13w - feels like he'll never sttn

[new mum01]

What did you do about lighting for daytime naps? I know part of the wind down can be pulling the blinds, but i've read elsewhere it's very important that they nap in a well lit room (perhaps to keep the circadian rhythm?

[Harrisons_mum]

I pull the curtains, but it is still pretty bright in the room.  Our naps are getting better (longer) but night time and going to sleep are getting worse . He woke up every 3 hrs last night and the final wake up he refused to go back to sleep!  That was 4:30am!!

Not really sure what to do about his first nap, so I just let him get OT and wait for a regular time for the nap - 7:30 or so.  I really don't want him to think 4:30 is an acceptable time to wake

[anna*]

Re naps and daylight - I think when they are tiny newborns there's an argument for having them nap in a lighter room, but by this age I'd definitely have the room dark. They start to get more alert, and opening their eyes briefly, something can catch their eye and instead of just going back to sleep they'll end up staring at the rails of their cot or something, and just end up overtired.

[new mum01]

Good point, i may even need to try blackout blinds as my LO seems so visually aware (she can still make everything out even with the room a bit dim). I hold my hand over her eyes as this used to work but even this doesn't now as she just fidgets even more.
Getting her to nap after 4pm is becoming impossible. Today we did a great WD etc... her little eyes were getting drowsy, but still when i put her in the cot she decided it was time to wake up and was trying to talk to me +++ ! It's so strange! I guess she MUST have been OT or UT or something. I really doubt it was UT.

[EllenS]

I don't have any specific tips, and don't want to scare you, but neither of my kids STTN more than once in a blue moon until they were 15 months old.  I was an obsessively religious BW EASY tweaker with #1, and a cosleeping "do whatever you gotta do to get through it" APOP mom with #2.  Both of them started STTN - BING - at 15 months, like a switch.  I am of the belief now that STTN is developmental, like walking, and you can help or hinder but you can't make it happen. 

My point is to encourage you, that you CAN do this,you are a good mom, it is OK to ask for help so you can rest, it will get better eventually and  it will all be OK.  Hugs!

[Harrisons_mum]

Thank you

[Erin M]

I am of the belief now that STTN is developmental, like walking, and you can help or hinder but you can't make it happen. 

This is exactly how I feel about this too.  Most babies seem to need to eat at night until somewhere around the 9/10 month mark, it seems to be more unusual to not have that happen.