HELP-8 mo old screams hysterically before naps!

[becj86]

No, he's pretty average, maybe a bit early but not super early IME.

If he favours long AM/short PM, do that but make sure that first A time is long enough to avoid the EMWs - you may even end up near 4hr pretty soon if you go that route.  Yes, you can switch, in fact, most people who start off with long AM switch to long PM when LO refuses the PM nap after a long AM. Some children never do, some do. You won't know until it happens or doesn't

[JennVanessa1083]

Haha well it's all experimentations and a roll of the dice I suppose 

I tried today with a long am nap of 1.5 (he woke up; although he was OT due to the long NW last night so it was a broken nap) and now am about to wake him up at 45 for the pm. I did a 3.5 A before the pm and he cried hysterically as soon as I started the nap routine. I did start a bit earler bc he was so crabby; that might have gotten him all upset. We will see. Should I go the route of long am nap/short pm nap, is. 3.5 A to the pm nap ok or was he crying due to UT? I guess I won't know until the am or until bedtime. I'm doing a 3 hr A to BT.

I'm starting to think the short am is more appealing so I can do more outside of the home. Should be an interesting experiment. Hoping things don't get too crazy!

[becj86]

3.5 to PM nap after a long AM nap should be ok.

Good luck with your experimenting - I'd suggest doing each for a week to see what happens once the routine is stable.

[JennVanessa1083]

Thank you! Hopefully it will work out 

[JennVanessa1083]

Quick question: do you think it's too soon to push the first A to 3.75? I still got some EMW but I also think he may have had a touch too much day sleep and went to bed OT. The reason I ask is because this morning he fell asleep easily in the car at 3.75. Didn't even cry which is usually what happens when he's OT in the car. Or should I do it more slowly like a couple of days of 3:35 etc? Thoughts?

[becj86]

I wouldnt bother increasing in 5min increments unless he's  very sensitive to OT which I don't think he is. I'd just go for 3:45 straight away.

[JennVanessa1083]

I'm not sure what's considered sensitive. If he's OT he cries and will wake up but that's about it.

Do you suggest keeping all other A times the same? So it would be:

WU 7am
S 10:45-11:30 am (A 3.75)
S 2:30-4/4:30 pm (A 3 hrs)
BT 7:15-7:45 pm (A 3.25 hrs)

Or maybe shorten the last A since the first A is lengthened?

[becj86]

That routine looks fine. I wouldn't decrease the A time to bed, I might even increase it after a good long nap - see how he goes, that could go up to even 3:30 or 3:45. Reserve judgement until you see how he goes.

[JennVanessa1083]

I would assume that night wakings will happen when establishing increased A times?

I already had two NW in a 4 hour period. Either that or I'm about to experience a regression since DS is in the middle of wonder week 6 

[becj86]

When are these wakings?

[JennVanessa1083]

Last night it was 11,1:30, and 4:15 am. BT was right before 8 pm.

[becj86]

Yeah, those don't seem like routine-related wakings :-/

Stick at it for a bit and we can revisit if necessary.

[JennVanessa1083]

Ok sounds good! Thank you so much

[JennVanessa1083]

Hi!

Not sure if I should ask here or the NW board but the past two days DS has had two long NW which includes an EMW. They have been occurring around 2-3 am and 5-6 am. It takes about an hour for him to go to sleep. No crying just up! Here's what's been happening:


NW 11:16, 3:20 am

Total ~ 10.5

WU 6:17 am (approximate; might have dozed for 10 minutes around 7 but not enough to count as sleep; I was in and out of sleep)
E
A
E 8:55 (BF)
A
S 9:58- 11:36 am (~A 3:38 (due to approximate wake up time)
E 11:38
A
E 12:45 pm (solids and water)
A
S 3:06- 3:42 pm (A 3:30; crying hysterically. Maybe not tired enough or WW)
E 3:50
A (party)
E 6:54
S 7:02 pm (A 3:20; crying very OT? and probably OS; came home from party; no wind down; woke up briefly at 2:01)


Yesterday:

NW 10:01 (didn't feed), 11:08 (fed), 2-2:43 (fed; wide awake and restless), 4:55-5:21 am (wide awake again!)

Total ~ 11 hrs

WU 7:27 am
S 11:14-11:46 am (A 3:44; patted crying hysterically for 10 minutes rolling around)
S 2:45-3:25 pm (A 2:59; Mom babysitting; she said he woke up calmly- maybe slightly UT)
BT 6:29 pm (3:04; nursed)

NW for last night: 9:16, 11 pm, 2:20-3:05 (wide awake and restless; kept tossing and turning; fed and fell asleep a little afterwards), 5:30-6:30 (same; wide awake finally fed and somewhat drifted)

Can OT cause these type of night wakings? Is it a regression? Is there anything to be done routine wise? With naps, I'm getting a 30 minute am nap on 3.75 A and a broken pm nap anywhere from 33-40 minutes; I resettle and then do a 3.25 A to bed. Could he need more A time. I'm worried for his sleep he's going below his usual 13.5-14 Daly sleep average.  I'm so exhausted already. I can't imagine having to do this every day for who knows how long.

[becj86]

WU 7:27 amS 11:14-11:46 am (A 3:44; patted crying hysterically for 10 minutes rolling around)S 2:45-3:25 pm (A 2:59; Mom babysitting; she said he woke up calmly- maybe slightly UT)BT 6:29 pm (3:04; nursed)

An 11hr day - almost certainly the cause of UT wakings in the night.

Its really important to keep the A times up enough that he'll sleep well in the night.

WU 6:17 am (approximate; might have dozed for 10 minutes around 7 but not enough to count as sleep; I was in and out of sleep)E AE 8:55 (BF)AS 9:58- 11:36 am (~A 3:38 (due to approximate wake up time)E 11:38 AE 12:45 pm (solids and water)AS 3:06- 3:42 pm (A 3:30; crying hysterically. Maybe not tired enough or WW)E 3:50A (party)E 6:54S 7:02 pm (A 3:20; crying very OT? and probably OS; came home from party; no wind down; woke up briefly at 2:01)

I reckon the tricky BT was OS rather than OT, given the brief 2am waking and otherwise a good night. I'd say this was a better day A time-wise and nap-wise.

For how long have you been doing 3.75hr first A? If <3-4 days, just sit with it and resettle if possible if you're looking to do long AM. If you've been doing that for >3-4 days consistently and have seen the same 30min nap every day, maybe dial it back a bit and see how he goes.