Re: sleeping less and less - 16 mo off track

[mmom]

Laura, I am not totally sure.  Well, I guess no one is.  I was hoping for a long night last night, because of the short nap yesterday.  But he woke at 6:15.  Actually, that is 11 hours.  But he only slept 1 hour and 15 minutes yesterday and normally when he does that, he sleeps 12 hours or 11.5.  Plus he woke in a miserable state of mind.

He normally goes down for his nap 5.75/6 hours from waking.  So no set time really - just set A times.  I think if I pushed his nap until 1 and only let him sleep 1 hour, he would be miserable.  But then again, you never know until you try.  He always appears rested during the day.  We never have issues with that.  I am just worried about doing something so drastic.  I am also worried that he won't fall asleep at night and be really OT at bedtime.  But, Lucy says her LO goes right to sleep.  So maybe that long morning A makes her conk out. 

[babybarr]

I know exactly what you mean!  Well today we had a 1.5hr nap and as you can see I guess that's cos of the bad night. We seem to get bad night = good nap or vice versa (with our usual intermittent insomnia / illness issues which just throw everything out!)

If our night is ok then I may try an hr - 1.25hr nap only a little later but then my Mum has him the following 2 days and she can be reluctant to follow my wishes sometimes - maybe I should wait till the weekend - or I guess anything's worth a try at the mo?!!  I really have lost the plot somewhere along the line and can't make a decision anymore!!!  I have NO idea what's best!

[mmom]

Laura, I don't know - it is hard when someone else is taking care of your LO.  If she won't follow your wishes, I would wait until you are in control.

I have come to the conclusion that REALLY short naps are a result of some kind of teething pain.  Any day I don't give some kind of pain med, my LO takes a crappy nap.  When I give him something (more so in the last week), he sleeps well and I have to wake him.  Today I woke him after 2 hours.  This was probably still too long, but we had an architect here working with us and we needed the time without our LO.  So I am curious to see what kind of night we get.

I am wondering what would happen if I put him in bed even earlier.  We have been putting him down at 5 hours 15 minutes, with the intention of him being asleep by 5.5 hours.  Yet, he does not fall asleep until the 6 hour mark.  However, what if I put him down at the 5 hour mark?  I wonder if he would fall asleep sooner or am I asking for trouble?  Or is that really related to a shorter nap?  Do I need a shorter nap to get him to fall asleep in a more reasonable time frame at night?

[babybarr]

Well last night wasn't too bad - I don't think anyway, I often just go back to sleep unless he is crying now cos of so long with these long long NWs! - he woke around 2 and was yelling for me, he then appeared to go back to sleep around 2.20am.  He was then awake by 6.15ish so that's probably a bit over 11 hours which is really good for him - but we had this 2 days ago and then the crappy nap followed by crappy night!  I just wish I could get him on some kind of even playing field.

We tend to have 5.5hrs (ish) before bed after nap.  That is on a good nap.  On a bad nap it's more like 5 15 or 5.  So yesterday for example was wake around 6, nap 11.30-1 and bed at 6.30pm but obviously we didn't get an unbroken night!

You can only try the 5hr if you think that may help, I guess it depends why you think he isn't falling asleep?  I know that with DS is won't settle at bed or nap if he is UT and then figets and talks etc.  If he's OT then invariably he'll cry I'll go into him and then he'll settle - just needs a bit more down / snuggly time to unwind.