The dreaded 1-0.. Long

[Tweakster]

Hugs Koe - it royally sucks here too.  He fell asleep on his own on Saturday in the car without it moving lol (30 mins), then we did a long nap on Sunday (long meaning 1.5 hrs) because otherwise our day would have been horrific and yesterday he woke early (6ish) but in a great mood...which deteriorated during the day with no nap and he was a mess this morning after only a 10.5ish hour night after a no nap day.  Ugh.  It's brutal!  Why can't these kids just bloody well figure sleep out? lol

[koe2moe]

There must have been some sleep app missing lol... But then i didnt get that app either!  Pre-app era lol.

Ds started to have a nasty cough, really thick phlegm and NW just before 5 and complained his belly was hurting.  Eventually he threw up and help DH's finger to go back to sleep but i stayed awake . I was miserable today.  He is coming down with something but he did fall asleep very calmly.

His carer told me that he was very tired today because he didnt want a nap but she said he was being an angel today despite being so tired.  No meltdowns, no complaining about nothing, said thank you, goodbye, etc, even packed the big box of legos away the moment he saw me!!!!!  The carer was half implying that he wouldnt clean up at our meeting last thurs!!

He has 38.3 fever when i put him to bed, so i expect to have NW.  I am kind of glad that i kept the nap so long.  We didnt have any evening left but at least that kept the monster OT at bay or am i speaking too soon!!  coming weekend will be exhausting also!!  Arghhhhh

[koe2moe]

Yikes!  We couldnt stop DS from falling asleep yesterday as he chose to read on the couch and fell asleep because he was truly exhausted.  He had a 9h night.  He woke up at 6 and couldnt fall asleep until 9:20, so a really long day even with a nap and he had 2 x 1h long NWs.  His cough got worse and he didnt want to play with his buddy who came for a playdate and fell asleep on DH's shoulder!!!  We are doing earlier bt but it is taking 1.5h and he is still not sleeping! 

How can i stop this nightmare???  .

[babybarr]

What sort of time is early bed?  Will he take a nap if you put him down?  Wondering about offering 30min nap in the middle of the day tomorrow to try and help him out?

[koe2moe]

Yesterday
6:00 A
1:30 S 1h20
2:50 A
9:20 S

Today
8:00 A
2:20 S 30 mins
2:50 A
8:16 still not sleeping, though quiet in bed

We started bt routine around 6:40!  He wouldnt go to toilet, no bath, running around wild, stories, etc.  just couldnt settle.  He was yawning at 6:30!  Or should it be earlier?  He just couldnt fall asleep if i bring him up too early.  He just doesnt seem to respond well to ebt!  On the no nap days, he was falling asleep around 5-6! 

He is also coughing, his voice is almost gone, he should be more tired than usual.  I am so scared of those EW and NWs

[*Becky*]

ok hun, well you probably don't want me to say this but the nap needs to go. He is up for way too long a day and tbh at this age a 1.20 nap is a lot!
He is needing the naps because his nights are short.

To begin with he is going to need to be in bed really early i.e. max 11.5 hours after wake up so start bedtime routine early.

Hugs, it sucks but these long naps end up biting back at this age.

[koe2moe]

Becky, i get it and we have kept it way too long i know but it was a choice to keep life more managable. 

If he falls asleep, what do i do?  I agree that it should be around 11-11.5h day but even that he couldnt manage.  He would fall asleep around 5, which is like around 9-10h A depending what time he woke that day. 

So it is the nap that kept him from falling asleep, right?  So UT at bt ended up OT, right?  he is also a bit sick, then what?

[babybarr]

If he falls asleep, what do i do?

If it's nearer the 6 or 7 hr mark you could give 30mins *max* and bed 12hrs from wake, if he falls asleep say at 10hrs then wake him after 10mins and bed at 11.5hrs after wake.

It is hard but tbh I did everything I could to not let O fall asleep after that lunchtime slot - no car trips etc!  Now he doesn't even fall asleep in the car, never thought that would happen!

[koe2moe]

Thanks Laura!  Last night he woke once due to nose bleed then another time but resettled within 5 mins.  Woke at 7:25, not too bad, so we will try our best to keep him awake today.

Do you try to keep the day low key?  What worked best for you?

[*Becky*]

If it's nearer the 6 or 7 hr mark you could give 30mins *max* and bed 12hrs from wake, if he falls asleep say at 10hrs then wake him after 10mins and bed at 11.5hrs after wake.

yes agree.

We always did/do quiet time for an hour after lunch. Started in his room but now is on the sofa. That helps a bit.

[babybarr]

Afternoons were generally low key at home else he'd be way to cranky!  Also meant I could do dinner early and get him to bed asap if necessary.,  HTH

[koe2moe]

If it's nearer the 6 or 7 hr mark you could give 30mins *max* and bed 12hrs from wake, if he falls asleep say at 10hrs then wake him after 10mins and bed at 11.5hrs after wake.

yes agree.

We always did/do quiet time for an hour after lunch. Started in his room but now is on the sofa. That helps a bit.

If i let him lay down on the couch, he would sleep an hour :/

Early dinner is a must but how to fit in bath . As we started no nap only a week ago, he didnt have bath for four nights in a row . Then i gave one bath and it got too much i think

[koe2moe]

So we managed to keep him awake with tv . Eating with tv.  He was super tired at around 3, 4, and 5.  After this big dip at 5, he was so awake that i was so scared that he would be hyper and difficult.  7:20am A and 6:40pm S, 11h20!  I was very pleased!   (i worried the whole day ). But would he be UT?   If he had a short night before, would it be good to aim at 11h A? Or still as close to 11h30 as possible?

Do you find that after that 5pm dip, they tend to become super awake?  Or is that on the verge of hyper?  If i have to let him nap and couldnt keep it short, then what bt should i aim at?  Say he slept 50-60 mins? 

I dont know what tonight will bring but i am hopeful!!  Thanks ladies.

[*Becky*]

well done koe - great stuff

I very much doubt he would be UT tbh...sounds like you did great.

I would think that 11h30 would be fine but if he is super tired then you can do bedtime a bit sooner. The worry at this stage is OT, not UT.

DS never got that tired thing, he is just go go go but I would say that is pretty normal. Personally I would not let him nap 50-60 mins after that good night but of course that is up to you.

Good luck - keep us posted xx

[koe2moe]

Thanks . It is just that tomorrow we have to make two visits.  It is so hard to plan.  The first one will be a crazy birthday party with his best little gf with a bouncy castle and then onto some family who has no regards of his eating time and bt.  Sorry for the long story.  I am stressed now for tomorrow already.  It can just happen that nothing goes to plan and we are back to square one.  . I dont like the pessimist in me.