Any help to stop this EW cycle

[*Liz*]

Slight improvement  .

Napped from 12-2pm, then PD for sleep at 7pm and asleep by 7.15pm I think.

Was still very restless all night and I did go in twice to locate his lovey for him  .

He did wake at 4.30am with the birds but went back to sleep again until 6.05am ish, and then dozed until 6.30am.

SO I think I have found my issue - birds are disturbing and then he isn't tired enough to go back to sleep again.

So looks like it might need to be 5.5-6hrs to the nap, and then 5-5.5hrs after his nap, but with the nap on longer than 2hrs.

That is the new plan for now anyway  .

[babybarr]

Good news then I guess...  and sounds like a good plan to me.  Hopefully it'll work for you hun. Xx

[*Liz*]

Yeah - I have no idea what is with these random NWings though - it is pretty odd really.

But I think I will just see if they settle themselves first.

[scucci1979]

I was thinking about you this morning. I hope your plan works. I am still trying to figure out the last A time. 

[MummyToBen]

Sorry if you've already said - but have you tried white noise to block out the birds?

xx

[*Liz*]

We have never used white noise with J so I'm not sure it would do well. Certainly didn't help as a baby.

I do leave the bathroom fan on for naps so I suppose I could try putting it on if I hear him waking at silly o'clock.

Nap was a bit rubbish today typically  , but I think I'll stick with the plan and a 7pm bedtime. He slept for 1.5hrs instead of 2 hrs - he often does this on a thursday - I think because he is a bit OS as he goes to a music class that finishes at 11.15am and naptime is 12pm.

[MummyToBen]

We use it more as a blocking-out-noise-tool rather than one to help him sleep iyswim.  We've got an upstairs neighbour and so we always use a radio tuned into 'nothing' and it just takes the edge off any noises going on.  Would it be worth a try for a couple of nights, or are you worried it might actually disturb his sleep? x

[Tweakster]

I think the white noise is worth a try.  That's actually one thing we haven't done yet.  I don't think those birds are going anywhere, can you chop down the tree? lol ;-D

[MummyToBen]

Or get a cat 

[*Liz*]

Actually some of the birds ARE going somewhere as we have found a hole in the fascia and the little buggers are living in my roof  . And a very nice man is going to block the hole tomorrow and fiz it properly for me next week (as long as they are not already nesting - which I HOPE they aren't otherwise I will have to endure weeks of twittering baby birds  )

I am worried that it will disturb his sleep TBH - but I guess I might have no other option really.

[Mashi]

Liz, when DS woke this morning at 6am (which is a full hour early and rare for him) I thought of you!  One thing that has happened over this past week is that he has been napping for 2h some days and 1hr40 for other days. On the days he is sleeping 2h, he has been going to bed at 730 and then waking at 6am -- 10.5 hours sleep. It is a new one for us as we always get full nights of 11.5-12h or we get OT nights of 10h.  The 10.5 stumped me.  BUT the days when he is only sleeping 1hr40min he is taking his full 11.5 hours of sleep at night.

So an extra 20 minutes in his nap is causing him to lose 1.5 off of his night. The first couple of times I didn't think anything of it, but after a week of watching this pattern I am convinced that the short nights are coming from too long of a nap.  As I said it seems odd that 20 minutes of extra day sleep will rob an hour or more from his night but I feel like it is the only explanation in our case.

I know J is younger but has always made these transitions a good few weeks or month before my DS .... it makes me wonder if that is what is going on with J.  He seems young to only need a bit less than 2h for his nap but he's always been low on sleep hasn't he?

Anyway it was just a thought, as I said at 6am I did think of you and so wanted to share.... xx

[*Liz*]

Thanks Mash - that is interesting that 20 mins can have such a dramatic difference.

He seems a bit hyper during the day with less sleep - but I'm hoping that is just a bit of OT riding through as we try and sort this out.

[babybarr]

So on that theory my DS napping an hour could be causing his 2hr NWs

How was your night Liz and hope you get the birds sorted.  What a PITA.

[LucySol]

i only just saw this!!! we always seem to go thru this together!!! Good to share eh?!

worth a go with that final A time,i know shorter to bed has always been better for J but they seem to change their needs so quickly dont they!

hope this morning was better!!

[*Liz*]

Man has just come and boarded up the hole so the boards can't get in  but he did say they would scratch at it for a few days now  until they give up.

J was late to bed last night as he was upset as his Daddy wasn't home in time to put him down to bed - and I had to resettle him a few times.

Ended up on 5.5hrs A after a 1.5hr nap and STTN without a peep at all. First time I heard him stir was at 6.05am and he was awake properly 10 mins later.

So it is *looking* like this is all UT, and I have been essentially waiting for the cr***y nights to make him OT enough to sleep on the shorter A's  . This has always been my downfall with J - always the same UT/OT loops. I think because he is a good napper really and I get misled.

So Laura - this could be happening at your end I guess as well? Just more dramatic as it is less sleep?