Hi again,
Sorry it's taken me a few days to get back to you.
After a few weeks of terrible nights I finally tried PU/PD again. I first tried it many months ago and because he bucked and writhed when I picked him up it never seemed to soothe him. But now, it has been a godsend. He has finally started to sleep through more consistently. Last night we got 10straight hours from 7 til 5!!!! My first nights of uninterrupted sleep for 18months!!! Feel like a different person.
this is great!
I still find that he takes ages to settle him in bed at night with PUPD.....not sure when PUPD will mean he will plop into bed and dose off on his own???
it does come - for some LOs though it can take longer than others depending on temperament.
Is his routine still as in your original post? Could you post what the last few days have looked like? It might be that he's a bit OT/UT at BT and a tweak might help. Maybe he's ready for more A time. That could help to extend his second nap that you're having trouble with. It could also be developmental e.g. a wonder week or something else going on. My DDs always took/take longer to settle at those times.
Would love to know more about introducing a lovie......I have tried but he just seems to fling it around.
My DD1 didn't really take to a lovey until she was 2 and my DD2 has just taken to hers in the last few weeks (aged 19 mos). Some do take to them earlier though and it is worth trying, but don't worry if he's not interested. Some things that can help include you keeping the lovey with you (e.g. in your top) for a few days/nights so it can start to smell like you
Also encouraging him to snuggle with it or passing it to him each time you PD (as long as it's not making him upset/winding him up!). Apart from that, sometimes you just have to leave it in their cot and wait for them to take to it in their own time.
Also any tips about PUPD at 5-5.30am to extend the night?? It seems so cruel when he has slept through and is a happy little thing who just wants to play......
DYT he's had enough sleep at that time or is it an EW? Is there any sunlight in his room that could be causing him to wake up? You could try pushing the first nap to 9.30 to see if that helps. At about this age with my DD1 we needed to move her first nap later (and cap it I think) to stop the EWs.
Have you read this? It might be helpful:
From 2 to 1 nap transition (10-12m and older)