9 hr nights - what would you try?

[lily_layne]

Before things started going sideways our typical routine was:
WU: 6/6:30
S:12/12:15-2/2:30
BT: down at 6:45/7 and asleep by 7:30

Over the past few weeks R's (21 months) nights started shortening to about 10 hours (she was taking longer to go to sleep and waking a bit earlier) and now they're getting even shorter. She has been struggling with a nighttime cough and for some of the nights that was the problem (coughing made it hard for her to settle and woke up early coughing) but now even though there's still some coughing, I think it might be more of a routine issue (that or she's just getting OT from the short nights???). During the past week we've had a few 9/9.5 hr nights (9-6). After those nights, she tends to have a longer nap (around 3 h) which I think may be leading into another short night. Yesterday was:
WU: 5:30 or 6 (I'm so tired, I can't remember )
S: 12 - 3:10
BT: 7 and monkeyed around until almost 9 (she was even chatting loudly which we haven't had since she was just learning to babble - she usually just rolls around quietly)

WU: 6 (coughing and then crying)
S: 12-2:45
BT: 7:15 and not asleep yet (7:30)

Should I wait until the coughing totally clears or should I try tweaking? She's at daycare Mon-Fri and the nap time is set so I can't really toy with that but I could try a later BT.

She's usually in a pretty good mood during the day but has had a few more fussy mornings lately due to the short nights.

[HenaV]

Hi!

I'm not while she's got a cough that's disturbing her sleep how much you'll achieve by tweaking. I tend not to tweak while R's unwell as it's hard to tell whether the tweaking is working or not yk?

What have you tried for the cough?

H

[lily_layne]

Today is definitely not the day for tweaking. She didn't fall asleep until almost 11 and was up at 5 - she may have dozed a bit after but I don't think it was a good rest.
We've tried some homeopathic cough and cold meds, Vicks vaporub, a humidifier, and a puff of ventolin before bed. Nothing seems to really help. Any other ideas?
Any idea what we should do for a nap today?

[HenaV]

Bless her, poor mite.

These are some of the things I have used re: persistent coughs of the docs don't come up trumps with meds...

- cough linctus (which has no mess in) but helps relieve the cough and irritation ifvyge cough is a dey or tickly cough
- Vicks rubbed on the chest and back and soles of the feet
- prop matress up at the 'head end' (tho R just ended up switching sides but UT works for lots)

In terms of sleep today, If it was R I'd to do this:

WU: 5am
Car nap: 9.30-10am
Nap: 12.30 (for up to 2.5)
BT: 6pm

What do you think?

H

[lily_layne]

That looks great. Thanks - I'm so tired that I can hardly think straight. I put her in her crib at 9 this morning and she slept from 9:30-10:00 and dozed a bit longer as she was coughing lots. I just put her down (12:30) and my fingers are crossed for a good nap. We went to the pharmacy this morning and the pharmacist suggested trying an antihistamine to dry up the runny nose which could be causing a cough so I gave her some just before nap time. Although I hear her coughing now so it may not be working.

[HenaV]

Good luck!

I hope that the stuff the chemist has given you has some positive effect. Keep us posted and let's see if we can't help you manage the sleep through this rough period and when she's well we can look at implementing a routine that may work for you re: accpetable WUs etc

H xx

[lily_layne]

You're such a wonderful moderator! Your advice is always spot on.

R coughed a lot during her nap but she slept from 12:30 to just after 3. I put her down at 6:15 and she took a while to settle, falling asleep around 7, but at least there was very little coughing. I bought a new humidifier and we did give her some antihistamine - not sure which is doing the trick but I'm feeling hopeful about a better night.

[lily_layne]

R ended up sleeping until 8 on Sunday morning and then had a long nap We ended up waking her at 3 after 2.5 hours. Last night was a bit short (8:30-6) but with less coughing. She must have still been tired because she was crabby all morning and napped from 12:30-4 at daycare. I'll see what it does to her night. She seemed tired at her usual BT of 7 so I put her down then but she hasn't fallen asleep yet.

[HenaV]

Hi!

I'm not surprised she's not fallen asleep yet, that was a whopping nap. I really would cap at 2.5h until she's well and then re-assess her sleep x

[lily_layne]

She actually fell asleep by 8:00 (earlier than I thought) and had an ok night - she must have really needed that sleep. I think she woke between 6 and 6:30. Today she slept 2.5 on her own and I asked the daycare the wake her by 3 next time she's having a really long nap.

[HenaV]

That's great, long may it last 

[lily_layne]

Today she napped at daycare from 12:10-3 and 1h30 after being PD she's still not asleep (although she's no longer walking around her crib and is at least laying down). The little bit of good news is that she's not coughing. She was asleep before 8 last night but I'm not sure when she woke (for sure later that 5:30) and she seemed quite tired at BT. I know the daycare doesn't like to wake kids but should I push them to wake her around 2:30?

[HenaV]

Iiwm I would. I'm sure if you explain that the long nap is effecting her NTS they will be accommodating don't you think?

[lily_layne]

I think they will if I ask. If not, I won't make a fuss as she only has 9 days of daycare before summer holidays where she'll be home with me for 2 months. Last night she didn't end up going to sleep until 9 and was up around 6:15. She napped until 2:50 today but went to sleep much quicker which I'm assuming is from the short night.

[lily_layne]

Oh, wise, wise Hena (and any others with sage advice) I think I need to do some tweaking. Her naps have naturally been a bit shorter the last few days (12/12:15-2:30/2:45) but she's still taking ages to settle at BT and only doing 9.5-10 h nights. Tonight I was aiming for 6:45 BT as she was up before 6 but despite my best effort, it was 7 when I pd. I was hoping a slightly earlier BT would result in going to sleep quicker but no luck. Should I try capping the nap more or pushing out BT? Right now we're aiming for 7:15ish.

She's still coughing 1 out of every 3 nights but not nearly as much as before.

Is it possible she's waking early from hunger? We can't seem to get enough food into her lately. Tonight after a huge supper she got out of the tub and snuggled with DH who was just starting his supper and ate quite a bit more!