Desperate for some sleep, 7.5mo NWs and EWs, please help us!!

[sianie]

What do you do when he wakes at 5am?

Have you tried an earlier BT? Even if he still wakes early he should get more hours sleep?

Touch wood, we don't get many EW's with DS. Still working on set naps.....today's not been so good, did a short PM so who knows what he'll be like tonight 

[sianie]

J - how are things going? x

[jackman]

Hi S!!
Things have been touch and go lately with NWs and EWs. Obviously having my parents here for two weeks really threw a wrench into everything. So I tried really hard not to stress about naps and nights.

DS was OS, was sick, is teething (medicating) and is learning to sit/pull himself up. You name it, we had it! I have been wondering if I should post something or just ride things out. I'm glad you are asking as I need someone to have as a sounding board for what is happening.

My parents left on Friday and since then DS has been sleeping better. In fact, the last two nights he has STTN (first for him to have 2 nights in a row) and the kicker - he wakes at 5 or 5:30am ready for the day!!! UGH. He is sleeping only 10hrs a night and 3hrs during the day. Here is our EASY and my thoughts that I need your help with:

5:00/5:30am Stirs and I leave him to see if he'll fall back to sleep. Last couple of days I have gone in at 6:00am as he starts screaming!
7:00am Bottle
8:30am Breakfast
9:30am/9:45am Nap #1 (I have to wake him after 1.5hrs)
Noon Lunch
2:00pm Bottle
2:30pm Nap #2 (I have to wake him after 1.5hrs)
4:30pm Dinner
6:00pm Bedtime routine - bath and bottle hoping he sleeps by 6:30pm/6:45pm

- His naps have been great as you can see, so I don't think he needs more A time
- I've been keeping him up until 9:30am to prevent Nap#1 as part of night time sleep
- When he STTN, he wakes at 5/5:30am. If he has 1NW, then he'll sleep until 6/6:30am.
- I still can't get the right A time after Nap #2. Friday, I had to wake DS at 4:10pm and he lasted until 6:40pm. So last night I tried to do the same as he woke around the same time from Nap #2. Unfortunately no matter how hard I tried, DS didn't go to sleep until nearly 8pm!!! I thought for sure our night would be full of NWs, but he slept until 5:30am. So does that mean after a night of sleeping thru and naps of 3hrs, his last A time could be nearly 4hrs?

I'm afraid to even think about the 2-1 transition, but I read on one of the FAQ that good solid naps could be an indication.....

Thoughts? TIA.

[jackman]

So tonight was a repeat of last - BT nearly 8pm despite my efforts of trying around 6/6:30pm. DS' afternoon nap was 1.5hrs and ended at 4pm (woke on his own and am nap was 1.5hrs). I don't mind DS going to bed around 8 if he just didn't wake at 5/5:30am. His days are way too long (I know) and I have been trying to get him to bed earlier to see if that could curb his waking at the crack of dawn, but no go. Do I need to cap his naps? Right now the set nap times are working for us in terms of giving him good naps, but the BT takes forever to settle.

Ideally I wouldn't mind DS waking around 6:30/7am and going to bed at 6:30/7pm. How do I get there? I shouldn't complain too much as DS STTN the last two nights (knock on wood) have been great - what I have wanted for many many months. I'm hoping we don't have any NWs tonight, but we'll see.

What do you think?

[sianie]

Hi J!

I'm no EW expert but from what I know EW's can be OT/UT &/or an indication that you need to re-jig his daytime sleep?

I think the 2-1 transition can start around 9mths so it could be a possibility.....have you thought about doing 1 long & 1 short nap? I know you can go to a long AM & short PM nap (or vice versa)....I'm sure there's some info on it on here somewhere?

[jackman]

Hi S - It's nearly 6am and we had a terrible night. DS was definitely OT and so we had multiple NWs. He woke at midnight and screamed for over an hour. I medicated and shame on me, but I gave him a bottle and he drank a full one. I was hoping that he would sleep after a terrible early evening, but at 5:30am this morning he woke with screams again and ready to go for the day. He would not go back to sleep despite my efforts.

So now I'm not sure what it is - teeth? hunger? the 2-1 transition? OT/UT cycle? He is definitely tired and will be shattered by 9:30am. Do you think I should post something asking the question about the 2-1 transition? I have been reading as much as I can to look for answers, but it is nice to get opinions on your own issue.

It's gonna be a rough day.

[sianie]

Hey...sorry you had a rough night!!

Yep, might be worth posting a new thread to get some more ideas! Defo sounds like OT so guess you need to try & get him caught up today as much as you can to try & stop the dreaded OT loop!!!! Let me know how you get on! x

[jackman]

I will post a new thread.

So I was finally able to get DS down, it's 6:30am. Do you think I should let him sleep as long as he wants this morning? If so, do I then just watch A times as the set naps will be messed up. Or should I wake him at 7am and start the day? I don't know what to do that will be best for him since you are right, I need to let him catch up so that the OT isn't worse.

I think there is some sort of teething going on.....

Thanks.

[sianie]

Do you mean back down at 6.30am after EW?

I'd probably get him up at 7am ('tho it depends how long he had been awake for before?) & start the day then & try to stick to set naps times as much as poss (give or take 15 mins), I'd probably cap his naps at 2hrs if he sleeps that long to allow him to catch up a bit.

Guess you are giving teething meds etc before sleeps?

As you know my naps have gone a bit to pot so I'm probably the last person you want to listen to, lol!! 

[jackman]

LOL S!!! If it wasn't for you and some of the other ladies, I would go mad! You have been spot on, so don't sell yourself short.

Yeah, he fell asleep at 6:30am after his EW at 5:30am and multiple NWs. Tho DS woke up himself at 7:10am. We went about our usual morn and I put him down at 9:30am. He woke up himself at 10:50am and that is a first for him in about 3 or so days. I have been having to wake him after 1.5hrs. He still looks sooo tired.

I'm gonna shoot for 2pm nap and see if that helps him with the OT. Obviously try for early BT like 6:30pm right?

I have been giving him meds to help with teething. Just hope something pops thru soon.

I posted on the EASY board, not sure if it was the right board, but hopefully someone sees it and gives some advice. 

I know your naps have gone to pot and my nights have never been good. Maybe we need to give each other some vibes so we have perfect days and nights?? If it were only that easy right? Wait, we are doing EASY!!! LOL.

[sianie]

lol! Yeah, ironic that my nights are good & your days are good....our LO's need to talk!! 

What set nap times have you been using?

Have you been using ibuprofen? Just mentioning it as I've found this better for teething than paracetamol as it's anti-inflammatory.

2pm nap sounds about right.....fingers crossed for a better PM & eve! x

[Huds Mom]

Hi Jackman and Sian, I am following all your posts cause I am right there with you. Gosh, last night my little guy felt like partying at 12am till about 1:30am then woke at 5am and didnt go back to sleep. Naps are hit and miss, yesterday and today good but Sunday terrible. (I drove up and down the street to get him to sleep and no luck!!).

I feel like giving up sometimes so not that I wish this on anyone but it is nice to know I am not alone. I have seperate posts to focus on my specific issus but will stay close to this in case anyone has any tips or advice.

Are either of you working right now? Gosh I am dreeding work if this keeps up. I have 3 months till i go back and I know alot can happen so trying to stay positive.

Carrie

[sianie]

Hi Carrie!

Looks like we're all in similar boats! I don't really remember things being this tricky with DD but guess my preggie brain has erased it, lol!

I do think that a lot of this may be an age/developmental thing! Also, it's interesting that all our LO's are little boys (I have read that boys are generally poorer sleepers than girls).

Touch wood, Ellis's nights are pretty good, it's naps that are more of an issue for us,'tho you can guarantee that as soon as I get his naps started his nights will go to pot! 

[sianie]

P.S - for now I'm a SAHM as I have a 27mth old too, but I can understand you feeling anxious about going back to work. Although a lot can happen in 3 mths time & I know with DD by the time she was 1 things got a lot more settled! 

[zebstiredmum]

Hi Jackman, Sianie & Hud's Mom

Just wanted to say Hi - haven't posted for a while as went away for a few days, and been busy.  Just want to give you a bit of hope - I had EWs with my DS, then EWs AND NWs - the NWs were for a couple of weeks, but it felt like forever!  The EWs (5am) were for a couple of months.  Still getting the occasional NW - 2 nights ago we had one at 2.30am, he wouldn't settle and I eventually fed him at 3.30am - I haven't night fed since I night weaned him at 4 months (apart from a few times at 5am). Anyway I think he was in a lot of pain - stomach ache judging by the way he was arching his back and screaming so I think he worked up an appetite by the time he'd stopped screaming.  But I digress - on the whole the NWs and EWs have passed, even though his day time naps aren't great. (Am nap = around 1.5 hours, Pm nap - usually about 35-40 mins, but a couple of times a week sleeps for a bit longer)

He was getting very OT by bedtime because of short pm nap, but also seems to be over that too.  So big hugs to you all - I hope your LOs sleep better soon.

Also, it's interesting that all our LO's are little boys (I have read that boys are generally poorer sleepers than girls).

  - I haven't come across that but I suspected it!  None of the Mum's with girls who I've met at groups have problems with sleep!