Great!! This is working - but how long do I need to intervene?

[Katieroberts84]

Hi all

I was wondering whether I could just get a little advise please? My dd Ella had slipped into a 30-45 min nap, snack and generally be grumpy cycle! I re-read Tracy's book on sleep and visited this forum and realised that we needed to switch to a 4-hour eating schedule. So, I have cancelled all plans for a couple of weeks, got daddy and nanny on board for support and have worked tremendously hard to get her onto this schedule. She now eats every 4 hours and we have managed to gradually increase her activity time to between 1.75 and 2 hours. After a bit of a battle at the beginning, I have now managed to successfully extend her naps through a combination of a firm hand on the back and the occasional shush pat but my interventions take between 20 mins to a full hour. I have been doing this for a week now but I'm willing to keep going as long as it takes. I just wondered if anyone had any similar stories and could let me know how long it took for their LOs to get through the 30-45 min mark without any intervention?

Thank you!!

Katie

[weaver]

Bumping for you.

[Katieroberts84]

Thank you 

Does anyone have any advise?

X x

[weaver]

I'm back.  Sorry, bit short on time yesterday!

I think it sounds like you're doing exactly the right thing, if it's working for her. For me, I went with a Gradual Withdrawl approach meaning, do what you know works but gradually scale it back, stop slightly earlier each time so that over time you are doing less and eventually you get to doing nothing.  I conscientiously did this with LO1 but one day he was just ready to settle on his own and let me know that I wasn't needed!

HTH.

[MarciaMSPT]

Good to know!  I JUST started this with my 14 week old only two naps ago today!  First time workedd like a charm - was in the room 30 minutes.  Second, I eventually resorted to picking him up and holding him to sleep - then remained again for 30 minutes more (60 total) with light to medium pressure. 

I'm wondering if I should go back to swaddling both arms.  Currently only one is swaddled (weaning) but the pressure idea is nice and seems to work with the swaddle too?  Isn't that what the swaddle is for?  Curious.

I'll try to keep posted here on my progress so we can compare notes   Hang in there!  I have a very supportive husband but we live so far out - no nanny and barely any support otherwise...

Hugs!  nice to hear a mom say, "I'll do this as long as it takes..."  Love that you are committed to the health of your LO!

[Katieroberts84]

Thanks for your replies! Well needed words of encouragement on a day where I feel we've taken a bit of a backwards step! But I'm guessing that's normal and things were getting so good towards the end of the week - we were bound to have a few setbacks along the way. Also, the miserable whinging  ( and that's just my hubby!!!) has reminded me why it's so important to shake these short naps so next week we will persevere and stick to the routine. Daddy did shush pat for one nap and now understands that this is not at all easy!

Marcia great to hear someone trying the same technique even though I'm guessing you're across the pond from me as we're in the uk keep going with it, I must say it's been pretty tough but I keep thinking how wonderful it will be when I can actually plan my life around my baby's naps and routine and that it's better to crack this now than when she's older and habits are harder to break. I'll check back and we can keep up to date with how things are going

Good luck and thank you weaver x x x

[weaver]

By the way, Katie, what age is she?  Just thinking if she's around 5-6 months, keep an eye on A times and get ready to think about dropping the catnap if naps are being cut short.  I think you already know that, just a little reminder!

[Katieroberts84]

Thanks Anne, she's four months but I will be looking out for signs of the catnap needing to be dropped but at the mo she desperately needs it to get through bath time!! Thanks for all your help x

[MarciaMSPT]

Yep... we're across the pond from each other. 

It will be nice to plan around a schedule but I think the more important thing is that so many are committed to helping their LO's get the sleep their body's and brains need to develop. 

Wishing you peace and success in your efforts.

Hugs!

[gb18]

Hi Katie

Can I ask how you have managed to fit feeding on 3 - 4 hour transition around 45 min naps? Been struggling with short naps for weeks and no amount of settling seems to work. I feel like my 3.5 month old can manage longer at times than 3 hours as sometimes it seems like she is just snacking after 3 hours, plus does not cry for food after 3 hours. Due to short naps though often a feed is due when a nap will be due due to shortened a time.

How are you managing?

[Katieroberts84]

Hi gb18

I couldn't fit the 3-4 transition with the short naps so I have been using shush pat techniques to extend LOs napping times. After a week of hard work she slept unaided for 2hrs 20 yesterday morning and a further 2hrs in the afternoon with only 5 minutes of a hand on her back! Hoping the hard work has paid off as she had such a lovely temperament all day yesterday. I'm sure she may still take a backwards step and I'm preparing to help her get over the 45min mark for a while yet but feeling positive

Good luck!

Katie