.