Cranky baby..is it my EASY?

[AvasMummy]

Thanks in advance for your help!

Here is my EASY:

Wake 6:30 ish (I think)
E 6:45am
A 7:00 am - 8:15 am wind down in cot
S 8:30 am
E 10:30 am
A 10:45 am - 12:15 pm wind down in cot
S 12:30 pm
E 2:30 pm
A 2:45 pm

Now this is where the fun begins?!? DD is miserable and I mean seriously miserable from around 3:30 pm everyday without fail and I noticed that this started around the same time that she extended her 2nd nap of the day to 2 hours so if it's just a developmental thing (DD is 5 months) then I'm prepared to ride it out. The thing that puzzles me is that its literally like clock work that she starts screaming the house down so I'm not sure if it is routine related because she's perfectly fine the rest of the day and settles for the first 2 naps fine and still STTN...although this evening has been so bad that she's not settled to bed easily so fingers crossed I don't get any NW! eek!

DD has also been having major issues with her CN which again I think started when she extended her 2nd nap she either refuses to take it so I AP with a car ride just so she's not OT or she'll take the CN but literally wake up crying and acting OT regardless and will be like that until bedtime. No matter what time the CN is I get the same result. Left to her own devices (out in the buggy etc.) I've noticed that she'll drop off at around 3:30 but that's only 1 hr A time after her last nap so if were at home I do try and push extra A time?!? Maybe I shouldn't?? Additionally if DD has CN this early then bedtime will have to be closer to 5:30 pm as she cannot last long. I've also noticed that the CN has decreased in length used to be 1 hr, then 45 mins, then 30 mins and now sometimes 20 mins....so do you think that maybe she's getting ready to drop it, but still needs it so her little body is just confused?? The only other thing that springs to mind is that she did have her injections last week but I would've though any symptoms related to that would've passed already??

Anyone any thoughts?? If anymore info is needed i'll happily give it i'm just sick of having an inconsolable screaming mess part way through the day.

Thanks (sorry for the mega long ramble)

[sunshine29]

I'm not sure what the pros have to say about naps, and this sounds counter productive, but would it help to wake your DD at 1.5hrs for that afternoon nap? That would leave lots of time for A time and a catnap before bedtime. Maybe 2+2+.5 is too much daytime sleep for DD? I'm lucky if my DS will get 3hrs sleep in one day (he's just about 5mos). Just grasping at straws as I'm sure you are too.

I hope you get this sorted out. They do keep us guessing don't they?

[AvasMummy]

Thanks I might give that a go DD is spending all day with DP today so no doubt she'll get less sleep anyway

I think the main problem I have is that I have no idea when DD wakes up in the morning or from naps because she's soo quiet so I go in and get her at the 2hr mark but for all I know she could have been awake well before then so maybe I am pushing her A time too much without knowing and she is genuinely getting OT. She goes to bed at about 6 ish maybe I should get her up at 6? I'm happy for her to go to bed later but she wont have any of it to be honest she'd probably crash out at 5:30 pm if I let her.

[sunshine29]

Could you sacrifice one day by staying in her room or sneaking in before the 2hrs and just watch to and see when she is waking up? That would give you a better starting point going forward.

[AvasMummy]

Thats what I was thinking! Right my plan is to get her up at 6 am tomorrow so that she has a full 12 hr EASY day and see where that gets us. I'll also try cutting her afternoon nap down a little to see if she settles for CN better...she did take her CN today but it was after 20 mins of grizzling for a 10 min sleep and then woke up screaming and carried on until bed time.

[sunshine29]

I think that makes a lot of sense and it sounds like it can't really hurt at this point Let me know how tomorrow goes!

[AvasMummy]

Thanks sunshine29 it worked! I got DD up at 6am (which nearly killed me) she weirdly shortened her 2nd nap herself as decided to push more A time so it was 1.5 hrs instead of 2 but she went down for CN easy...FINALLY! Must've been that I was making her day too short by getting her up later than 12 hrs after she went to bed. Well it worked today so we shall see tomorrow...feels like once one thing gets sorted they throw something else in the mix?!?

[sunshine29]

I hope it means you are on to something!

My lo did 3 x 30min naps today after having a couple good days. Funny, it seems as though an OT evening leads to better night sleep around here.

Yes, just as it seems you are on track something comes up We have to take the small victories when we can. And of course enjoy all the wonderful positive moments with these LOs.