can't go longer than 20 mins.......

[Redhairmum]

Hello, REALLY need advice as I don't know how to change this...

We are at the end of our first week on a 4hr EASY. Our son is 14 weeks old and is BF. He hasn't really had a routine until now, and would scream if put in his cot during the day, and only nap if he was being held- but could do 2hrs if in someones arms.
Last Sunday was a screamtastic nap day (our first on the plan), but by Mon, Tues etc we had an established wind down and he was happilly going to sleep (took about 15mins).
All week he has woken up after 20-30 mins, but at the start he would take about 20 mins of soothing, and then sleep for the rest of nap time (about an hour). Now he does the first 20 mins, takes another 20mins to soothe, then repeats this pattern throughout the 2hr nap.
He seems to go into REM after the initial 20 mins, and then be wide awake crying.

I know that being on EASY has made a huge difference to him- he no longer screams through his bathtime, but am worried that we have a routine of waking that I don't know how to change........Please help.

[Shiv52]

It sounds as if your LO could be OT going down for naps.  A lot of LOs would be at least 16 weeks before going to a 4 hour EASY and before this would be on 3 hour or 3.5 hour EASY.  I would try reducing the A time before your first nap and see does that help him settle into a better sleep and stop those OT wakenings. 

Well done you on getting your routine up and running and getting your LO to go happily to sleep...fab!!!

Are you finding he's making 4 hours between feeds ok?   A lot of mums on here find BF babies move to a 4 hour feeding schedule much later as BM is so easily digested they get hungrier sooner. 

[Redhairmum]

Thanks for help, we will try to keep his activity at a minimum. He is usually ready for his first nap at 8:45 (ish) and his activity before this has been nappy change, get dressed, feed (have to do it this way round as he has reflux and vomits if laid down too soon after eating) and then a 'hello' with his dad.

He is managing ok with 4hrs between feeds- he gets both sides at each feed and hasn't cried for any extra. He seems to have taken to this very well....apart from the sleeping. He definately needs to have as much of the 2hrs asleep as he can do, as he is really tired and grumpy if he doesn't have it.

I can't really complain as he is a happy boy other than this.

Have only just joined this site, and the help and support it provides is amazing. Thank you so much.

[Shiv52]

Sounds like he's a great napper! You've done really well to get this far so quickly x

Is his reflux under control? Is he taking meds for it? Crib elevated? Reflux can cause short naps so just checking that's not an issue first x

[Redhairmum]

WOW!! Yeaterday he did 2hrs straight through without a wake up!! 

However, today he woke up after 35mins, but went back to sleep again quickly.
We have been keeping his activity to a mimimum first thing and over lunch, and he no longer repeats the 20mins sleep/wake pattern. He does 35 mins now, short wake then back down for upto 1hr.

This is a HUGE improvement. DH and I both feel that he is making brilliant progress, and he's so much happier during activity time.

Reflux has improved alot, as he's on infant gaviscon and the cot mattress is raised at one end, so think that this is under control.

I can't stress enough how much better life is since we started him on EASY- we have time to do stuff (like tidy up!) and he is more relaxed and smiley.
I bought Tracy's first book the other day (We were given the third one) and feel much more prepared to face the next challenge. Only wish I'd read it whilst pregnant.

Fingers crossed for successful naps to continue!