nearing 2-1 transition, long days, short nights.

[mjohnson33]

He does go to my mom 2 days a week and the sitters 3....I think he gets more activity at the sitters than at my moms...so its very likely he was UT today since he was with her.  So, I told her to put him down anytime after 2:45 no later than 3.  And we will see what we get. 

I will stay with the A times tomorrow but I am sure it will be different as he is with the sitter then.  LOL

And then you are pretty close to him being on 1 nap.  I have to say, once they are there, it does make life so much easier.  And there's one less sleep for you to to stress over!

Cant wait!! But he's always been a good napper, its the nights that are horrible. 

Thanks for all your help!!!

[mjohnson33]

clairebear!!!!  He STTN!! IN HIS OWN CRIB!!!!

OMG!!! Maybe we shouldnt change anything....I have a suspicion that he will do short naps again on the same A time though b/c he had a great restful night....

He did wake up around 3am but was able to put himself back to sleep!!!

So here was his day yesterday:
WU 6:50
nap 1 10:30-11:40
nap 2 3-4:30
BT 7:50 asleep at 7:55 barely any resistance!!

Then he woke around 6:30 am this morning b/c his blankie was on his face so I just put him in bed to w/ me to get him to sleep til 7 so we could keep the same with the routine. 

[clairebear79]

FANTASTIC!!!!!!  I'm so pleased!!!!!!!

Looks like a good day yesterday! He went down a little later for his PM nap than I thought he would, & he still got in a good nap & a decent A time to BT.

So are you planning a repeat today?xx 

[mjohnson33]

So are you planning a repeat today?xx

I dont know, what is your take on all of this??

You seem to know more than I do.  LOL

I am thinking the morning nap may be even shorter since he had such a great night. But I guess that is ok then we can hope for a longer PM nap??

We could just play it by ear and see when he is tired....my mom said yesterday at 3.5 hours A time, he went right down without a problem so he was tired, just not tired enough to get a long nap, I guess??

[mjohnson33]

He baffles me clairebear!!!
Today he WU at 6:30 but I put him in bed with me and he went back to sleep until 7, then he went down for his nap at 10:35 and we had to wake at 12:45 (I had to get ahold of my mom to wake, I thought he would wake on his own!)

So now, we will do a 3.5 hour A time and that will put it at 4:15!!! That is way late!!! If she does, should I only let him nap 30 minutes?? Maybe she can get him down at 4 and we can cap that or he will wake on his own. 

I just dont get it, he had a great nights sleep and he still wanted a 2+ hour nap!! LOL silly baby boy!!! ;-)

[clairebear79]

Well hun - there is a saying - sleep begets sleep.  So once they start to sleep more, then they need to sleep more IYSWIM?

Before I read your second post I was actually going to suggest trying the short AM nap again.  Personally I always got on better with that with my LO b/c he would get OT with long AM/short PM & I always found having the longer nap in the PM better in terms of both preventing OT at BT but also in terms of making sure they are tired enough for bed.

So anyway, since he's had a mega nap I'd be surprised if she could get him down at 4pm.  But I daresay you may surprise me!  If he went down at 4pm you might be able to do 45mins & a 7.30/8pm BT, but if its more like 4.15/4.30pm then I would cap at 30mins & do BT 7.30ish (maybe a bit earlier if nap ended at 4.45 or maybe a bit later if nap ends 5pm).  Watch him closely for OT b/c we don't want a restless night like he had the other night.

I'll be interested to see what happens!

[mjohnson33]

So once they start to sleep more, then they need to sleep more IYSWIM?

I was gonna say the same thing.  Its so funny!!

Seems he actually does better with the long AM nap.  ON Monday he had a long AM nap and a 45 minute PM nap and he had a pretty good night....Only Tuesday night was bad and I think he was OT b/c he had too much A time and had to be woken from both naps.  KWIM?

We will shoot for 4pm nap time and 4:45 WU.  If not then 5pm WU and we should be able to still get a 8pm BT.

HOpefully he can settle into a pattern soon, this is exhausting.  LOL :0

Can you give me signs of OT please??

[clairebear79]

Sounds like a good plan.

Signs of OT - difficult as this can vary from child to child but I'll tell you what I get from my LO.  Waking several times in the first few hours after BT.  Usually a shorter night.  Crying/whining/grumpy when he wakes in the morning.  Short naps & crying when he wakes from his nap.  He might be super clingy & want to be held/carried/cuddled all the time.  He has more tantrums.  But he can also behave very very excitably.  Squealing & running around like a crazy thing.  You could call it 'loop the loop'.  This sign can be quite hard to spot creeping in & then all of a sudden I think OMG he's OT.  When he's like this he will typically shake his head when I say its naptime & laugh & run away.  I have mistaken this at times for him not being tired enough when in fact he is OT!  He will also charge around when I put him in his cot - he dives from one end to the other.  He can take a long time to settle to sleep & sometimes he may cry, sometimes he may chatter away.

Bear in mind they are all different & my LO is a bit older than yours so you may not be getting the running away & the tantrums like I'm getting.  Yet!

[mjohnson33]

Ok, thanks!!

Sounds like OT is hard to spot until after the fact.    But then I can know that was not a good day.  I am keeping close notes of every day so I can tell what works and what doesnt. 

Typically, how long do you think this will take in order to get right??

[clairebear79]

Oh gosh hun IDK.
 
You have to remember you are in a transition right now - a time of change.  So you may have a consistent week, and then he may need his nap capping some more.  Or you may plod along nicely for a month or 2 before things need to change.

I know things aren't quite as consistent as you would like yet, but don't forget what successes you have had already:  His NW's have greatly reduced.  He is settling much better at BT, and at his normal 8pm BT rather than 9/9.30pm.  His nights are longer too.  And he STTN!  Look how great he is doing!  As with any change, it takes time to take effect, and time to figure out just the right A times etc.

You will get there.xx

[mjohnson33]

LOL, yeah, I have dealt with it for 13 months now whats another 1 or 2??

As with any change, it takes time to take effect, and time to figure out just the right A times etc.

And a great person like you to help along!!! I am so thankful for all your help!!!

[mjohnson33]

Ok clairebear, another bad night!! I am seeing a pattern here.  We are being very consistant with the A times of 3.5 hours, the only difference???  When we have to wake him from both naps, night have been very restless and he is definately OT.
Here was yesterday:
WU 7
nap 1 10:40-12:45 had to wake
nap 2 4:10-5:05 had to wake (my mom said she thought he was tired before this and should have went down earlier but she put him in there at 3:55 and it took that long to settle)
BT 7:50 asleep by 8:05

He woke at 12:45 crying very hard and I tried to keep him in his bed but he wouldnt have it so then I brought him in my bed and he flopped around all night like a fish out of water (thats his OT).  

So, I am thinking maybe we need either less A time or to not wake from his first nap.....what is your take?

Since I have been spoiled with 2 good nights, when he has bad nights, it makes them even worse now.  

[clairebear79]

Hun if you think his A times are too long, pull them back by all means.  And of course you can let him sleep at the AM nap.  Like I've said before, when on long AM/short PM, usually a LO's A times are just as long AFTER the PM nap as before it.  The only trouble you may have is that if you make that A time to PM nap shorter, then wake him after 45 mins he will have longer to go until BT which will make him OT.  Maybe 3hrs A is too long after a 45min nap for him?  It was just a suggestion based on what my LO could do & of course they are all different.

I still wonder if short AM would be better - this is what gave you your STTN the other night.....

[mjohnson33]

Hun if you think his A times are too long, pull them back by all means.

It wont hurt anything by trying a lower A time right?? We just may get a short nap right?? I am ok with that....

Maybe 3hrs A is too long after a 45min nap for him?

It doesnt seem like too much, he seemed fine and actually didnt look tired at all and I was worried he wouldnt settle.....

 

[mjohnson33]

My mom went to put him down at 3 hours and he just talked and talked until 3.5 hours! LOL, silly boy!! but it was early enough that we are just going to let him sleep for the first nap and then we will cap his second if need be.  I am ok with that.   

We will get there eventually missy.   I really, really appreciate all your help!!

Is O a textbook baby?  I truly have a spirited, touchy boy on my hands!!