Well, week 1 of being back at work has finished and beginning week 2 tomorrow. In terms of DS coping okay while at childminders, we had a great week! He started with taking a 2hr nap in the afternoon and refusing a morning one despite being shattered, but by the 3rd day, he took 2hrs in morning and 45mins in afternoon. Also seems to be eating and drinking fairly well. So all in all, think we have had success! I was late an hour on the first day as got very very very lost on way home from my new work place. Still getting lost, so DH picked him up. He got smiles appearntly and then DS just turned back to continue playing with the older boy. All good things though it does make you feel a bit sad he doesn't need you that much anymore! *Lol*
The problems, which I feared, was with NWs and the routine going out the window. NWs have gone very bad again. I think generally it's 3-4 times with one long one waking where he is hard to settle and the others relatively easy to settle. Last night was shocking one, but hopefully it was a one off as he did 4 poos in the space of 2 hours. So maybe that was causing him trouble settling and staying asleep. Cross figners anyway! He seems to have lost his ability to self-settle and wants to grab our fingers all the time or play with them, or want to be picked up. I don't cave in but DH does. Since I have a lot of driving to do and not very experienced driver, I let him do some NWs so I can try to at least rest even if can't sleep while DS is crying etc.
I was wondering what you guys would suggest about the increase in NWs and what feels like his decreased confidence in his ability to self-settle. We've been following Elizabeth Pantely's no-cry GW plan for his sleep coaching while working out the routine and reflux issues and were going to move on to a between phase4 and phase 5 where he isn't picked up at all and mainly use voice and light touch if needed. But with my return to work this was put on hold. I'm in two minds about whether to get cracking on starting this next stage of his sleep coaching since week 1 went well as don't want to make it any harder on any of us since he is very spirited and therefore very very persistent. I can't afford to have him keep us awake with his crying for hours, especially as I've got a flu-like cold and feel terrible. But at the same time, can I really afford to continue with the sleep deprivation hoping things will settle once he gets himself into a routine at the childminder?
What do you guys think? I'm thinking of maybe keeping things as they are this weekk but trying to get DH to hold back before picking him up (i suggested he look at the time and wait 1 min a few nights before picking up, and then wait 2 mins a few nights later etc... just to ease him in). Then start the next phase Friday night. We will all be knackered though, but Saturday is such a busy day because of an acitivity in the morning that it wouldn't be until Sunday where we might be able to get him to have all his naps and be better rested. And then back at work Monday. So I am not sure if there will ever be a good time anymore.
Also wondering what I should do re bedtime... 7pm is the best we can do if we give him a proper BLW dinner, but I could manage 6.30pm if it's just say soup and toast, yogurt and fruit etc. I don't know if I should try to implement his 6am wake up and 7pm bedtime regardless of what time he wakes up from nap at childminder or base his bedtime on the wake up time.
Sorry for all the questions. Not even sure if this is the right place for this anymore. If not, feel free to move it or let me know and I'll put up a new post where it's more appropriate. Just such a shame that we were doing so well and now everyone is more tired than ever and poor DS who thrives on routine can't even cope with his nap time routine. Luckily bedtime routine is still sort of okay though too tired to tolerate a story.
Thanks! Looking forward to even just some hugs. *sigh*
