Hi,
This is my first posting but I've read the entire BW book and found lots of good tips there.
My 6.5 month old wakes several times a night and we must go in and give her the pacifier. Most nights she will wake and sleep and wake and sleep for even an hour. She has been on EASY since 3.5 months and the transition went quite well. Her naps have always been short (45 min in average) and I tried PU/PD to make them longer but that didn't work and was very nerve racking. About a month ago most naps became longer (between 1.25-2 h), but not all. When she has a short nap it is usually impossible to get her back to sleep (I try for almost an hour sometimes).
We figured the night wakings were a hunger issue (I am breast feeding and she eats some solids) so we increased the amount during the dream feed. That helped for about two nights (woke only once). We tried raising the calories during the day by adding a bottle with a known amount after each nursing. While doing that I felt she started eating less (solids- ate less and with a fuss/nursing- just a couple of min. and kept on stopping). Lately she refuses to go down for the catnap but she is VERY exhausted from the day (and from short naps usually) so I'd really like her to take the catnap.
We think that separation anxiety kicked in some time ago since she sometimes has screaming episodes when being put to sleep (either naps or bed time at night).
Today we tried the following routine thinking it is a food issue:
6:30-7:00 wake, eat (nurse), play
7:45- Solids- fruit
~8:30- nap (45 min- 1.5 h)
when wakes- play some more
~11:30- eat solids only (cut out the nursing)
~13:00- nap (45 min- 1.5 h)
15:00/15:30- eat (nurse)
16:30/16:45- cat nap
~18:15- eat (nurse), bath, story
~19:00- sleep
To answer the rest of your questions:
How many wakes per night? 4-5 on average
What’s your LO like when waking at night? How long is he/she up? cries until we get to her (not screaming), then can smile and be very happy. We give her the pacifier and sometimes she goes back to sleep but wakes a couple of minutes later.
When you go to him/her is she fussing or crying? Or is it a mantra cry? It is crying, not a mantra cry, we usually wait a bit before going in.
What have you tried to settle?? pacifier, PU/PD if necessary (we try not to PU at night).
What do you do for A time and how long is it? play with the toys in the living room, dance to music, read stories. I try to go out with her once a day either to the park or to the store when we need shopping. When she is in a good mood she can play on her own for a while, then I join her or sit beside her.
Are there developmental issues such as teething or milestones? no yet
Do they have a prop? If so what is it? I think the pacifier is a prop... since we always have to give it to her when she wakes. I would like to get her to learn to return it herself when she wakes.
Do they have a lovie? Not really. She has a doll in the crib which she some times holds and sometimes not...
I feel like there are several issues going on here... I'd very much appreciate any help.
Thank you in advance!!
Tammy