Teething is mucking his sleep up

[ikesmummy]

Not sure if there is anything I can do but teething is messing Keaton's sleep up in a big way. Pretty sure it is teeth as he is cramming things in his mouth, won't let me get a finger in to look around, isn't eating as well as normal, having some horrible nappies.

He has been doing really well on one nap a day, waking between 6.30 and 7 and sleeping for 2 to 3 hrs from around 12 and then going to bed in the evening about 7.

We have had loads of change this week, I went back to work so he had his first day at nursery (with a 40 min nap and early bedtime) and a whole day at my in-laws which is a first.

Last night he was awake from 3.30am ish to 5amish. I finally got him back off after some pain meds, a drink and lots of cuddles. He then slept a little later than normal this morning. I would have put him down a little earlier than normal this morning but my parents were taking him to the park to feed the ducks so I could get some work done and they were a little later than planned bringing him back so he went down at 11.50. He woke up really upset at 1.30.

Any advice on what I should be doing while his teeth are playing him up?

[katie80]

I think yes, it's part the teeth coming in, but I also think it takes a bit longer to catch up from OT at this stage (I don't know if it's the one nap thing or just because they're more active, but that's what my experience has been).  Also, all the changes this week are sure to play a factor as well. 

In terms of the teeth, I'd give meds 45 min before nap and bedtime.  I usually do this for about 5-7 days in a row and then 'try' to take about 3 days off.  I do acetaminophen before nap and ibuprofen before bed.  Then, I think you have the right idea to pull back on nap time and bedtime when possible  (he could only need 15 min early, but maybe up to 30 min).  I know that may not be possible with a nap at nursery, so you'll just need to stick to the early bedtime on those days.  And it may take several days in a row to really catch up from the OT he's built. 

One other thing that most likely won't be possible with nursery and may not work for him, but did for my DD, was to go back to the morning CN (no more than 20 min) and longer pm nap when she was really OT.  He's on the younger side of one nap, so it may work, but it does seem like one nap suits him.  When my LO had a really tough night with teeth and an EW, that was the only way to get her through the day.

Big (((hugs)))!  You've got a lot going on it sounds like.  Hope something in there helps.

[ikesmummy]

Thanks Kate, will defiantly be mediating for all his sleeps and doing a dream feed of meds. Will try for a catnap this morning as he was up before 6 am a little nervous  though as the reason I stopped doing a combination of 1 and 2 nap days was he always got less sleep on 2 nap days.

He's not himself at all, just wants to snuggled with me which is so unlike my super active independent boy!

[katie80]

He's not himself at all, just wants to snuggled with me which is so unlike my super active independent boy!

  Poor guy!  The snuggling is nice though!

So, yes, you're going to have to see what's better for him in terms of one nap or two.  My DD never did long naps like you've been getting, so going back to two wasn't all that different.  And if he's not knocking out the longer naps due to being OT and teething, then one or two days of doing two naps may help.  Also, even though he's getting slightly less sleep, it still might be ok, as the day is broken up more, so he should be a bit more rested upon going to sleep.  However, I know it doesn't work for everyone, so if that's the case, just stick with the earlier nap and bedtime till he can get caught up. 

[ikesmummy]

Well didn't manage to get a catnap either morning and yesterday was pretty bad sleep wise, he was up at 5 this morning and I thought he wasn't going to hi back down but suddenly all went quiet and he went back to sleep for another 2 hrs waking at 7.30. He's really struggling with his teeth still but managed to get a 2.5 hr nap out if him today, had to resettle him once but he was barely awake. Just hoping he's had enough a time today now.

[ikesmummy]

Just had a really upset Nw so thinking I could he in for a bad night, that was about 4 hrs after ibuprofen. going to bed now hoping it's not going to be as bad a night as I am fearing and hoping dh remembers to do a drenched feed of meds when he comes up to bed in a bit.

[katie80]

Lots of (((hugs)))!  Teeth are always tough here too. 

[ikesmummy]

Oh I have had such an awful day! Thought the teeth were giving us less problems and actually git a 2hr40min nap today but as the afternoon wore on they were obviously giving him trouble again,he wouldn't drink his bedtime bottle, had him tucked up in bed at 7 after 4hr20 A time. Thought he had gone off but at 7.25 he started crying and he barely stopped for over an hour and a half.

He wouldn't take his dummy and nothing I did seemed to calm him much. It took me ages to give him some medicine as he didn't want me near his mouth. Holding him, rocking him, taking him into my room, nothing seemed to help.

In the end at 9pm I took him downstairs at my wits end and he fell asleep on me on the sofa. Can see me having to call work and take tomorrow off, not going to look good on my second week back but can't be helped!

He's never been this bad with teeth before and can't remember anything this bad with my older son, should I be considering some other cause?

[ikesmummy]

Well thankfully he resettle quickly when he woke in the night but was up for the day at 5.40 tried all sorts including bringing him into our bed just to get an extra half hour but with no success. So 8hr40 of broken sleep. Will ask nursery to try and get him to have 2 naps I think as lunch means they can't bring the midday nap forward. Just hope these teeth cut soon!

[Mom to M&M]

Just offering hugs - we're having a super rough time with teething (I think) now too...

[katie80]

We get broken nights with teeth and she doesn't usually sleep later in the morning.  It's not fun, is it?  And now combined with the clocks falling back, sleep is pretty much a mess. 

If he has another really bad NW like that, you may consider taking him in to get his ears checked.  Teeth are awful, but I know that some kids get ear infections at the same time, so there could be something else going on.

More (((hugs)))!  They will come in eventually.

[ikesmummy]

Thanks Karen and Katie for the hugs and support (Katie that it a lovely picture).

Well when I dropped Keaton at nursery this morning I told them he was struggling with his teeth and asked them to ty and get him down for 2 naps. H slept for 40 mins this am and 1 hour this afternoon so we had him in bed as early as possible which worked out being about 6.30 it's now 8.10 and he's already woken twice but I have managed to settle him quite quickly both times - heaven knows what tonight is going to be like but know I'm going to be shattered after another ay in the offie tomorrow. Need to try and have an early night but haven't even had dinner yet.

Hope you two sleep better tonight! Hugs back to both of you!