6 mo. old EASY - can't get it right

[Yazzie]

Wow..!!!!!!!!!!1

[Mjaz]

I guess C_Mother is joining the Type A BW ranks   I too read and read and read while pregnant.  SO INFORMATIVE - thanks.  It was really interesting stuff to read.  I've learned so much from these boards!

Yesterday when I pushed his first A to 2:45 (since I'm getting 1:15 with 2:30 and 2:35) he only lasted 30 minutes - got him back for another 30 with shh/pat and then at the one hour mark I had to APOP him - I literally just sat with him in a chair and he was PASSED OUT on me for another hour - he seemed so tired.  So maybe I should push to 2:40/2:45 and just deal with extending the OT nap.  There doesn't seem to be a perfect A for that first nap! 

Thanks again.

[C_mother]

I knew I had a 'problem' when differences of 5-15 mins became important to me

I wonder if anyone knows if they will adapt to As that are slightly too long for them or will have to grow into them?? I know that I have read that after increasing an A you should keep it the same for a few days before reevaluating. Easier said than done I know, but it *could* give you better information about his elusive perfect A!

[Yazzie]

It really differs from one lo to another, although I agree that giving it a few days before re-evaluating is important.

[Mjaz]

Tried the same second A today that produced a quality nap yesterday - 1:15.  Boo.  Interestingly, I'm starting to think E's sleep cycles are 38 minutes.  He stirred a the 38 mm and then woke at 1:15 - so that would more or less be two.  Hmm.  Anyway, he didn't fight me for the CN - which is where is he now - so that's at least a tiny bit of progress.  I'm thinking we'll be moving to set naps come Monday - but I'm going to give it till then to see if pushing his first A for several days in a row works.

I think BW was created for us Type A moms   My husband just bought me a book - Buddhism for Mothers.  We had a really good laugh over it and then he was like, "um, I think you should read it."  So I am  

[Yazzie]

Ds had 38 mins sleep cycles as well, remind me, did u try w2s?

[Mjaz]

No, I've never tried it.  Sort of scares me.  Has it worked for you?
So CN = 27 minutes.  AWESOME.

[Mjaz]

If you have time, guys, can you glance at today's EASY and let me know if you think he was OT at the end of the day?  Thanks.

Awake: 6:30 YAY
E: 7
A: total 2:22
S: 8:52- 9:55 - shh/patted for 17 minutes, he stayed asleep - so I counted the nap as 1:20ish

E: 11
A: total 2:09
S: woke at 1:15 min mark, APOP'd an additional 30 min - total nap: 1:44

E: 3
A: total 2:17
S: 4:22-4:50 - 28 min. 

E: 6
A: total
S: 1:40
Asleep: 6:30 - tried to put him down at 6:20 and he had a crying/screaming fit.  Never does that.  Had to hold him for 5-6 minutes to calm him down and then he promptly fell asleep - was this OT? 

[C_mother]

Hi, doesn't look bad to me...a 12 hour day, 3.5 hours of naps, no super long As, etc. Maybe he was just a bit UT because he is used to doing more A at the end of the day?? 1:40 is probably the minimum we might expect after the CN right?  Hopefully, it was nothing!  I am really starting to see how the CN becomes problematic. It is almost like they need enough A before and after the CN to be tired, all without having too much A at the end of the day so that the day isn't too long (which would make them OT). Makes my head spin just a bit.

Re. "Buddhism for Mothers" - too funny   My DH calls me the sleep police. His absolute favourite is when I extend a short nap and then subsequently wake DS from it in the end!!  Okay, that is a bit over the top - must try not to do that.

[elf]

Hi Melinda...  Wish I could post you a sample our our EASY but we too don't seem to have any consistency!  Today is 42 degrees and just awful awful heat.  Kids are sweating, I'm sweating and DS is covered in a heat rash.  We don't have air con as we just built a new house and we won't be able to get it installed til September!  DS did a 1 hour nap this morning, which is very unlike him but I blame the heat.  He has been irritable all day so I will just 'get through the day' as best I can!  Unfortunately I guess this means 3 naps - just when I thought we were on our way out of the catnap - sigh...  I don't think DS is a textbook sleeper - and I think it's about time that I come to accept that every day is different and perhaps there is no rhyme nor reason to any of this.  I think if I can get him sleeping through the night with no NW's (I think we are almost there) then I will at least see that as a success.  I know that things are just going to keep changing and I keep trying to remind myself that.  I mean, my daughter doesn't go to bed or have her nap at the same time every day - it's generally within a certain time frame but based on her cues and she generally sleeps as much or as little as she needs.  I think I need to chill out a bit on the routine.  Maybe I need 'Buddhism for Mothers'!!!  I want to read that book, "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Children" as from what I gather there is some good info in that on sleep.  From reading reviews, he would say have our 6 month old back in bed after 2 hours from waking up and I think he believes in 'set naps' at 9am and 1pm and the  catnap if needed.  I think I read somewhere that he believes that if you do these set naps for one week your baby will adjust?  I think he believes in letting them cry, and I won't do that, but I've read reviews where parents still follow his approach without the crying and it works.  I am beginning to feel like I need a bit of a new approach and a fresh start...  Sorry I'm not much help...

[Mjaz]

Hi guys!!!  Well, it's nearly 7am here and guess who is still sleeping?  DH and I ARE OVER THE MOON.  He did have a weird night - was up at 9:30pm crying hard - gave him tylenol and a small bottle. Not sure what that was about, as he was doing the same thing at bedtime.  Then was up at 3:45am.  DH said he barely woke up - he just guzzled a bottle and continued sleeping.  What's going on here?  Ha ha.

So now I'm like: WHAT DO I DO TODAY???  I think I'm going to let him sleep.  If he's cleaning up OT, which I think he is, I think I should let him sleep a little longer.  If I get 2 decent naps out of him, do I put him to bed at our regular 6:30 bedtime and drop the CN???  Or do I keep the CN and give him a later bedtime - 12 hours from when he wakes?  AHHH - what a great problem to have!

C_Mother - welcome to the Type A BW gang   Where is Kate on this post?  Ha ha.  I actually am really liking Buddhism for Mothers - it's really just about being mindful and going with the flow and connecting with your LO - very much what I need.  Ha ha.  My mother calls my house "Boot Camp" so...(but she did later say she was amazed at how happy Elijah is - and how he seems to really love his routine - yay)

Elf - I know exactly, exactly how you feel.  Just a few days ago I was at my wits end and wondering if I needed a new approach.  But I think you are doing SO well!  Just an FYI - I didn't like Health Sleep Habits, Healthy Child at all.  Some interesting background stuff on sleep - but his techniques requiring letting them cry.  If you want my copy, you can email me with your address and I will send it to you!

OK, there's Elijah.  7am.  Wowwwww! 

[elf]

Hey well done!!!  Wish I could offer you some advice for the day.  I know what you mean about 'going with the flow'.  My boy is sooo happy and just 'thriving'.  I do, however, feel like at 6 months I am still reading his sleep cues a bit wrong.  I wish he came with a 'manuel'!!!  Let us know how you get on with the day.  That's great news about the 7am!  We had a 7am this morning but that was after waking at 5.45am to feed, then back to sleep.  I actually put DS to bed tonight at 6.30pm (earlier than usual) after having 2 naps.  I guess you will have to 'go with the flow' with this one.  Thanks for the tip on the Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child.  I thought that maybe some fresh information about sleep might help me, not that I would let DS cry, but was interested in his research.  Though, perhaps I've read a few too many books on sleep!!!

[elf]

I meant to say... that when DS wakes and guzzles an entire bottle and falls straight back to sleep, it is hunger and not OT.  I think when he wakes in the night, drinks a bottle and is then restless it is something else.  So I think that is a good sign that he drank and fell straight back to sleep for you. 

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

Yay for 7am!!!!  I got Austin to 6:50 but I slept with him on the futon again from 4am and HTTJ from about 5:30-6:50.    So not nearly the victory you had!  I would just see what the day brings and if he does 2 good naps I'd shoot to drop the CN.  You're right about the age when he should be thinking about dropping it anyhow.  But I would probably keep the day to about 12 hours if you can, I'm afraid he'll be UT if you do much less. 

I'm with C_mother, I think he was UT last evening and that's why he was up in the early evening.  I'd try for more like 2h after the CN if you can.

I guess I'll have to look into that Buddhism book, too!!  I'm still here being my same ol' Type A self.    Some things cannot be changed!!  But I will proudly admit that I managed to roll with things pretty well when we were in Florida last week.  He was late for naps a lot since we were out and I just went with it and APOP'd when I needed to.  I was rather impressed with myself, I must say! 

[Mjaz]

So Kate...did you go for set naps yesterday?  AND??

Yeah, OK, I'll shoot for a 7pm bedtime and see what the day brings us.  If he has crummy naps, I'll keep some sort of CN in. 

I thought someone had said that 2 hours after the CN was too long, esp. if his CN was 28 minutes.  Am I wrong?  We were doing 2 hours.  I tried to back off last night...so maybe that was the problem.  Or maybe he wasn't OT and that's why he had a good night? 

Hope everyone has a good day!