13mo - EWs and nap tweaks needed

[LettiesMum]

Hi all

I did post a few weeks back about DS and his NWs and EWs following holiday. We are rid of the NWs but are stuck with EWs. He's been poorly recently with his MMR then tonsilitis so I have just sucked it up.

He has taken to waking sometime between 5 and half 5, I have been able to bring him in with me when he's been poorly and he will have another 40mins from 6ish.

So I've decided to sort it out now he's back to normal and eating properly as I wasn't sure if hunger was yhe cause as he refused all his bottles when he was ill.

Yesterday went like this

BT: 7.15
W: 5 but he then dozed from 6-6.40
S: 9.30-11.15
S: 2.50-3.40 (capped)
BT: aimed for 6.30 as he was clearly tired but he went down at 6.50 and took 40mins to properly settle which is unusual for him.
W: 5.30
:

I tend to do long AM short PM as it suits us better. He never has longer than 2hrs in the morning, usually 1hr45.

When he was under the weather we didn't cap the PM nap and it made no difference to his WU time. He seems tired a lot of the time and is rolling round the floor already and handing me his grobag but we got the school run to do so earliest he can nap is 9.15.
I always aim to have his pm nap at 3ish but can very rarely get there, he just can't handle the A times, even after a good AM nap. There's no way on earth he's remotely ready for 1 nap, I can barely get him to 9am most days after a EW.

Developmentally he's been walking for 3 months already, he's got all but his back molars so 16 in all and he's back eating and drinking properly so I've ruled these out.

Any ideas?

X

[LettiesMum]

Anybody?

[<Catherine>]

Hi

This is not a good age for me, but will try to help if I can

It certainly sounds as though he's OT - clearly built up following holiday, illness, etc. You say he struggles to get to 3pm for his 2nd nap - I wonder if it's worth bringing that nap earlier and then bring BT earlier, if only temporarily to get him back on track and combat the OT. What do you think?

I think the first nap is probably the key, as you say, he's getting more and more OT from there, but if this can't be bought forward then all you can do is work on the rest of the day.

[LettiesMum]

Hello from another South Wales lady and thanks for replying

What shall I do to get him back on the straight and narrow, on holiday he was sleeping well, same as he was here but just shifted forward 2hrs to account for the time difference 9pm BT and 9ish WU with 4hrs of naps a day some days

Anyway, yesterday went like this:

Wu - 5.30
S - 9.30-11.20
S - 2.50 -3.50 (I had to almost put a rocket in his cot to wake him up, he was comatose)
BT - 6.50
WU: 5am

We had to go out this morning and at 8.20 I was fighting to stop him sleeping in the car as he can't be transferred. He was asleep just after 9am and I don't know whether to cap this nap and go for a super long lunch time sleep or let him have 2 naps of as long as he wants to try and CU?

If I went on his current cues, yesterday he was ready for another nap at half 1 ish and was crying in the car for his dummy and cwtchy?

I'm just scared that if I do 2 long naps and a earlyish BT than I'm going to get a 3-4am WU, which would just about send me to the looney bin as if we went on yesterday he had almost 3hrs daytime sleep in a 13.5hr day and did slightly over a 10hr night. If he has say 4hrs today and it's a 13hr day will I risk a less than 10hr night?

I need to crack this, I've worked until midnight for 3 nights out of the last 5 so I'm not in bed much before 1am and then he's awake at 5-5.30 which is killing me and my DH. I'm physically exhausted from looking after him all day, working from when they go to bed and then getting 4hrs sleep

[<Catherine>]

Hello from another South Wales lady

Where abouts are you?

9pm BT and 9ish WU with 4hrs of naps a day some days

Nice! I'm guessing the heat knocked him out (assuming you were somewhere hot).....we go to Majorca in 2 week's time and I'm dreading what it will do to my already VERY overtired 3 yr old, but this gives me a little bit of hope!

or let him have 2 naps of as long as he wants to try and CU?

I'd be tempted to do this. But then, I do have a boy who suffers terribly with OT so will do what I can to avoid it. I do believe though that sleep begets sleep and that if you can have him better rested by BT you *should* get a better and longer night.

It's so hard to know what to do for the best, it's such a hard balance.

How about trying for the longer naps today then judging BT on how long the naps were and what cues you are getting later on?

[LettiesMum]

I live in Tonyrefail, You?

And yes, we went to Turkey for 2 weeks, it was hot and I think the combination of swimming and heat plus all the food he was stuffing away did help knock him out. Oh and having all his naps in the pram where he was within spitting distance of somebody 24/7. I was surprisingly calm about his sleep then, maybe because he was actually doing what I wanted him to for once

I am tempted to just let him sleep today, he's OT and getting on my nerves and it's not like he's sleeping that well at night so I may as well benefit from the quiet time whilst he's asleep now. I have to take all the kids in to work today at 3 though, my friend's dad died this morning so I am minding the pub she manages. Should be interesting...He'll have to nap in his pram and I'll just let him sleep for ease!

[LettiesMum]

Hmmm, he's still sleeping. Oh well, go for broke I suppose. 2.5hrs and counting...

[LettiesMum]

2hrs40 he had in the end and woke up happy at 11.40. I still think he's going to need a cn at 3?

[<Catherine>]

We're in Pontypool.

Glad he's gettig a good nap - I think he needs the sleep. And yes, if nothing else at least you get a bit of break whilst he naps.

Good luck for this afternoon, hope it goes to plan


Posted at the same time. I'd still go for the nap this afternoon too, just bear in mind that he may not be as ready as he slept so long this morning (I suspect he will be though, with him being so OT).

[Truly Blessed]

Hi Hun,

I agree with Catherine that it seems as though there is a lot of OT remaining from the illness and he has some CU to do. I do also echo Catherine in that 'sleep begets sleep' and it should in theory help BT..but theory is a wonderful  

The problem is EW are linked to long am naps so would you think about capping the am nap at 45 mins and then bringing the pm nap forward to around 2.5/2.75 A time from 1st nap. Then allow the 2nd one to be nice and long, although I would cap at 2 hours. Then go with BT from his cues.

What do you think  

Big Hugs to you Hun.x.

[Truly Blessed]

Sorry we all cross posted...spooky! Hope today works out Hun, maybe tomorrow you can switch tack if he has CU.

x.

[LettiesMum]

I'm happy to cap his am nap when he's CU I just think he needs to get to a level where he's not shattered all day every day. As long as he's awake by 2.55 for yhe school run I can manage a long lunch time nap...I can't imagine a time he will ever get there right now though.

I'm panicking about tonight now after his long nap, he's a seriously OT baby though so he's happier after it which makes a nice change. How long til they catch up? Should I be looking for just general happiness instead of all day misery?

[Truly Blessed]

Should I be looking for just general happiness instead of all day misery?

Bless you, yes I would say that was a good indicator 

x.

[LettiesMum]

So he went off at 3.15 and is still sleeping, shall I wake him and if so what BT shall I pitch for; x

[Truly Blessed]

Sorry, will be too late I'm sure. What time did you wake him Hun 

Could you post his day so far WRT BT to save me from trying to piece it together. Getting ready for work so a little rushed 

x.