Author Topic: Average nap lengths for 7 mo  (Read 12376 times)

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Offline Layla

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #15 on: September 13, 2013, 03:27:48 am »
Hope he has a good night Mandy! Hate doing the CN - it messes things up :P :-*



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Offline Mandy.kamal

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #16 on: September 13, 2013, 11:42:24 am »
Thank you Layla!!!
Last night wasn't too bad :) He woke up 3 times, for about 30+ mins each time but only fussed/played and never cried out for me, which was good. He woke up for good at 6:20am so almost a 12hr night, but closer to 11 with all the WUs. I can't complain! He definitely does much better without the catnaps so ill only do them on rare occasions, if at all!

I'm Going to keep the 3 hr A across the board today and start trying to push the first A starting next week. Will he adjust even if he's not 'ready'? I just want to get our routine pushed out later because DH doesn't get to see him at all during the week now because DS has been having to go to bed around 6:00pm :(

Hope you all have a great day today!

Offline Mandy.kamal

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #17 on: September 13, 2013, 14:01:33 pm »
Oh dear....did 3 hours A time and got a 26 minute nap! That's gotta be OT right?? I wonder what caused that?? 3 hours had been fine before I thought?? So confused  ???

Offline Violet's mom

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #18 on: September 13, 2013, 16:47:55 pm »
Going through something similar and it took a couple weeks but V is in the midst of her first 2 hr morning nap since I can't even remember!  It took a week or so but I don't know about you but is your LO waking in the middle of the night wanting you?  I had to send DH in for 3 nights but now she sleeps 7pm to 5am, feed and back to sleep until 7am.  It's like one day she just decided "I'm gonna start sleeping in mom" after my night appearances stopped.  Then we worked on naps - with a consistent A time of 3 hrs for a week so she could adjust (got some wacky naps) today she had 3.5 hr A time and she has really been fighting am naps lately.  All these lovely ladies keep hounding me to increase A times but I am sure glad they do!

So... Maybe start with night time sleep so you can have a well rested baby to tackle daytime sleep with?   Also, when I increased A time the night sleep went better because she wasn't OT or UT.  It's such a fine balance that you have to find and it is frustrating - hugs for your struggles!


**Tracy**

Offline Mandy.kamal

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #19 on: September 13, 2013, 18:03:16 pm »
Thank you very much for the advice! I am so glad to hear your LO worked things out and you get some good Y time while she takes those long naps!!! I truly hope we get there soon...ugh.

Did you just ditch the CN, no matter how early you had to move BT? I'm sticking with 3 hr A time now but I'm sure I need to push it up. Today I did 3 hours first A and got that 26 min OT nap (im sure bc of the lousy night last night) and only did a 2.5 Hr for second A and he woke up after 30 min but currently trying himself back to sleep...fingers crossed. Regardless, lools like a SUPER early bedtime tonight. Our nights have gotten looney and he wakes up so many times now. I never go to him though as he never cries hard for me.

 How did you know your LO was hungry at 5:00am? Mine has been having EW but never cries like he's hungry so I'd hate to go up and feed him if thats not the cause for the waking and start a bad habit for no reason... He used to sleep 12 hours a night with no NF, just a DF, so I can't imagine that he's waking to eat- but who knows anymore ?!

I'm desperate for him to have a good night sleep so we can start good and refreshed in the am, but I can't seem to make that happen :(

I'm beyond discouraged today. Lots of tears from me and DS. Just gonna keep trying and hope it worked out eventually...
« Last Edit: September 13, 2013, 18:05:48 pm by Mandy.kamal »

Offline Joannajmiller

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #20 on: September 13, 2013, 18:15:07 pm »
I'm with you Mandy. We're in a mess and I just can't push these A times out. As soon as we do it seems to end up with OT by the end of the day and then NW which then mean we get super short A times the following morning and if I push the A time, we just get short naps.

Maybe I am being too much of a wimp with not holding the A time? As I am still not really sure what our second A time should be, I also don't know what to do about that either as last time I did 2.5 hours (and got a long nap), she then seemed shattered after 1.5 hours into her next A time.

This morning I PD at 9 even though she'd got up at just after 7 and she slept for 1 hr 15. Am super confused and think the only way for me to get a proper handle on it is to stay in - but I think we'd both go crazy in the interim! Today she napped for 1 hour 15 and then was frantically rubbing eyes 2.5 hours later so PD and she only slept for 40 mins. Had 20 mins in the pram another 2.5 hours later and then seemed SUPER tired at 5:15 (having woken from the 20 min nap at 4:15) - Tea was a nightmare, although I am not sure if that was tiredness or the fact she seemed only to want to feed herself... Got in bed for 6:35 and she didn't seem tired at all! And played for 10 mins before going to bed.

AND, LO did not finish her milk today - SUPER unlike her.

Weird times. Weird, weird times! No advice I am afraid, just reminding you that I am right there with you, and know how much it sucks! :)

I try not to let it bother me anymore - I used to get super upset about DD's naps but now I just keep saying to myself 'this too shall pass'. Naps have become like some kind of competition to get 'right' and actually I just now think, whatever, and try and remind myself that plenty of other people have no idea about A times, 7pm bedtimes or otherwise, and they and their LO's seem just fine... :)

Offline Mandy.kamal

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #21 on: September 13, 2013, 18:16:04 pm »
So he's not going back to sleep...
He's been up since 1:50, but I do a CN to catch him up on sleep or do an EBT of 5:00pm? That seems crazy early and that's with pushing him do an A time of 3.10...

Suggestions??

Offline Mandy.kamal

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #22 on: September 13, 2013, 18:20:53 pm »
We are most definitely in the same boat Joanna!! This is nuts!
I do stay in and haven't left with him in so long hoping to get this right but it hasn't helped at all. I turn down all plans and stay home with him every day in hopes it will improve, but nope...

I've tried just letting things be and hope they work out but it seems every time I do that we get into a bigger mess :( I truly am beyond confused at this point....

I feel awful because all I do is complain on here...I know you all must be sick of hearing from me, ha!

Offline Joannajmiller

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #23 on: September 13, 2013, 18:35:24 pm »
No don't be silly, it's important to post if you feel you need the support.

But actually, I feel we're just in a place at the moment where I just would go insane staying in all of the time. We don't go mad - I tend to go out in the afternoons once she's had at least a couple of sleeps in her cot, but even that is really restrictive with solid meal times as well.

A happy, sane mummy is just as important as good naps and so is their stimulation - getting out and seeing the world!

Maybe try and have a bit of a break from it and get out this weekend with your LO? Stop thinking about sleep and go with the flow for a bit, you can pick things back up in a few days.  If you're in a mess anyway, then a few days off piste won't hurt, will it?!

I had a day where I spent most of the morning crying as LO would not nap and then took 3 30 min naps all day. I was convinced she'd be awake all night and never sleep again, ever. That night, she slept 11.5 hours straight.

Since then, I have realised that her naps are only one part of what might affect her night sleep.  Teeth, food, all come into play - LO has slept longer since I stopped faffing around with tiny portions of solids (she's prone to skyrocketing on weight but is over 98th centile for height so go figure...) - once I started giving her a decent tea, she slept an hour longer. I didn't think it could be hunger as she wasn't waking up and crying right away, but I forget that she's older now and probably wouldn't cry right away even if it was hunger causing her to wake earlier!

LO had a 4:30 NW last night - she was playing, so I left her and in 10 mins she was right back to sleep.

I really want to get her into some kind of routine, but at the moment I feel like I am fighting a losing battle, so I am just running with it a little to keep my sanity. I don't want to look back on my maternity leave and regret that I spent the whole time stressing about her napping - I'll only get this time with her once. :)

Offline Mandy.kamal

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #24 on: September 13, 2013, 18:39:35 pm »
I needed that. Been crying for the past 30 minutes and you just got me to stop :)

I'm just gonna get him up and see how the rest of the day plays out...

Thank you so, so much for the support. Rough day...

Offline Joannajmiller

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #25 on: September 13, 2013, 18:48:27 pm »
Good! Have some chocolate, it's on prescription after you've had a baby. And some wine, and some more chocolate, and start again tomorrow.

And if it all goes wrong, just remind yourself that it's only temporary, and that tomorrow you'll try something else!

But do get out, and enjoy the weekend with your family, you'll feel so much better after x

Offline Mandy.kamal

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #26 on: September 13, 2013, 19:26:41 pm »
Thanks for the laugh!!! Much needed!!!
I'm actually on my way out right this minute, I need a change of scenery! Ill definitely be indulig in some wine and chocolate tonight; excellent idea my friend!!

Tomorrow is another day :)

Bless you sweet Joanna!!!

Offline Layla

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #27 on: September 13, 2013, 21:11:05 pm »
Hugs again Mandy,

Your day was like our day 2 days ago...i call them crappy nap days lol. 3 measly naps and yesterday was a decent morning nap followed by crappy pm nap which ended at 1.50pm too. I tried for cn but no amount of boob feeding or rocking worked so it was a super long bath and bed at 5pm. We had 2 night feeds (average for us) and woke up at 6.30am (phew!!!). This morning i bet morning nap will be short hahaha.

Hope you enjoy the rest of your day hon and he sleeps well for you tonight :-)
« Last Edit: September 13, 2013, 21:15:51 pm by Layla »



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Offline Mandy.kamal

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #28 on: September 13, 2013, 21:28:41 pm »
It's reassuring to know this is normal and happens to all of us! I always think its just me and something I'm doing wrong! I guess that's the control freak/perfectionist in me ;) I know I need to chill out!

I'm so glad your babe slept so late with that EBT! I hope you get a good am nap!!!

I'm wondering if I feed him during that 3:00-4:00am WU if he'd sleep in a tad longer and wake more rested...may try it and see??

Luckily mine fell asleep on our way home from running errands so I'm shooting for a 6:30-7:00 BT and hoping for a good night so we can start over tomorrow!

Thank you AGAIN for all the hugs and support!!! Enjoy your day :)


Offline Emami

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Re: Average nap lengths for 7 mo
« Reply #29 on: September 13, 2013, 22:05:06 pm »
So he's not going back to sleep...
He's been up since 1:50, but I do a CN to catch him up on sleep or do an EBT of 5:00pm? That seems crazy early

I tried for cn but no amount of boob feeding or rocking worked so it was a super long bath and bed at 5pm. We had 2 night feeds (average for us) and woke up at 6.30am (phew!!!).

Mandy, just wondering if you've ever tried SEBT.  I know it seems crazy to do bed at 5pm (especially when it's warm and light outside!!), but you can see it worked for Layla and it's never backfired here either.  It doesn't work if your LO doesn't tack on, but if he does or if you don't know, give it a try and find out!
Emma