New EW - why???

[Mjaz]

Hi!  I've never really had to deal with an EW, so I'm not sure what is going on.

My LO is: almost 5 months, but was 3 weeks early, so developmentally about 19 weeks; FF; on a 3.5 hr EASY, wakes once a night for a feed - goes right back to sleep; is a pretty good napper (now!) - usually his naps are anywhere from 1:10-1:45 hours.

So he's been on a 3.5 hour EASY for about 4 weeks - he's been doing really well.  He normally goes to sleep between 7 and 7:30 and wakes between 6 and 6:30.  For that past week or so we've had 3-4 days where he wakes in the 5am hour - and is impossible to get back, even after feeding. 

I don't know is this is b/c he's OT, UT - or what?  But I know he needs more than 10 hours of sleep!  I will try to get him to bed earlier tonight and see how that goes...but would VERY MUCH APPRECIATE ANY INSIGHT!

Thanks,
Melinda

[Mom to M&M]

Definitely sounds like he might be ready for a full 4 hour EASY - can you post his routine right now?

[Mjaz]

Thanks for the quick response, Karen.

I can't imagine getting him on a 4 hr EASY unless he starts taking 2 hour naps - which is rare.  As it is now, he sometimes doesn't last till the 3.5 hour mark if he's had a short nap (and sometimes he's fed at the 3hr. mark by my MIL who watches him -ugh).  We try to distract him and get him to the 3.5 mark, but he literally melts down at times  - crying and rooting at my face like he's starving.  He's a very hungry little boy - taking almost 40 oz. a day! 

Here is Sunday - a typical day:

Awake: 6am
E: 6:10
A: total 1:48
S: 7:48 -8:52 (1:04) UT nap - wide awake and smiling

E: 9:35
A: total 1:35 (b/c of short nap #1 - generally his A time here is 1:55)
S: 10:27-11:55 (1:28)

E: 1
A: total 1:54
S: 1:46-3:43 (1:57) RARE and needed several shhh/pats to extend

E: 4:15
A: total 1:57
S: catnap - 5:40-6:10
A: bath, books, etc
E: 7
S: 7:20

[Mjaz]

To update....(PLEASE PLEASE help if you can!)

LO had a very weird day yesterday - MIL let him sleep for 2.5 hours...then he had a 1.5 hour in the morning, a 45 min nap in the afternoon and a 30 min catnap.  I assume this was too much sleep!!!

Up at midnight - hungry - fed him - could not get back to sleep for an hour.  Up today at 5am - fed - could not get back at all - he was ready to start the day.

First nap - awake at the 35 min mark, tried for 20 minutes to get him back, ended up APing to get a 1:30 nap in
Second nap - pushed his A time from 1:55 to 2 hours b/c the last few days he has been giving me UT naps.  Slept 1:10.  Wide awake.

Everything was going sooo smoothly for the last 4-5 weeks.  Do you think it's possible he needs a longer than 2 hour A time already?  He was crying and rubbing his eyes when I put him down at 1:55...??

So lost. 

Thanks,
Melinda

[Mom to M&M]

I would definitely try to push him to at least 2 hours A time, maybe even a few minutes more (going slowly of course).

[Mjaz]

Bottle feeding.  He does to sleep completely independently - in his crib, no props.

I will try pushing his A time.  Do you think I should aim for a 4 hour EASY?  So would that be 2 naps of 2 hours and a catnap?  Right now, ideally, he's doing 3 1.5 hour naps and a 30 min. catnap.  Is this too much day sleep and therefore causing the NW and EW?

Thanks..I appreciate it.

[Mom to M&M]

Neither of my LOs ever did 2x2 hour plus 45 catnap. DD at 5 months was doing one 2 hour nap, one 1.5 and 45 catnap. DS was doing 1 hour, 2 hours and then 35 minutes (but he's always been lower on sleep needs).

Like Jane said, I'd slowly push him to a 4 hour EASY and take it from there!

[Tweakster]

Hi there Melinda, I'm popping over from the other thread and yep I agree with Jane.  You need to get your LO on a longer EASY with less naps...stat :-)  Some LO do 2x 2 hr naps + 30 min CN some only do 1.5 hour naps + 45 min CN like my dear Finn.  You need to work with what your LO can handle.  You mentioned on the other thread that he does 11 hour nights so I would say aim for around 4 hours day sleep.

Their A time can & will jump leaps in bounds in a month.  At nearly 5 mths you are looking at 2 hr - 2 hr 15 increasing to 2 hr 30 or more by 6 mths.  Big jump between 5 - 7 mths and then again at around 9 - 10 mths.  Follow your LO.  I think your 35 min naps might be UT.

[Mjaz]

Thank you so much ladies....I will start tomorrow!  I will try pushing his first A time and seeing what happens.  Can I ask one more thing - do you think the fact that he was 3 weeks early should play into this at all?  Thanks!

[Mom to M&M]

I don't think so. 3 weeks really isn't considered premature - my doc always said 37 weeks was considered full term.

[Mjaz]

Thank you - I do need to remember he IS doing great - I will let you know how the next few days go!

[Mjaz]

OK Ladies, well today has gone MUCH better than I imagined it would (yay) - but I DO NOT KNOW what to do with the rest of his day!  Suggestions??  Here is what we have so far:

6am - wake
E - 6:30
A - total 1:58
S - 7:58-9:18 (1:20 total) - wide awake, knew I wasn't getting him back

E - 10:30
A - total 2:06
S - 11:24-1:24 (2 hours - had to wake him - yay!)

E - 2:30

OK, so if I put him down for catnap around 3:30, and let him sleep for 45, that puts us at 4:15 - what time would bedtime be?  I can't imagine he can go 2 hours after a 45 min nap...We have been putting him to bed around 7 every night, as he usually sleeps 11 hours and we want him to wake at 6. 

What do I do?  An additional catnap???

Thank you!!!!

[Tweakster]

Hi there Melinda, yep was going to say give an hour as well. 

In theory they say that when day sleep is cut back, they take on more at night.  At the very least, even if you get another 5:30 or 6 waking it's a well-rested waking IYSWIM?  And once the routine is working, you start to push the day out.

[Mjaz]

Wonderful - thank you so much ladies.  Surprisingly he did not seem tired at the 2 hourish mark...maybe b/c of his marathon (for him!) 2 hour nap??  He finally fell asleep at 3:48, but woke after 47 minutes - very awake - smiling...so I will work to get him in bed by 6.  Thanks!

[Mjaz]

So....I guess I celebrated too early....and I'm wondering what the sages (you!) think....we had the worst bed time we've had in a long time...I had him in bed at 5:50...he cried and screamed and fussed till 7pm.  I tried feeding him, I tried APing (rocking) - nothing worked.  Do you think he was UT?  OT?  I find it odd that he finally fell asleep right at his usual bedtime...

Please let me know...I so appreciate your advice!