Hi
My lb turned 9 months on Friday and we have been having problems with his second nap.
Bit of background... He has always been a bad sleeper, would only ever nap with constant motion, then only on me and was always rocked to sleep. We started sleep training with the help of a sleep consultant when he was 5.5 months old and still using the sleep consultant. He started self settling and sleeping through the night at 7 months old.
2.5 weeks ago we transitioned him to naps in the cot and down to two naps at the same time. He now settles himself to sleep (for naps) whilst I sit next to him in the chair and gradually I am going to retreat. He still needs me some days to hold his hand etc and cries for a few minutes in the cot.
However, he took really well to it but since about Thursday last week has started to struggle especially with the second nap.
He takes a good nap in the morning and then he fights the second nap and I tend to have to rock him to sleep as it is getting too late.
I don't know if his nap is too late in the day or he is overtired but he was fine with it before. I am in the UK and the clocks went forward this weekend. Could that be a cause?? Thursday-Sunday we woke him earlier than usual by ten mins each day to try and get him used to the clock change as per advice.
We also stretched his a time from a max of 2h45 to 3h minimum 2.5 weeks ago and for him to take a good nap and extend it is usually 3h10 in the cot and asleep by 3h15/20.
I should also note that i help him extend naps, he stirs/wakes at the 35 minute mark EVERY time without fail so I go in at 30 mins and sshh/pat him. This generally works but hasn't been for the afternoon nap.
Here is an example of our routine in EASY format before last week:
Wu: Between 6.15.6.45
E
A
S- 9.30-10.50 (depending on morning wu - in the cot 3h10 after waking) between 1h20-1h45
A
E
A
S- 2.10-3.30 (depending on previous nap wu- in the cot 3h10 after waking)1h20/25 usually
A
E
BT- between 6.30-7 (depending on wu from last nap)
Since Sunday though it has been:
Wu: between 6-7
E
A
S- 9.45/10-11.30ish between 1h20-1h45
E
A
E
A
S- 2.30 (attempted)/3/3.30 (actual)-3.30/45ish (rocked to sleep) 35 minutes
A
E
BT- 6.45/7.15
He has been waking several times in the night needing help to resettle and lots of waking and night cries within the first few hours after bed. He also has been waking at 5ish and we have rocked him back to sleep.
He is teething and has reflux (under control but may be causing slight discomfort) and is just getting over a cold.
Could this be sleep regression, a result of the clock change, us pushing him into longer a time too suddenly and still adjusting, pain, issue with our routine?? Or all of the above?
He is quite cranky in between naps and crying a lot and then is very hyper and wired and constantly on the go. He won't sit still and have any quiet time for five minutes!!
Thank you if you are still reading, apologies for the long winded message. I hope it is understandable. I just struggle with his naps and sleep and I have pnd and need routine myself and really struggle when my lb changes his routine when it has been working. I just want him to be well rested and I see how it is effecting him and it makes me sad and worry that it will always be this way or we will always battle as sleep has been a battle from the start.
Thank you for anything at all you can suggest to get back on track with a two nap schedule.
Please let me know if I have posted in the wrong place.
Thanks
Sarah x
