I am this close to letting him cry

[*jazzberry*]

So sorry you are having such a tough time Jo. I know people who swear by the ergo carrier too - may be worth a try. (((hugs)))

[*Jo*]

Hun I just don't have the money for something like that

[Shiv52]

So do you think he needs a routine tweak?  Shorter nights and happy, chatty EW are most often a sign that they are needing more A time in the day.  I also think this is a time when tired cues can become a bit unreliable so it may be best to watch cues but also clock watch a bit and if you are getting tired cues before 1.45-2 hours (probably 2 hours at 4.5 months) try a change of scenery first to see if he's ok.   

A 10 hour also isn't too bad, I'd kill for that at the minute.    Did he sleep through the whole 10 hours or did he have NWs?

[*Jo*]

he had 2 nw's, plus I had Caleb in and out of my bed all night. Im just so tired. and after him being awake for nearly 4 hours before bed, im presuming a 10 hour night is OT not UT....

ok so another short nap this morning, put him in the wrap and we walked down to the shop, walked for half an hour before it began raining (was nice to get outside with Caleb though!) am home now and put him to bed because I seriously need to go to the toilet IYKWIM and of course hes crying in bed, its not an "I need you" cry as in hes in pain but like he just cannot get himself past this point and needs my help to actually fall asleep, but its not a serious "I need you" cry if that makes sense, but eventually it becomes one because hes so tired.

my eyes feel like they are burning, im so so tired.

Ive asked my cousin if he can take Caleb for the day and for tonight, so I can at least go to bed early.

[Shiv52]

I am really glad your cousin is going to take C.  YOu need a chance to catch up.

Am also really pleased you got out this morning.  Wee trips like that wil make all the difference for C.  Good for you xx

Hope he settles for you.  If you doesn't you could get him up for a while and try again in a bit.  I know with mine if they had a half hour in the wrap and then woke if i didn't get them settled right away they needed some A time before they'd easily go back over again.

How much A time did he have before the short nap?

[*Jo*]

1 hour 15mins. I thought after a 10 hour night I should knock back the A time and he was getting pretty tired, cranky and crotchety even after three scene changes.

so far the best naps Ive had lately have come from a 1 hour 25min A time (not every time but 80% of the time) just in the last two weeks.

how much of an A time would you suggest after a short nap?

forgot to add taht usually the white noise helps him but this time it seemed to aggravate him so I put lullabies on loudly and patted, he went straight to sleep for second nap. it doesnt always work but I often have to switch from white noise to lullabies or back to white noise again depending on what works at the time

[Khalam's Mama]

Can't remember if I asked this already but does he have a blankie? B really loved his from the minute I introduced it at 3-4mo. He can be really upset but if I give him his muslin he will start sucking it. B also cries really hard if I pat him even though he loved it as a NB.Can you try just shushing him instead sitting next to him? I used to find the patting really draining. I also find if I get B asleep in the wrap or buggy I only have a bout 10mins to get him in his cot or he will wake up on the transfer. Can you try getting him asleep in the wrap but putting him in the cot soon after?

[Shiv52]

I only knocked about 10-15 minutes off A time otherwise I tended to get another silly short nap.  

1.25 A time is pretty low and I wondered is he tired but just not tired enough to sleep for a long time and wakes at that first light cycle of sleep and then has had enough to keep him going?

I do think these naps are developmental for L and probably exacerbated by the reflux at times and I really hope it will all click for him very soon.  5.5 months here we got decent naps and I would like to think it was the weeks of extending I did but I do think she maybe just grew into it!

You're doing all the right things hun.  He's so funny with sometimes liking white noise, sometimes lullabys!!  

Hope this is a decent nap for you xx

[*Jo*]

KM -  he doesnt have a blankie, he does seem very attached to a taggy that Sara made for him (Zacsmumme) but his hands are covered in a wrap in bed, he cant sleep without that though so I cant remove that.

Shiv - he seems to be sleeping well, we are at the 50min mark and no sound from him yet, hes due a feed in 10mins, should I just let him sleep if he doesnt wake on his own seeing as hes so tired?

[Shiv52]

I'd let him sleep hun.  The rest will do him and you good xx

[Khalam's Mama]

Let him sleep! He sounds like he needs it as much as you need the rest. He isn't going to suffer from one slightly late feed.

Given that he isn't really sleeping well anyway maybe you shoule see if he would like to have his hands free at this age. When was the last time you tried? At least for one nap maybe.

[*Jo*]

i tried a few days ago, he just flailed around the bed (well his arms did anyway lol) and got frantic..

Im letting him sleep, hes been asleep over an hour so far now to feed my hungry toddler lol

[Khalam's Mama]

Go and feed that boy lol.

FWIW B used to flap around in the cot too but give him his blankie and immediately his hands come up to stuff it in his mouth. Maybe something to work towards. We also got short naps 4-6mo but are thankfull getting longer ones lately.

[Shiv52]

Never stops!  I feel like I am constantly feeding someone around here all day long.

 YAY for the longer nap!

[*Ali*]

Only today I was saying that someone constantly needs to sleep, eat or the toilet/nappy changing. If it's not one of the boys it's me. And sometimes it's all three of us at the same time and I don't know who to tend to first but it's almost never myself.