16mo Sleep Trouble - EW, OT, NW you name it...

[Mattsmummy]

Okay so one NW at 2:45. After a shot of meds, back in crib. Little bit of crying LOTS of coughing...eventually fell back to sleep although I have no clue what time. Woke at 7:00.

So I am wondering if u have to be in the same spot for both bt and nw? I think I could move for BT but might need a few more nights at the door for nw. Might be able to inch out the door for BT... Thoughts?

[Mattsmummy]

BT last night was around 6:45.  Took ages to settle - no crying just chatting, walking around crib, and then after about 15 minutes of this, settled down to sleep.

Had 3 short NW. Settled back to sleep very quickly - once for soother, then had foot stuck between crib slats, then coughing.  Awake at 6:30

At what point can I assume he's caught up on his accumulated OT?  I don't think he's quite there yet, so will stick with aiming for 6ish BT as it seems to be giving me a later BT.

Also, as per previous post, does my "spot" have to be the same for both NW and BT?

[Smurfette]

Sorry that I missed your post.

Sounds like things are coming along slowly! Yes, your spot should be at the same place for both BT and NWing. If you try moving further away during the night, you risk him noticing and making things worse. Usually when we move further away it's at bedtime after 2-3 days in one spot and quite often LOs will notice the change and take longer to fall asleep at BT so it's best to move then and not during a NW.

HTHs

[Mattsmummy]

okay, that makes sense.

I'm going to move to the door tonight...Will see how we make out!

F x'd!!!

[Mattsmummy]

Should I still be aiming for a 12 hour day max then?  So asleep by 6:15/6:30 tonight or should I still try and do an EBT to continue to get him caught up?

[Smurfette]

I wouldn't think of it in term of the day's length but think more in terms of the quality of naps and how long they were to determine bedtime.

So if you're getting 2 solid naps (over an hour) and then 2nd one ends at 2:30, then you might want to try an A time of 3.5-4 hrs, less than that if they naps are not good.

[Mattsmummy]

okay, he's back at nursery today so is back on 1 nap. Can only do 2 at the weekend.

I'll ask when I get there and guage it from his nap.

3.5/4 hours max then!

Thank You!

[Smurfette]

3.5/4 only if the nap was really good and his mood allows for it. You probably will need to do about 3 hours if he is still adjusting to one nap.

[Mattsmummy]

Yes, definately still adjusting and working through some accumulated OT.

Last night - moved to the door! He fell asleep after some mucking about - BT 7:00 -  Seems to be doing this at BT now, not crying or fussing, just mucking around in his crib...weird...I'm guessing just his way of self-settling???

Anyway, STTN until 5:00    - definatley an OT night and likely due to a few days of later BT.

Seems if we get a NW around 2/3, he will sleep until after 6, if he STTN, he wakes around 5ish - any ideas why?

APOP'd a 30 nap in the car this morning.

Have arranged for DH to pick up DS at nursery at 3 for the rest of the week in hopes of getting him to bed around 5:30.  DH is off this week so figured I'd take advantage of him!!!

All a work in progress I think.  I'm proud of him for settling himself down at BT though...he stood at the side of the crib last night and stared at me - I had my eyes closed pretending to sleep and he just laid down with his lovey and chatted for a bit then went to sleep...now if we could just sleep till 6:30 - HEAVEN!!!

[Smurfette]

Seems if we get a NW around 2/3, he will sleep until after 6, if he STTN, he wakes around 5ish - any ideas why?

I think that's just OT hun, just like you said.

[Mattsmummy]

So, just keep going with EBT then right?  How will I know when he's caught up? I guess the NW will stop and we'll get a decent WU?

[Smurfette]

Yes, exactly.

Congrats too on the good night. That's great that he's not crying for you and just taking his time going to sleep.

[Mattsmummy]

so last night wasn't too horrible.  In bed asleep by 6:30...I was in the doorway and he did the same thing - chatted, walked around, talked to his lovey - which almost made me burst into laughter - he speaks in his own language right now and it was like he was having a full on convo with his stuffed dog!!!
Anyway, I actually snuck out before he was fully asleep. He was quiet and laying down but still sort of awake - I stood by the room and closed his door after about 5 minutes.

NW at 10 - coughing - gave him his soother back and he went back to sleep
NW at 3:50 - coughing - gave him a sip of water, and some cough syrup (homeopathic stuff that works great) and laid him back in his crib.  He settled right back down (I was in my spot at the door) and went back to sleep.
Awake at 5:50am...Not a great WU but much better than 5:00am... so about 11.5 hour night.

So, EBT is crucial it seems. I know he was pushed to one nap too soon at nursery...and it's taken him a long time to adjust - he is still adjusting.  I was compounding the problem by not realizing he needed a MUCH earlier BT.

Just wish he could get over this cough...seems to be taking forever...

Got my Sleep Lady book too...will start reading this morning. STarting to get a bit nervous about going outside the room....Yikes!

[Smurfette]

Don't be nervous!! Look how far you've already come!!!!!!!!! You've done awesome and look how much progress he has made! Be confident and allow him to use his new skills!
Also if you are conveying anxiousness around him, he will pick up on it. DONT BE  NERVOUS! You're already past the hard part!!!

[Mattsmummy]

Great Point! I'm just scared it will all go pear shaped on me...
Now, since the Xmas holidays are coming, I'm going to have to figure out his naps...I'm going to read my book tonight but might be back with a few questions...He will be home with us for about 2 weeks...