should a 6mo GS last this long?

[Idahomom]

Hi - I've put off posting because I thought the NW problem would right itself after the GS was over - but it's been about 7 days now! DS wakes sometimes for more than an hour, crying but not a loud cry, more like a fussy "complaint" cry. Sometimes we go in and SH/pat if he gets louder or more frequent, sometimes we let him be if he's just making noises. Here are the answers to the questions:

How old is your child?6mo yesterday

What’s his/her daily routine? Yesterday:
Wake 7am
Eat 7:15am - 8oz soy formula (this amount varies between 4-8oz)
Solids 8:30am - one cube avacado (didn't eat much of it)
A
S 9:30am
wake 11am
E 11:15 am 8 oz soy formula
Solids 12:30am - one cube sweet potato ate it all!
A
S 1:30pm
wake 3pm
E 3pm 4oz soy formula (strange for him to drink so little)
Solids 4:15 pm rice cereal with pears (about 1 Tbsp.)
A
S 5:20pm
wake 5:55pm (woke on his own)
A
E 7pm 8oz soy formula
bath/bed routine 7:15
bed 7:30 - had a difficult time going down - actually fell asleep at 8pm after much pat/sh and screaming.
DF 10pm 6oz soy formula
Then the night was aweful, I don't even know how many times or what time he woke, the nights sort of run together.

What’s nap routine?4hr EASY - 2naps 1.5hr each, CN (40min) in evening, we wake him if it gets to be 6pm.


What’s your LO like when waking at night? How long is he/she up?  Varies - sometimes many short wakings, sometimes one long wake.

When you go to him/her is she fussing or crying? Or is it a mantra cry? see above.

What have you tried to settle?? just sh/pat

What do you do for A time and how long is it? 2.5hr (just extended about a week ago - same time problems started from 2hr 15min) play on floor, roll on mommy's bed (a favorite) mommy walks around house pointing out things, exersaucer, johnny jumpup.

Are there developmental issues such as teething or milestones?  Teeth came about 2 weeks ago, just started sitting and scooting across the floor.

Do they have a prop? If so what is it? cold turkey paci Jan 1. - went very well, no probs, minimal NW.

Do they have a lovie? soft lovie blankie when we took away the paci

The only things I can think are: GS, milestones, tummy probs from solids? but 7 days? with no end in sight?

Thank you for looking at all this in advance.

[Tweakster]

Hi there, that kind of waking sounds like discomfort, either teething or tummy, have you tried pain meds at the DF?

[Idahomom]

we have given gas drops, but not sure if they helped or not since his NW are so erratic.  He just got his first 2 teeth a few weeks ago and things have gotten much better as far as the drooling and chewing on everything - I don't think it's teething as he's fine during the day and naps are good (for the most part).
Yesterday:
He woke halfway through his first nap and was easily resettled for the full nap.

He woke after 50min of his second nap and couldn't be resettled, was happy so I got him up.

He wouldn't take a CN after being awake 2.5hr, wasn't crying, just awake and happy, looking at me funny as I was rocking him and trying to wind him down, grabbing my hair and being his usually cute self  .  So we decided on an early bed time, fed at 6pm, bath and bed at 6:30ish.  Had his usual difficult time falling asleep (this is when the most crying happens and it's loud urgent crying, sh/pat).

woke at 9:30 before the DF, same "complaint crying" (hunger?) but resettled and DF at 10pm (chugged the entire 6oz), was awake after the DF  (maddening) same kind of crying, but very sparse, let him be and he soothed himself to sleep.  slept through all the way to 5:30am, not a peep! but woke at 5:30 with the same crying, let him be until it got loud at 6:30, sh/pat, resettled and woke at his usual 7am happy as can be, playing and babbling in his crib until I came and got him.  Wasn't urgent about eating this morning bottle, ate 6oz.

I think we do need to let him self-soothe a little more often because we tend to bolt out of bed at the sound if a cry in the middle of the night (who doesn't) but I actually held DH back last night on both NW to wait and see if he would self soothe. 

Today I extended his morning A time to 2hr 40min b/c of short naps yesterday and first nap is at 50 min with no waking so far.

Sorry for all the details, but I really am at a loss as to what's happening during the day to effect his nights - a fresh set of eyes to look is much appreciated Wendy!! (and anyone else who wants to comment!)

[sherry lynn]

Wendy pretty much covered it all.
The only thing I can think of to add is that it might be time to drop that catnap.

So you did the perfect thing today by trying to extend that first A time. If he takes good naps today, you might even be able to have a better night with out a catnap.

You said yesterday he wouldn't take the catnap, what time was he up from his PM nap?

The fact that he seems to have handled that A time on such a rough night is a really really good sign.

A general rule that many moms use is if their LO is up from napping at around 3 then they have them in bed at 6. With no more than 3 hours of A time. If the PM nap is good.
If they wake a little later than you can do bedtime a little later.

[Idahomom]

thank you gals so so so much for looking at this, I really appreciate it.

Last night was horrid, the worst so far.  Up for 2hr, just awake, crying off and on.  Yesterday's afternoon nap was the same - 45min and no resettling and no CN so to bed about 6:15.  It's so maddening because he's totally happy in the day.  He's just not tired enough to take a long second nap or have a CN.  I'll keep his morning A at 2hr 40, but I think I'll extend his afternoon A to 2hr 50 and see if that helps.

I hang me head in shame as I admit I took him our bed last night after I just couldn't get out of bed one more time and sh/pat him.  I haven't done this in months! 

I spoke with some friends last night (non BW mommies) and they seem to think it's milestones, he's reached a few all at once.  I just don't know.  If the A times get extended then yes his CN will drop.  but he hasn't had a CN the last 2 days either. 

[sherry lynn]

It has to be a combo of a good PM nap AND no catnap   Without the good nap he is going to bed OT, and when he has the catnap he is going to be UT   It's such a hard balance.

It could very well be milestones also. They do tend to mess up sleep for a little bit.
If you are getting a good AM nap then it may well be worth trying to stretch out that second A time.

We've all had to AP before. Don't hang your head. One day shouldn't do you in *hugs* We all have our limits and a few nights in a row of long NW is definitely difficult.