O wow, I just posted you a reply, but my computer glitched and I lost it.
Let's see if I can remember most of what I said.
Thank you so much for replying. I know it is a lot. You must get so tired of crying mothers on here, I can only imagine how you must feel. But I'm truly grateful for you and other's help.
Yes, I have read quite a bit on spirited board, and it was helpful to some extent, but I found it was mostly chit chat about more quirky things rather than specific sleep issues. I will continue to look over it and I may even post, but I read something on there about how they wanted you to post more specific things on the other boards, so I was hesitant to post this issue there. Felt like it was asking way to much.
I knew early NW were OT. That has been confusing to me too...why do my babie's NW's last all night into morning, on our worst nights? I have had it happen a couple of times where I knew I put him to bed too late, and he would wake about 30 min to an hour later and briefly cry out, but put himself right back to sleep. I would never have to go into him in those instances. He would though, continue to wake a few times through the night though, and the closer to morning, the harder to settle. I know when my routine is close to being right, because even when he does NW, he settles himself within 5-10 minutes and is right back to sleep by himself. I would also think that if a baby is waking from OT during the night, shouldn't they be easy to settle, especially with pacifier? Mine is rarely easy to settle.
Since this is his first tooth at almost 8 months, I have no experience there, so I hear you on how it affected your LO. But we've had these very long, restless nights with 10-12 NW's many times before. It is not new to us, so that's why I tend to think it is his routine rather than teeth, although, I'm sure teeth are contributing. I gave him ibuprofen right before I put him to bed last night, so I would think that would have lasted through the midnight hours? Then I gave again around 2am and he still was waking through morning.
Could the swing have become a prop in early morning hours? I have fretted and stressed over this since he was very young. I have tried to be as careful with it as I could. It's just when the nights get so bad and I can't even APOP if I wanted to, I felt like I had no option. I'm not sure how to get away from it when he so consistently wakes. I will say though, that I really do not feel that is why he is waking. I don't think he wants the swing as he doesn't like it anymore, but it could be a habit, definitly. But it wasn't long ago he slept all night with zero NW. It was right after we droped the catnap when he was early 6 mo old. He began NW all night again...many NW's...this is how I usually know to increase A time and it always seems to fix it (outside of the EW). That's why I think UT when he wakes like that. I got great advice on these boards to drop the catnap, so we worked for two weeks to drop it and finally did it. He was on a 3 H 15 min A time. Waking at 7, nap at 10:15 for 1.75-2 hours, another nap from 3:15-4:45, and then 3H 15min A time to bed at 8pm. Withing a few days of this routine, the NW begin to get better, at first he still woke but was able to resettle himself, even 8-10 wakings at night. Then after about 3 or 4 days, he just slept through one night, all the way to 7am. I was so happy I took the video camer in his room that morning and we did the happy dance.
He actually played in his crib and hiccuped for 10 minutes before he called for me that morning. I was so relieved and thought that we had finally figured it out. He slept like this all the way through for exactly 8 days! Then he started crawling all in one day, exhausted himself going from room to room, which he still does. His A time decreased dramatically. He could hardly make 2.5 hours between naps. I had to add the catnap back just days after we finally got rid it. His night sleep went crazy again and that's where we still are at now. I haven't gotten it back. Once he got used the the activity, I tried going back to the 3 H 15 min A time, but he consistenly gave me 40 min naps for several days. I extended it to 3 H 30 min and the NW got much better a few nights, and he was able to settle himself if he did wake. He still had EW though. But I found that the naps weren't fitting well into the day and the short PM nap seems to always cause problems. I can't figure out when to put him to bed. He will fight me if I put him down before he is ready and will throw a fit. If he is tired enough, he goes down without a peep, but I can't seem to time it correctly. All that to say, recently, he as slept fine through the night. I know he can do it. Maybe he would do better with a full PM nap, so that I can give him full A time before bed?
Also, any advice on how to resettle him without the swing? He doesn't liked to be rocked/held. PU/PD seems too agitating for him, but never worked for us. I can let him cry with but I don't want him to cry while teething. I really do feel it is a routine issue.
If I just start from scratch, can you help me work through this? I would be so grateful. I'll post you my daily EASY and night? I just need help!
I got him up at 7am. He was restless in the swing. He woke happy, even after last night. We're going on two hours so far and he seems fine. But he does not show tired signs...he is too busy playing. I think that is why I miss his window at night time, even with wind down bath, story, snuggle, bottle. He is such a sweet, funny baby. I love him dearly...and it tortures me to think I'm not giving him what he needs. You would think I'd be better at reading my own child by now.
I honestly cannot wait for this stage to be over, even though I love this age with him. But I know it must just be a tweak that I need to find.
Thanks so much for your help.
