Author Topic: NW for almost 6 month old  (Read 1520 times)

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Offline LAMMom

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NW for almost 6 month old
« on: February 08, 2010, 21:39:16 pm »
My son is breastfed and will be 6 months in 5 days and has been waking up every two hours and is taking long feeds when he wakes.  I started him on cereal one week ago and that went well, then introduced apples which he tried for 3 days and refused in the end.  He is also taking 30-45 minute catnaps throughout the day and unsettled and sometimes irritable during wake times.  I have been trying to get him on the EASY routine for 3 months and he does not seem to stay consistant and I find it difficult to stick to it when his naps are so short.  I have tried to extend wake times to extend his naps, but most times does not work.  I put him to bed at 6:30 - 7 pm each night and he sleeps soundly until 1pm ish and then wakes every two hours and up before 6 am for the day.  I am obviously tired and fed up and wonder if this is the beginning of the end and he will be like this forever!!!!!! I would out in my routine but it is different everyday.  I feed him breastmilk every 4 hours during the day with a dream feed.  I just hope i haven't engrained too many bad habits for him.  ANy advise would be much appreciated.  Even just moral support

Offline Tweakster

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Re: NW for almost 6 month old
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2010, 11:31:57 am »
Hi there, big hugs.  It's really really hard and the older they get they tend to become a bit more stubborn about giving up those sleep associations. 

I know you say your routine is very different every day but we really do need to take a look before we can offer any advice. 

I can tell you that at 6 mths most LO's are doing 2x 1.5 hour naps + most are still doing a 30-45 min CN to take them through to bedtime.  This is the time though that they go through a rather large growth spurt and some start teething and so sleep goes a bit wonky.  They also start to increase their awake times, most 6 mth olds are doing around 2 hrs 30 mins.

Without seeing your routine it sounds like maybe he's a bit OT with all those wakings in the latter part of the night.
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Offline LAMMum

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Re: NW for almost 6 month old
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2010, 15:37:40 pm »
Hi Wendy, I had some problems with my account and had to start up a new one, so I am now LAMMum, anyway internet problems aside...

I will give a rundown on a typical EASY day for us.

E  6am
A  6:30
S  8:30 - 10 (if I'm lucky)

E 10
A 10:30
S  12:30

This is when he usualy has the 45 min catnap and I have given up on trying to put him back to sleep as it is a battle.

E 2pm feed
A 2:30
S 3pm as he is so tired from short nap last time

Then by this time he can actually sleep for two hours and that brings us to 5pm.

6 pm is bath time and fed and in bed for 7pm.

He sleeps sound then up for dream feed at 10 pm as I can't stay awake till 11.
Then around 12:30 1am ish he starts to wake,  I put my hand on him until soothed
Then 2am 3am ish starts to wake again and then I usually breast feed him
Then he is up around 5:45 - 6am ish for the day.

I feel that he is constantly yawning and rubbing his eyes from the time he wakes, not sure if just drowsy from just waking up.  I try to watch for cues, but with his naps so short i feel like I am putting him to bed all day.  I worry that he might have his days and nights mixed up.

I think I may just have to start from scratch with him.  I keep hoping that a tooth will poke through so as to explain all of this!!

Offline Tweakster

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Re: NW for almost 6 month old
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2010, 23:48:20 pm »
HI there, having a long nap close to bedtime might be mucking things up, it will interfere with his night sleep at this age.  Ideally you want to only have a CN after the PM nap to take him to bedtime without OT and to encourage him to take more sleep at night.  Have you tried pushing his middle A time a bit?  Getting him closer to 2 hr 45 mins A time might get a longer nap?  What do you think?

Teething is a mess no doubt, have you been offering pain meds at the DF?  Sometimes that helps.
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Offline LAMMum

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Re: NW for almost 6 month old
« Reply #4 on: February 10, 2010, 01:01:33 am »
Yes, the long nap closer to bedtime has to stop.  This afternoon went really well as I encouraged him to stay awake for 2 hours and 35 minutes and then he slept for 1.5 hours!!  He then had a 30 min catnap and in bed for 7pm.
I will try pushing his middle A time as well to see if that helps him nap longer. 
As for teething, no I haven't given him any pain meds but will consider.  Thank you for your responses, will update on how tomorrow goes!

Offline LAMMum

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Re: NW for almost 6 month old
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2010, 21:31:10 pm »
Wow!  Can't believe the difference today.  I extended his wake times in the am to 2 and a half hours then pm wake times to 2 hours 45 mins as you recommended Wendy.  He had 2 x 1.5 hour naps and has been awake and lively during the day.  We're yet to give him the CN and bed, but so far so good! 

Offline Tweakster

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Re: NW for almost 6 month old
« Reply #6 on: February 10, 2010, 23:22:50 pm »
That's great news!  I hope your night goes well!  It does take them an adjustment period so if you just keep consistent for a few days and then evaluate if it's working smoothly (as smooth as life with these LO's can be!).
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Offline LAMMum

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Re: NW for almost 6 month old
« Reply #7 on: February 11, 2010, 12:48:31 pm »
The night was ok.  He had a CN from 5:15pm to 6pm then to sleep for night at 7pm.  He woke at 9:15 very briefly then just after 10pm where I fed him for the dream feed.  He then woke at 2am and I fed him and he took some time getting back to sleep, but finally at 3am he was asleep.  He woke up at 5am and I tried to shush him back to sleep and he was in and out of light sleep until 6am when he was crying so hard and loud I got him up for the day.
Now, I guess my question is how do I get him to sleep in a bit longer, say to 6am instead of 5am.  The only thing I could think of was his CN was maybe too long or too late in the evening.  Should I be keeping him up for at least 2-2.5 hours after CN to bed time?
   

We're getting there!!

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Re: NW for almost 6 month old
« Reply #8 on: February 11, 2010, 18:18:23 pm »
Hi there, ok so I do think the CN should be cut back to 30 mins and then try no more than 1.5 hours to bedtime.  So it means you need to move the CN earlier or just do early bedtime instead.  But all in all pretty good :-)
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Offline LAMMum

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Re: NW for almost 6 month old
« Reply #9 on: February 11, 2010, 21:36:38 pm »
Great, thanks Wendy.  Will let you know how tonight goes :)