7.5 month old - getting him through the 35 minute jolts

[TracyP21]

Hi Ladies,

Looking for some advice - I have posted before about ATs and baby resisting cot naps which seems to be resolving itself.  No matter what the first AT is (and we have been up as far as 3hr 25) we are consistently getting 35 min naps, in fact for all naps in cot (naps out in pram & car seat can go to 1hr 30). 
I was watching my DS the past couple of days and dead on 35 mins asleep he does a jolt (arms move) and he then wakes up.  He lies there for a couple of minutes and then starts whimpering, like he is scared or doesn't know where he is.  Then he bursts into outright tears.  This happens regardless of whether he put himself to sleep or I have ended up APOP (in arms).  I ended up getting him back to sleep by jiggling him etc and then he will sleep another 35 minutes or rarely an hour.  He definitely wants to be asleep longer.
How can I help him with these jolts?
He has hand, foot, mouth at the moment so he is quite tired and our first ATs have cut back to 2hr 40m, though today was 3hr 10m.  He is sleeping great at night - 7pm-6:20am.

[TracyP21]

Sorry just going to bump this as I think its been missed.

[ZacsMumme]

Sorry Hun!
The jolts are tough really, you can try a few things till he outgrows them - have you ever tried W2S or holding through the jolts? (HTTJ)

Cn you post your EASY?

It's hard when they are poorly too - often they sleep extra well, or terribly  

[TracyP21]

Yes they are hard - I always seem to miss them.  He's 8 months in a week (touchy with a dash of spirited). 
Keen to do HTTJ - how do I do this?
Easy today:

WU: 6:30
E: F then 1 hour later solids
A:
S: down @ 9:40/asleep @ 9:50

Awake - 10:30 (tried to resettle for 15 mins - no go)

E: 11
A: supermarket
S: 1:30-3:20 (he slept well as in the pram so got through the jolts)

E: 3:30
A:
E: 6:30
S: 7:00

Friday was pretty much like this as well - afternoon nap in pram as at park and it was a 40min nap in morning).  These have been our best days this week.  He is back to his usual self now. 

You have wonderful advice but I hope you are going to have a break from this when baby is born!

[ZacsMumme]

I'll be back tomorrow but just quickly before bed - I think he may be UT or that first nap what happens if you offer a longer first A time?

Have a nose at this
How do I address habitual wakings? (wake-to-sleep and other methods)

[TracyP21]

Cool - I will try this tomorrow.  Assuming I will have to try an option for at least a week to see if it makes any difference.  Yes, I do think he can stay awake longer - just building him up again because when he was sick he was going down early.

[ZacsMumme]

If your going to try HTTJ just sneak in before 35 mins and be ready to help shh or apply pressure through the period of jolting.
If you want to try W2S and your getting 35 min naps the 22/23 min mark worked well for us, just barely stir and then hide and wait incase the jolts come

[TracyP21]

Hi Sara, this morning I tried W2S - put him down after 3 hours 20m and when in at the 25 min mark - touched cheek a couple of times and arm moved.  He then slept - drum roll - for 55 mins!  That is a HUGE improvement in our house!  So just wondering because he woke at 55 min mark did I need to go back in and do W2S again or is it that he could potentially be UT for that first AT?

I know that its only been one morning but it was just awesome that it happened!

[ZacsMumme]

Yippee...I found it worked well sometimes, and other times not so much. Also you may have to be a bit spot on with timing

It could be jolts that still woke at 55 mins or UT ... You can't do W2S twice in 1 nap really unfortunately.
I would try the same A tomorrow and same W2S time and see what happens...

[TracyP21]

Just wondering how long do you have to do the W2S - always?  Do or they eventually start to sleep longer?  I guess the only way of telling is not to do it one day...
Is it common at 8 months to still have the jolts?

[ZacsMumme]

I had to do it for a while. It Z was younger. I would ty for 5 days them hold back and see if he sleeps longer. 8 mths is quite old to have the jolts but not unheard of.

How's your easy today ?

[TracyP21]

My EASY is pretty good up until 2nd nap time and then its been a bit pear shaped.  Last two days:

WU: 6:30
E: 7 (formula), 8 solids
A:
S: in bed @ 9:45, 10:00 (ss) - first AT 3hr 30m, W2S @ 25 mins - awake 11:10 (1hr 10m)
E: 11:10 then lunch an hour later
A
S: in bed @2:30; had to help settle (rocking), asleep 2:45; W2S @ 25mins - awake 3:15 (30 mins) - W2S didn't work
E: 3:30
A:
S: cat nap in car 4:55-5:15 (20 mins)
E: solids
A:
S: 6:30 bottle, bed asleep 7


WU: 6:30
E: 7 (formula), 8 solids
A:
S: in bed @ 9:40 (ss straight away) - first AT 3hr 10m, W2S @ 25 mins - awake 10:45 (1hr 5m)
E: 11:00 then lunch an hour later
A: at grandparents
S: asleep 1:25-2:00 (40 mins) - wouldn't resettle (I did shorter AT here to allow for being in diff environment and shorter morning nap)
E: 3:00
A: in pram
S: cat nap in pram 4:20-4:45 (25 mins)
E: solids
A:
S: 6:40 bottle, bed asleep 7:10


W2S is working so far, giving us just over an hour in the morning which is unheard of, usually been 35 mins lately.  Just go to work out the next AT.  Yesterday I tried to base it on how much was time was missing from a nap and take that off the next AT, which seemed to have worked.  Its a bit of a pain that we are back to a cat nap though, but have to as he would melt down before bedtime.  It has caused a bit of talking around 5:30 but he has put himself back to sleep till 6:20am so that's good.

[ZacsMumme]

I would try a touch longer first A time, with the W2S to see if you can get a slightly longer AM nap, this will help you drop that CN even if you get a shortish second nap. Great AM naps though
I would also give a good 3hr A time after a 1 hr nap really, you can possibly try W2S a touch earlier, I found 23mins worked well

HUGS it is SO hard when they pull these short naps - hang in there, they WILL come right eventually