A routine change for my super-busy boy

[michaeljacknnugg]

I'm going to log here for a few days, to see if it helps. Today:

Awake 06:50
Nap 10.10-10.30
Nap 14.05-15.45(ish)
Asleep for the day 19.30

Fought that last nap and was obviously UT at bt, blowing raspberries and such instead of his usual falling asleep immediately whilst feeding.

The only way I can extend naps atm is to feed. I'm not stressing about that now, I'll sort routine and IS first.

[grace annes mommy]

Wow, he's definitely a high A times kinda guy!  Not sure about the 20 minute nap - how was his mood?

Log away.  I'm following along!

[michaeljacknnugg]

He's generally fine, even on a 5 min nap.

Night was, erm, interesting. No other NWs (we've been getting quite a few) but feeds at 1.30 and 5. I had to actively keep him asleep by changing positions, jiggling or patting from 5am and it stopped working entirely by 6.10.

I think he needs his day sleep trimming somehow.

[grace annes mommy]

I think we're in a very similar routine spot, so don't think I can offer much advise. But following!

[michaeljacknnugg]

So, today:

Wake 6.10
Nap 10.00-10.30. Put himself to sleep in the cot, finally!!! I was so relieved, I thought he'd never do it.
Nap 1.30-2.00. Fell asleep in car, wouldn't/couldn't go back off while feeding
Asleep for the day 18.40

I'll update with the night's antics so that it stays in one post.

Here we are. Yucky night, started off by big bro coming in with an urgent question. Asleep 6.40, awake pretty much every sleep cycle until 10ish. Some crying hard at wakes, some just needed a cuddle.

Fed him at 10ish, kept him in bed with me until after the next feed at 02.00 and then he slept in the cot until 6ish. Fed again and he dozed on and off until 06.40.

What do you think, wise ladies? Definitely OT, but 6.30 was the earliest I could get him into bed last night  and he declined a nap at around 5.30 . He's full of cold, also.

If I could find a routine that kept things more stable in terms of OT/UT I would be a lot happier. Tricky with the school run.

[*Liz*]

Would he have gone earlier for the second nap?

I think as long as you stick with sensible A times (accepting he seems to be one of these babies that only likes to sleep when really tired - with super short naps and OT nights its kind of hard to say how much sleep he really needs overall isn't it?), and keep encouraging independent sleep I think you will get there.

With all of mine once I got independent sleep (and true independent ie pop in cot and walk off), they all short napped for a bit, but it didn't take all that long for them to learn to transition cycles as well, especially at 6 months plus.

School run kind of means you only get 2 options - one is a shorter am nap to preserve a lunchtime nap that is done in time to leave for school. That leaves you with a long A to bed. Otherwise you push the am A as hard as you can, and then aim for a CN on the go later on. Its all more 9ish months really, but I think plenty of 6 month olds would cope if needs be.

The night before was much better wasn't it? I wouldn't over interpret the 5am thing as UT at this time of year - lighter mornings and singing birds etc has all started again hasn't it? Babies are just so prone to it regardless!!

[michaeljacknnugg]

It's the evening settling that was UT, to my mind. Normally he goes off relatively easily, but that night was a big fuss. It did get me more sleep overall, though! It was a shorter night, that first one I've logged.

I don't know if he'd have gone earlier for that second nap. No option as we were out. He took a while to get to sleep, pretty much the whole journey home.

I'd imagine that he will follow in big bro'so footsteps and cope with a long morning A, but at present he seems to need a long one in the afternoon in order to settle for bed.

[michaeljacknnugg]

Today:
Wake 6.40
Really upset before school run, fell asleep feeding when we got back.
So, nap 9-10.10ish
Nap 1-1.30
Nap 5-5.30 as he wasn't going to make it through to bt
Finally asleep, after vociferous protests, at 7.50


....and woke again after his first sleep cycle.

Sleep is starting to really get me down. I need him to self settle for naps, at least, to give me some kind of break. It's just relentless.

[*Liz*]

And clearly it is anyones guess if he was OT or UT at bedtime  .

Was that nap at 1pm independent or not?

[michaeljacknnugg]

Nooo. Got really upset, I had to hold him.

That independent nap had me putting him in the sling for a few mins beforehand so I will try that again.

Night was ok. Feeds at 00.30 and 04.00. Stirred a bit in the early hours, woke 06.30.

ETA DH has just told me he patted him back to sleep at that wake. I'd swapped rooms as I couldn't sleep (coughing).

He got really upset around 8.30 again. This is a regular thing and I'm wondering if there's anything in it. Normally I'd offer a feed but it was so close to the last one, I put him in the sling instead. Then tried putting him to bed - he cried fairly hard but then went to sleep with patting fairly easily.

Surely after a short night he'd need an earlier nap, but I'm wondering if actually his body clock is telling him to nap around then, given it's a common time for him to get upset? Thinking out loud here...

[michaeljacknnugg]

Wondering if I know anything at all about him now!! Really good nap day:

Wake 06.30
Nap (patted to go off) 09.05-10.15
Nap (independent) 13.0-14.30 then fed back to sleep until 15.15
Bedtime 18.30, went to sleep nicely.

This would be a lovely little routine if we could replicate it...horses might object for the next week or so but after that should be ok.

[michaeljacknnugg]

Urgh, rough night!

He needed resettling after the first sleep cycle, slept until 10 and then was up every hour and a half or so after that until 03.30. Three feeds in that period as nothing else was working.

Thankfully we got a block of sleep then, until 7.

[michaeljacknnugg]

Talking to myself here  . But hey, helps to see it written down.

Today:
Wake 07.00
Nap (patted) 09.10-09.40
Nap (semi-independent. I didn't do anything, just stayed in the room) 13.20-14.40. Fed back to sleep after first sleep cycle
Bedtime 6.20, out like a light.

I think I will set naps at 09.00 and 1.30. Would you set bedtime, as well?

[Scottishmummy]

I'm following! Just hadn't replied because you seemed to be thinking it through yourself  that shirt am, longer pm looks good. I would do a bedtime "window" with set naps - looks like 18.30 +\- 15mins would work for you
Xxx

[michaeljacknnugg]

Will try it.

 Would do anything for a run of decent nights! I've been poorly for the last six weeks or so, wonder why?