Long NWs - how to end them?

[ireneee]

Hello!

I'm back for some advice as I think teething has now come to an end.

My DD naps pretty well and goes to sleep by herself really well after her bedtime routine but then most nights, we have a NW which will last about 2 hours and I can't seem to settle her. I've tried WIWO and it will last practically the whole 2 hours or even longer and she only seems to go back to sleep when she is tired enough again to fall asleep (I'm thinking that it's like another 2-3 hours A time here). I usually end up taking her into bed with me - I know! Not the best thing to do but otherwise I'm like a zombie the next day! - and we get a nice rest of the night's sleep. More recently, DD has been "rolling" around a lot when I've taken her to my bed before going to sleep (this will happen even after I've given her Calpol and teething gel so I have ruled out teething) so I'd like to try to keep her in her own bed for the whole night!

I've tried WIWO, just going in and if she is standing/sitting, laying her down again, checking her dummy and lovey are with her and sometimes I will shush her, pat her back or stroke her and I always try to keep it very low key and quiet.

Her daily routine is something like this:
Wake at 7am
Nap at 12 for 2 to 3 hours
Bedtime between 6 and 7 pm

DD is 13 months old.

Also, every time I try to sleep train, it seems that I end up getting ill - does this happen to anyone else? Any tips to prevent this?

Thanks for your help!

[Roseii]

Hey Irene

Have you tried gradual withdrawal?

x

[*Liz*]

What is she doing when she wakes at night? Screaming or fussing to just get out?

I must say that final A time is really quite short at 3-4hrs, perhaps she just needs a little more A time before bed?

[clazzat]

I agree with Liz - when mine were consistently on one nap, we needed about 4h to bed.  I also wonder if perhaps you should limit the nap to 2-2.5h?  3h seems like a long sleep during the day, and she might just be adding extra A into her night because of such a long sleep in the day.

[ireneee]

Thanks for your replies!
 
I was wondering if perhaps I needed to let her have more A time - will try this and will see what happens :-)
Although today we have had two naps (very unusual!) but not sure if she has a cold :-(

Normally when we have the long NW, she is happy if I am in the room but when I leave, she might be okay for a few minutes then will start fussing again. I think she does want to get out as she will sit up and sometimes stand up. I have to be super quiet once I leave the room as if there is any noise, she will try to see what it is and then will start to cry.

Charlibob, I did try gradual withdrawal but her room is tiny so I might as well do WIWO!

So best to try 4+ hours of A time before bed... regardless of whether it's one nap or two?

[clazzat]

Towards the end of 2 naps, I had to limit the second nap so that total day sleep was no more than 2 hours (so 15-20 min am, 1h45 pm), which meant that we did still have 4h till bed.

Hope she doesn't have a cold.

[*Liz*]

Yes I would stick to 4hrs A at this point really. I'm pretty sure 3 hrs is just too little.

[ireneee]

Okay, will see how it goes.
We had 4 hours A time yesterday before bed but she still woke up at 1.30am for an hour or so. But it's early days yet - at least, that's what I'm telling myself!

Question:
If LO has a catnap, do you have to count 4 hrs A time from the end of the catnap or would the catnap count as part of A time?
I thought that I knew this but now I'm not sure if I've got it all wrong!

Thanks alot for your help!

[clazzat]

The catnap doesn't count as A time, but you wouldn't necessarily need 4h from the end of it if it was not a full-length nap.

And definitely give it a few days to see if it works - it's likely to take 2-3 days to see any difference from a change in routine.

[*Liz*]

I'm sure you will be going a little bit by cues while your LO is unwell.

I found that by the time he was well established on 1 nap IF he ever had a CN he would need a good 3hrs A after it, but certainly wouldn't do his full A time.

[ireneee]

Have been offline for a few days but new routine seems to be working - so thank you for the advice!
We've made sure that she has at least 4 hrs A time before bed. We've been aiming for bedtime around 7pm every day and I think she likes having a set bedtime. NWs are still here but I think the longest one last night was about half an hour - I'm hoping that they will get shorter and shorter!!! Phew!!!!

[*Liz*]

 

[clazzat]