9 mo - struggling with short naps/need help with figuring out A times?

[Kruliczyca]

Hi there. I need fresh eyes on DSs kind of routine bc I'm struggling with few issues and can't figure them out of my own.
DS is spirited/textbook, BW since day one.
For months we had naps issues just to notice he has low sleep needs (at 5 months it was about 13-14 hours of sleep per day, I don't know exactly what it looks now since I don't keep log anymore).
Usually nights are good no matter if naps were good or were out (and it happens when  day is busy and naps short - night is even better).
For two weeks now DS is not nursed at night, for two nights we had kind of STTN (with EW around 5.30)


Our routine is more or less like that:
wake up between 6 and 7, BM
7/8 - solids
1st nap after 3,75-4 hrs from wakeup (it last usually 35 minutes and sometimes 1 hr 10 minutes)
11/12 BM
12/13 Solids
2nd nap after about 4 hrs of A (usually 35 mins, sometimes 1 hr when first nap was short)
16/17 BM
17/18 Solids
18.30/19 bath
19/19.30 BM,
Bedtime - usually independent.

Now, it seems I can't figure his A time (for over a month now ). Until last week he went down for naps independently and fell aslep within minutes - just to wake up at 25,30, 35 minute mark - with no chance to resettle. I guess bc of UT and increased A times bit after bit to get to 4hrs, but decent nap happened only once. Just to mention DS showing no sleep clues or too subtle ones, so reading him is extremely hard. Most of times I go by the clock.


But from last week naps are garbage. Puting DS for nap is real battle. Lots of crying, arching, standing up. And naps ends at 35 min mark with no chance to resettle (TBH DH sometimes manages to resettle DS, but I can't).
What changed lately is no feeding at night and resettling by DH so I guess SA can be  some reason of this, but I don't know really.

The top of all are EW that happening more and more often, but I don't know if it's matter of OT (I doubt it - all DS's life i was worried if he gets OT and it comes out he is UT ) or clustered naps or last nap too close to bedtime or teething or cutting of NF. Phew...

DS is currently teething and I'm giving him paracetamol and camilia but honestly, don't see much difference.

Please, someone help me figure him out bc I'm already really tired and upset with all this poor naping and then juggling with rest of day.

[*Liz*]

How long have you been using that A time for?

Have you tried ibuprofen for the teething? I always found it more effective.

Have you tried shorter A times while he is teething?

I must admit I think he will be OT on only 2 short naps a day, and that is why you are getting EWs.

DD's A's have dropped quite a lot after a run of bad napping due to teething.

[Kruliczyca]

Hi again.
I'll post yesterdays routine. It was unusual but maybe someone will notice some detail that ma be helpful in figure things out.

So yesterday DS woke at 5 but went to sleep only just to wake up 15 mins later. DH resettled wchich wasn't very difficult but DS slept only for about 30 minutes and woke up grumpy.
I thought he's up for good so decided to BF but unexpectedly DS passed off for 2,3 hrs so we all wake up for the day at 8.40.
9.00 - solids
11.00 BF
12.00 solids
13.10 nap (after 10 minutes battle)
13.45 woke up grumpy, I tried to resettle but no luck, even AP didn't helped.
14.00 BF
15.00 snack
17.00 solids
18.00 bath
18.30 BF - he passed off while nursing.
NW at 3.15 but easily resettled.
Woke up happy today at 6.30.

Now he went down for his first nap after 4 hrs of A and again with screaming.

Please, someone help me bc it's so difficult to me to find any pattern and adjust EASY for him

[Kruliczyca]

Hi Liz, thank you for replying.

I've tried shorter A times during previous teething just to see it doesn't help.

I didn't try ibuprofen - guess it's worth of trying.

Regarding A times I'm trying to find out what exactly it is for month now, trying to extend first A for 5 to 10 minutes, but still getting short naps. As I wrote before untill last week DS was going down for his naps like a dream but since then there are battles - screaming, arching, standing up. He reaches his hands for me then.

I also think two 35 mins naps are too little even if he has low sleep needs but there seems to be nothing I can do about it. Sometimes DS sleep for longer when in stroller but come on! I can't walk him when it's -10 outside

Luckily the tooth is to cut within a day or two so maybe things will sort then.

[~Sarah~]

I have to agree that I think this is all teething related and the best you can do is medicate and try to get as much sleep as you can without driving yourself nuts. 

I just went through this and within a few days of the tooth actually coming through we were back to normal sleep and naps.

Sorry I don't have a magic answer

[Kruliczyca]

Thank you Sarah anyway.
The tooth is cuting atm so hoping for improovement in few days.

[*Liz*]

Yey - if the tooth is coming it is almost over 

[timmysmommy]

Hugs Marysia!  It is probably the tooth bothering him.  Hope it is through soon!  When he does short naps is it usually UT or OT for you?  BW says 30 min nap is OT, 40 min is UT.  My T always does 45 min regardless of OT or UT.  Is he going down easy or is he fighting you? 

[Kruliczyca]

Today was way better. DS had lovely 1.5 hr morning nap which is very rare plus usual 35 mins in stroller.

Amy, when DSs nap is short it's always 35 minutes and long is between 1 hr10min - 1hr 20 min. 30 minute naps are very rare. So those 35 mins may mean everything! When I'm able to extend a nap, it was probably OT but when I can't I assume it's UT or DS was  uncomfortable.

For over a week now DS fights before naps and I started to extend his A times but guess I shouldn't do it bc he's teething.
Lets see what tomorow will bring.

[Kruliczyca]

Little update - still having short naps :-( 
Luckily teething stopped for a while and It seem that eliminating diary from DSs and mine diet is giving some results.
For last few days DS was waking at 5ish regardles good or poor napping in previous day so I did a small step back and decided to feed him  if he wakes after 5am (just to remind - we cut NFs more or less 3 weeks ago). I'll post a result in few next days - maybe it will click.

[~Sarah~]

I still try to feed DD if she wakes and it is early..my thoughts are she is 1. small  2.  she eats as soon as she wakes anyhow, so I just feed her in the dark *in case* she is just hungry and still tired .  99% of the time she will not fall asleep, but I at least know it was not hunger.

So let us know where you are at with your EASY.  Also, do you think you might be getting ready for 2-1?  Both my LO's starting waking around 5 and having short naps when we started the switch.  Just a thought.  How are the teeth coming?

[Kruliczyca]

Hi Sarah.
Yesterday I jinxed myself telling that teething stopped for a while. It's back :-/
Also for last three days we had lot of visiting family and being in different places, so routine is out ATM. Again, need to wait for tooth and stillness.

Re. 2 to 1 transition I am aware that this will come sooner than later as DS is very active baby and handles long awake times. But short naps we have for all DSs life and recent EWs are most likely hunger+OT (he is waking angry), so I don't really know if there are 2 to 1 transition symtoms.

[~Sarah~]

Well, I think we need to wait until things settle back down before we really think about 2-1.  Short naps and early waking can be signs that he is getting ready.  But, I think before you mess around with that the teeth need to come first.

I hate it when they come and go!  Just pop through already!!

Sorry not much help...

[Kruliczyca]

Sarah, any idea is priceless. I really appreciate your support, thank you :-)

[timmysmommy]

Marysia- I had the EW's too!  DS is already moving to one nap.  I've been transitioning for a few weeks now.  Just something to think about.  Hope things have started to get back on track for you!