EW desperate

[ewabear]

Hi, we have been struggling with EW for few days now. Anuthing I can do? Ww can also have NW sometimes, maybe due to developmental changes.
WU.  5:40
S.     7:40
A.     8:15
S.      10
A.     11:35
S.     13:30
A.     14:05
S.     15:55
A.      16:25
BT.     18:10m

DD2 is 4,5 months old, 3,5-4 h easy, feeds once during the night.

[jessmum46]

If it's only been a few days I'd generally suggest to ride it out a little while to see if it corrects itself.  That said, you haven't really got a true EW as your LO has an 11.5h night there, anything over 10.5-11h may be all some little ones need so I don't think you can expect a much later WU with bedtime that early.  A couple of other things - possibly a little push in A time and trying mainly for 3 naps, not 4 at this age may help.  The other thing is not to allow a nap too early in the day on a regular basis as this in itself can encourage an early start.

Does your LO go to sleep independently?  Is she happy during NWs or needing a lot of help?

[ewabear]

Hi, she does not fall asleep easly and needs a lot of help when NW. How can I do 3 naps when she sleeps 30-40 min naps. 1,5 happens once in two weeks maybe. I found it vety difficult as she is not rested and entertaining her inbetween is a nightmare. I have tottaly abandoned DD1. Today she slept 3x30 min and I just had enough and pu her to bed at 5:30. 4 hour easy is sooo not working at the moment as feeding overlaps naps and naps overlap feeds. Feeding before nap doesn't work as she keeps falling asleep.

[Scottishmummy]

Hi again

Sorry you're having such a hard time. It's so hard juggling feeds and naps with short nappers.

Posted in naps to suggest keeping all advice here to avoid confusion.

As Katherine says, could you try pushing A time a bit longer, at least for first nap at first. Even if you still get short naps, a later first nap might help with those EWs.  Do you get her up at 5.40 or stay in bed & try to resettle? I would count time before she gets up as half A time only, that might help push that first nap later.

If she's prone  to OT though, you probably want to push the first nap later very gradually - by about 10 mins every couple of days.

[ewabear]

Ok, Unfortunately Im not getting anywhere. I have been putting her for a nap a bit later, Im also asked to cut the 4th nap. Well with 3 naps of 30 min how can I do it. By 1 pm she has already had 3 naps even with 45 min naps that is impossible. How can I then shift this whole thing 1 hour forward.

[ewabear]

WU    5:15 tried to resettle but given up at 6
S.      7:30 didficult to settle
A.      8:05
S.      10:20 couldn't settle
A.      10:55
S.      13:00
A.      13:35
S.      15:45 took 20 min to settle
A.      16:15
BT.     17:55 but asleep at 18:40!?

Im running on fumes, I need advice.
After 2 months of shush patting Im still shush patting like there is no difference at all.

[Scottishmummy]

Huge hugs, you sound exhausted. I saw on Toddler sleep that your elder one is nap refusing now too. It's exhausting when you don't get much of a break.

Personally I would just focus on try to get that first nap later, even if you just put her down 10-15mibs later every couple of days until she's going for first nap around 8.30 or even 9.  If you got up st 6 & aim for 2hrs A time, I would try to keep her going for a nap closer to 8, if you can.  Hold for a couple of days then try for a 8.10 nap. Then 8.20 after another couple of days, hold a couple of days then  8.30

Then I wouldn't worry about getting to 3 naps yet, if she's short napping, you're right she needs 4 naps. She probably won't get to 3 naps until she's ready to take at least 1 long one.

Will she sleep anywhere else e.g. In car, buggy or sling? Doing that for one or two naps  could give you a break from sh-patting and possibly get a long nap...and get you all out the house

Xxxx

[ewabear]

I have tried to make her sleep in her pram but she did not want to. DD1 was a tummy sleeper and never dlept in her pram, DD2 is more comfortable on her tummy too, I guess this makes it complicated. It is never guaranteed if she sleeps in the car, she may or she may not. Plus with DD1 sitting next to her it is not going to happen. Tonight i have tried to top her up at 8 pm so that will keep her not hungry until 10:30 and maybe NF will be later followed by WU. She has been waking up around 3,5 h so if she has early bed time... Maybe I'll manage to move her WU a bit.

[Scottishmummy]

Fingers crossed for you xxx

[ewabear]

Hi, a success at last, but:

WU.  6:30
S.     8:45
A.     9:15
S.     11:30
A.     12:05
S.     14:20
A.     14:50
S.     17:00
A.     17:15. I woke her up
BT.    18:45. She had troubles with falling asleep
         19:15  Asleep

Now, how do I progress to next stage?
She really struggled with ladt nap and bed time. How can I progress to 3/2 in my case 4/3 with short naps?

[Scottishmummy]

Good news that you got a later wake up!

Struggling with last nap & BT suggests she's getting ready to drop it and is UT at BT when she has it.
To help her get there, I would try pushing your A times a little bit longer.
Do you think she could manage 2hrs30mins? Often 30min is OT but for some it can be UT and I think that might be the case for you. 

Also- if EWs creep back in, which they often do with transitions, try not to move first nap earlier. I think it helps to set a time for first nap and stick as close to it as possible.

[ewabear]

Hi, we are all over the place with WU. One day it can be 5:15 next day 6:30? She has 2:15-2:30 A time at the moment, but naps are rediculously short and I am struggling wit EASY especially feeding.
Set time for first nap is impossible as WU very different everyday. With longer A's we do not have time for 4 naps and 3 are not enough and she is soooo tired before BT and keeps waking up every every sleep cycle ( until df, not really df as she wakes up for it exactly 3h 45 min after last feed.
I need to try to extend her naps but nothing works. I tried W2S but it made no difference at all. I have been shush patying for 3 months with some but little success. When she wakes from nap she does not cry, instead she lifts her head and looks around, what does it mean?

[Scottishmummy]

If she's not crying on waking from naps, it either means she either got enough sleep or had an UT nap.

Could you remind me how old she is now & also post your typical EASY (if it varies a lot post the last 3 days). I wonder whether there's anything we could tweak to get even 1 longer nap.

[ewabear]

She is 5 months 1 week old.
Wu.   5:05 I picked her up and fed her in bed (AP I suppose)and she fell aslep for a bit
Wu.   6:15
S.      8:45
A.      9:15 sooo awake, unable to resettle
S.      11:45
A.      12:15 (awake at 12:45, woke up happy so it took me 45 min to resettle, I don't normally have
                    This sort of time, but we would not make it in the evening otherwise)
A.      13:40
S.      16:10
BT.     18:40 asleep actually at 19:15,


This last A seems to be different every day, sometimes 2h. As I said she wakes up from her naps and fors not cry, I tried W2S bit she still wakes up. I tried to go in immediately after she starts to stir but the same. I did not mention feeding qhich was all over the place due to that early morning feed. As her A's increased to 2:15-2:30 we are desperate now, waking anytime between 6-7 would make BT 5. I really don't think that 1,5-2 h is enough of sleep. You could say why not a 15 min cat nap, I also jave DD 2 that I almost don't have time for at all during the day and making BT after 7 pm for DD2 is not an option as DD 1 very tired by 7 ( doesn't sleep during the day😭) and I have to get her to bed ASAP. Husband does not come home until 8.
This resettling midday gave me a massive migrene so It was horrible day. Aren't we suppose to enjoy children? Well for me it's a struggle wvery day, a survival I could say.

[becj86]

Is LO going into bed awake? If not, perhaps put her into bed a bit more awake and settle her in the crib. Otherwise, I'd suggest being there at 25min into the nap and seeing if you can rest a hand on her or shush/pat through rather than resettling once she's woken.

If she's not crying on waking from naps, it either means she either got enough sleep or had an UT nap.

Or she's overstimulated - though that is more often 20min naps and its very hard to avoid this with a 2yo around