Um, what is going on? HELP!

[hatshetsut]

Kate is 15 weeks this week. Although she was born 4 weeks early, it seems like in the past two week she as made up all the developmental delay and is spot on with her age related peers. Prior to about 2 weeks ago her M.O was to have fussy evenings, decent nights. Only having 1, maybe 2, NW. After about 9 weeks of age she wasn't eating at night any more and just needed her pacifier and a little resettling.

Well, cue the music, it changed SIGNIFICANTLY about 2 weeks ago. She has been a mess at night, waking sometimes every hour. We also started running into 45 minute naps and fussing to go down. It looked like she needed a routine adjustment to a 3.5 or 4 hr EASY, so I made the change on Sunday. The naps have improved alot. She needs a 3.5 hr routine, she isn't quite ready for the 4. (And why is it that my brain can't calculate the 3.5? I always have to sit and think about it...)

My guess is that she hit a growth spurt and needed the routine change, but I could be wrong. Our EASY is below, please let me know if you have any insights, because I am too tired to think and calculate a 3.5 hr easy at the same time LOL!

700 eat
845 sleep
1030 eat
1200-1215 sleep
130 eat
3-315 sleep
430 or 500 eat
630 top off and bed
She generally wakes in the evening, usually 30-40 min post bed and again around 930.

There is some variance in the routine, you know like today when she was up at 6 am, but overall you get the picture.

Any ideas?

[hatshetsut]

The last nap is usually around 40 minutes.

On the 3.5 hr routine her naps are 1.5 hrs, on the 4 hr they are 2 hrs

We do use a dummy to settle. Usually once she is nice and asleep it pops out and she is fine. She really likes to suck her hands, but I've tried leaving one out and she doesn't go to sleep well.

[hatshetsut]

Hi Jane,
thanks for the help. Last night was a train wreck after 1200am, and some of that was due to her being OT from a routine busting day.

The night before we implemented an earlier bed time and it did help with the evening wakings and she was easier to resettle. But she still woke about 4 times. Often she doesn't want the pacifier back, and continues to cry with it in her mouth. It doesn't seem to make much of a difference when she wakes at night whether she had it or not. Also, most of the wakings come after 1 am. She slept fine from about 845 - 1, then after 1 it was every 1.5-2 hours or so.

And finally, do you have suggestions on how to help her find her hands? She still needs to be swaddled because she jerks herself awake if she isn't.

Thank you!

Holly

[anna*]

Have you tried the Aussie swaddle? You'll find links/tutorials if you Google it, I know there are some around on the site too. It stops them jerking but they can still get to their hands.

[hatshetsut]

I'll look for that, thanks!

Have I mentioned she is a great napper now that she is on the 4 hr EASY? She puts herself to sleep, and occasionally needs resettled, but not every nap. Night time is our boon right now.

[hatshetsut]

Well, the night wakings have gotten significantly better thanks to her starting some Zantac for reflux. We are down to maybe 2 wakings a night instead of hourly! Usually she just needs resettled and she is back out. That I can handle! Thanks for the help!

Holly