Not sure what to do ????

[2greatboys]

I have a 5.5 month, DS2, who I started EASY with the day I brought him home.  Things were going well until about a week and a half ago.  I'm not sure what happened.  He was on a 4 hour EASY, sleeping 12 hours at night, some nights waking for a feed, but not every night, sleeping for 2-2.5 hours for the morning nap, 30 min. CN, and 45-hour afternoon nap.  I felt so blessed to have him on a schedule that still allowed time to take over active DS1 to the park to run off energy.  We did have a few days where unexpected things occurred and DS2 had to CN in the car unfortunatly.  Which I guess was not very restful because his afternoon naps quickly went to 30 mins.  He has been waking at 5 or 5:30AM to start his day.  I've done PU/PD to get him back to sleep.  It usually takes 30 mins., he then sleeps til about 7:15.  His morning naps were only 30 mins. until yesterday when I got him back on track, he seemed OT.  I also think he's EW because he's OT and it's just causing a domino effect.  I'm not sure he needs the CN any longer.  He seems fine if he takes another nap between 2:30 and 3 for an hour or so.  The other problem that has occurred is getting him down for the night.  He is eating semi-solids, so after dinner @ 5:30 he has a bath @ 6, BF, read then off to bed.  I will admit I did AP with allowing him to doze off while we read.  I would lay him in his crib and if he woke I stayed there with my hand on his chest or back very lightly patting him til he fell asleep again in a few mins.  By this time it's usually around 6:45-7PM.  My problem is he's still wide awake after we read.  I lay him in his crib and he's all bubbly, giggly, and happy.  If I leave him to fall asleep on his own he's fine for about 20-30 mins. then he starts to cry.  If I go in to him he's fine and giggly again.  How do I do PU/PD when he's not crying ??  Should I move his bath to 6:30 and aim for a 7:30 bed time ??  He has finally been falling asleep every night for the past week at 7:30.  That would mean I have to move his afternoon nap back too right ?  I'm just not sure if what I have in mind will fix the EW.  Any help will be greatly appreciated !!!

[Vicku]

Hi there!
I think you will get better advice on the EASY board as really what you probably need is an EASY tweak
To help us help you could you please post your typical day's EASY in the EAS-format?

[2greatboys]

Well I had my EASY for the last 2 days written down, however, my 2 yr. old felt it belonged in the dog's water bowl instead of hanging on the fridge.  So I will dof today's EASY.

Awake at 5:30AM
E 5:35 BF
E 7:15 cereal
S 7:50-9:35 1 hr. 45 mins.
E 10:05 BF, but only from one side
E 11 BF
A had to take DS1 to pediatricain
S 15 mins. CN on way to pediatrician
A once arriving at pediatrician
S 12:35-1:10,35 mins. in car on way to store
E 2:50 BF
A 1:10-4:10
S 4:10-4:35 woke up grumpy
E 5:30 pureed food
A outside for a bit, bath at 6:30
E 7 BF, story
S 7:30ish

If I did not have to take DS1 to pedi. I would have offered pureed food at 11.  He wakes up grumpy from his afternoon nap.  After he wakes I usually can not leave him for too long or he begins to fuss.  Making dinner is difficult at times.  When I put him down tonight I put him in his crib awake and content.  10 mins later he started to cry.  As soon as he saw me he was content again.  So I did not think I could do PU/PD.  I stroked his face and told him it was sleepy time until he was groggy and went to give DS1 a bath.  He fell asleep with much much less fuss and crying than the past several nights.  What tweaking do I need to do so he is not grumpy after his afternoon nap.  I know for him to be up for 3 hrs. is a bit long for a 5.5 month old, but he was not showing any signs of being sleepy until just before 4pm.  I'm not sure what I need to do.

[2greatboys]

One thing I forgot to mention is DS2 has learned to sit up on his own in the past 2.5 weeks and this week has had his first 2 teeth come in.  The first tooth came in on monday and the second on thursday.

[Jiinx]

hi there,
 Sorry that you haven't gotten a response. Just wondering how things are??

[2greatboys]

He slept until 6:30 this morning after going to sleep at 7:15.  He did wake at midnight and 4AM to nurse and back to sleep right away.  However, he was a bit cranky after the late afternoon nap and usually is.  I've found giving him his paci and putting him his swing helps.  He just hangs out there.  He does rub his eyes when he wakes up from the late afternoon nap, I try PU/PD, but he's absolutely content while I'm in the room so I can't get him to go back to sleep.  I assummed if he were still tired then the swing would put him back to sleep, but it doesn't.  Should I just accept the fact he doesn't need/want a longer late afternoon nap ?  He will be 6 months next week, should I try to get him to nap twice daily and cut out the CN ?  I know there are moms in far worse situations, I am grateful I only have afternoon crankiness and EW, but I would like to correct it.

[Jiinx]

hi hun!
 Let me look at your EAS again..the other one had that interruption in the carseat so maybe I could take a look at his EAS when he's at home?
It's common when they start approaching 7 months that they'll start resisting the catnap..

Have you taken a look at this thread?
http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=64837.0

[2greatboys]

Thank you so much for the thread !!  I'll take a look at it !  This is DS2 EAS from friday.  He did sleep in until 7:40 this morning.  He woke at midnight and I did PU/PD.  It took about 20 mins. and he went back to sleep.  He woke again around 2AM and I nursed him, straight back to sleep.  He woke again at 5:20 and DH did PU/PD, 20 mins. later he was asleep.  This is from friday not today.  Today DS2 did take a 30 min. nap in the truck while on the way back home from running errands, that's why I did not do today's EAS.  Thank you so much for taking a look at his EAS !

Awake 5:40
E 6:20 BF
   7 cereal
A 5:40-8:20
S 8:20-10:20 @ hrs.
E 11:30 BF
   12 pureed pears
A 10:20-1:20
S 1:20-1:50 a bit cranky from CN
E 2:45-BF
A 1:50-4:05
S 4:05-4:35 cranky
E 5:40 pureed food x 2 containers
A Bath @ 6:30
E 6:50 BF
S 7:20

[Jiinx]

Hi there!
 Quick question - did you mean BF at 10:30am for the second E?

The first A looks good. I think 3 hours may be too much for him as he's giving you a 30 minute nap. Perhaps you could try trimming the second A by 5-10 minutes? What do you think?

Just a couple of thoughts:
1) I see you cut the third A to 2 hours and 5 minutes -that's great! he may need a little less A time than this. Think of it like this: He went from 10:20-4:05 with only a 30 minute nap. Maybe try 1 hour and 30 mins after a 30 min nap?

2) If he continues to short nap until the end of the day, an early bed time may be needed so he can catch up on his sleep through the night and not be too OT by bedtime.

Hope that helps?

[2greatboys]

Thank you so much for the help !!  I did mean 11:30 for BF.  I offered him the breast shortly after he awoke and he was not interested.  Since this second tooth has been trying to break completely through the gum, he's hasn't been nursing or eating as well for breakfast.  He is eating and nursing normally throughout the rest of the day.  Today he woke at 6:50, took his first nap at 9:30, splet 1 hr. 10 mins. and after being awake for 2.5 hrs. he is taking another nap.  I just put him down, hoping he will nap longer than 30 mins.  If he does nap for 30 mins. I will try to put him down after he's been up for 1 hr. 30 mins.  I tried for a week to put him to bed at 6:30, but he laid in bed babbling and playing until 7:30 every night.  I still need to read about dropping the CN.  Thank you for your help !  I'm trying to get DS2 on a more predictable nap schedule so DS1 and I can have time together again.  This is starting to cause a bit of anxiety with me, since DS2's nap have been awry DS1 has been watching alot of TV !!

[Jiinx]

I know teeth are to be blamed on everything. My lo hasn't gotten her teeth yet and is in the midst of not feeling well

However, I know teeth can play havoc in napping, sleeping, eating..almost everything, really.

Do you think your lo may just be having a tough time with feeding and sleeping due to teething? Maybe things will get better once the teeth have cut.

A times are usually lower when they're teething. they tend to want to sleep more..

[2greatboys]

I really can't think of anything else other than teething that is throwing everything off.  The first two teeth have cut through the gums, but not fully erupted.  This morning I felt two bulges on either side of the two teeth that have already come in, four bulges total.  I feel so bad for him if he is getting all these teeth at once !  DS1 did not have teeth until he was 9.5 months old, once his first tooth came through the rest did not seem to bother him that much.  Guess I need to stock up on the Tylenol, it's the only thing that seems to keep him comfortable.  Yesterday DS2's morning nap was 1 hr. 10 mins. and his afternoon nap was 1 hr 30 mins.  I was very happy with this !!  I had him in bed and asleep by 6:30.  He woke at 10:30PM and it took an hour for him to go back to sleep.  He was restless part of the night and up this morning at 6AM.  He was A for 3hrs., nursed well and ate pureed fruit well.  He was showing no signs of being tired.  I put him down, he slept for 30 mins., awoke, and has been back down for 15 mins.  I'm sure I'm over reacting to DS2's sleep issues, but DS1 has had sleep issues for the past 6 months.  We've recently gotten them under control.  It was a ROUGH 6 months; was not looking forward to going through it all again so soon.  Thank you for all of your help !!!!!

[Jiinx]

I hear ya. I was struggling for 6 months as well. I know how it is, completely. Please don't feel down or anxious about sleep training. It does take time - but the gift you will give him will be so rewarding. Let him get over his teething and restart fresh. I'll be here to hold your hand

How is he doing today? Do you feel any bumps or any breakage in the gums? sometimes there's movements but the teeth don't break for weeks.

He reacts to tylenol? He gets calmer after you give this to him? Do you give him some medication before bed ?

[2greatboys]

He has been so off today.  He was asleep before 7 last night, but he woke around 10, then again at 12:30, soaked diaper, again around 4, 5, and up for the day at 6:20.  I didn't nurse him during the night and he seemed fine.  He nursed well and ate well this morning.  I put him down for his morning nap at 8:40 and he only slept for 30 mins.  It took me almost an hour to get him back to sleep, only to have him sleep for 20 more mins.  I had to go to the grocery store and he was fine while we were there and slept for another 30 mins. on the way home and after we arrived home.  I just put him down for another nap, hopefully he will sleep for a bit.  He's just all over the place, I can't seem to get him on a predictable schedule like he use to be.  Yesterday he had a great morning nap, almost 3 hours.  But only slept for 10 mins. in the afternoon.  I tried for an hour to get him to go back to sleep, but he didn't.  I watch for his sleep cues and I watch the clock, I can't seem to get things right.

He has two bumps on each side of the two teeth that are already there.  He's drooling and chewing like crazy.  Tylenol seems to help keep the swelling down and keeps him comfortable.  I also use teething tablets.  I give him the Tylenol every 4 hrs. and teething tablets about every 2-3 hours.  I give him both as close to bed time as possible.  I feel like such a slave to his naps. 

I would like to have him on a predictable schedule like before.  DS1 was 9.5 months before he had his first tooth, it was much easier.

Thank you for all of your advice and help !!!

[Jiinx]

so many hugs!!! Sounds like he's teething..is he biting at everything? not feeding properly?

We'll get him on a routine, don't worry. We just have to wait until he's not in pain or discomfort

Today I was feeding my lo so erratically. 4 hours was soo out the window. It's difficult when they're just 'off'..they're not themselves.

I know the feeling of being a slave to naps. It gets better when their A time increases and you're able to pop out and do errands. I felt like how you did until around 7 months. I just knew she does better when she takes naps ..so I didn't mind staying home. It gets better - they don't stay  young forever