Does my routine need to take a step back?

[LaraAndrea]

I have a lot if different threads going here discussing different yet connected issues with my LO's sleep.

With all of the recent changes to her routine and lack of success could we benefit from a step or 2 back? Bringing AT back down?

This all started when her first nap systematically shortened, so we responded by slowly increasing her AM AT. It worked, her AM naps improved (for a short time) all the while her 2nd nap got worse and worse. Since the AM increase, we could not seem to figure out the 2nd AT. Her sleepy cues were not reliable. She would seem OT at nap time with previously acceptable AT.

All of this has lead to 2 poor naps, cranky baby in the PM, early BT therefore an earlier wake up. The cycle continues...

I am very lost right now...

[LaraAndrea]

Routine before things fell apart:
7AM wake BF
830 solids
10-1015 sleep (1.5-2h)
12:00 wake BF
130 solids
3-3:15 sleep (1.5-2h)
5:00 wake BF
7:00 BT routine
715-730 sleep
11:00 DF (being weaned currently)
Night feed 60% of time between 4-5 am

Now... A bit more sketchy
6:15-645 wake BF
8-830 solids
10:15-1045 (4h) sleep 1:15 (this was good 1.5-2h nap initially)
12:00 wake BF
130 solids
330 sleep (this has varied as we have tried to get a good nap... Often we have a false start where LO will not settle at all) eventually nap 30 min
430-500 wake BF
600-630 BT
DF currently at 945 (weaning)
Night feed between 4-5 (don't think she needs anymore)

[Shiv52]

Hi there. I read on your other thread that you're away for the weekend. Check in when you're back and I'll come back and have a proper look at how things are now xx

[jessmum46]

Sending you some hugs - I hope you got a good break?

[LaraAndrea]

Thanks for the support everyone.

Our trip was pretty good, but I am back where I started with one semi short nap and one short nap... Early bedtime... Early wake, then I start each day further behind and the cycle continues. Bedtime keeps getting earlier and I still have OT baby a night who wakes early. I can't seem to catch up b/c she is no longer giving me any long naps.

I have tried to add a cat nap on the days when her 2nd nap ends really early. She refused to do a cat nap (unless I put her down as if early bedtime and I wake her after 40 mins and try bedtime later... I have been afraid to try that b/c it would make for a long day)

Today her first nap was 1:10 after (4hAT)
2nd nap 35min after (3:25 AT), she woke crying could not resettle like most OT naps, but she wakes cranky and rubbing her eyes.

I don't know what to do and I keep sliding further back from BT

[jessmum46]

Just to remind us all how old is she now?  What is your day looking like?

[LaraAndrea]

She is nearly 8 months now
Wake (recently) 5:00-530am
BF
Solids 1.5h later
BF top up 30-45 before nap
9-930 sleep (4hAT) this nap used to be 145-2h recently 1-1.25h
~10:30 wake
AT
Solids
~1:00 BF ~4h from top up
AT
~1:45 sleep (3.25-3.5 AT)
2:15-230 wake (will not resettle)
BF
AT
BF
530-6 BT (usually OT by this point)
930 DF (currently weaning)
If particularly OT she will usually wake in middle of night and play in crib for 30-60 min

Today was a bit better but it is only one day so I am not counting my chickens yet

[Shiv52]

Just in from work and off to bed but will
Pop on in the morning if Katherine doesn't get back first x

[Shiv52]

I think you need to be careful with bedtimes. If you're doing early bedtime it should only be for a few nights to get things back on track unless you're LO tacks on and gives you a longer night. At this age if you are doing bed at 5.30/6 I do think you're looking at a 5/5.30 wake up? 

[LaraAndrea]

I am weary myself about 530 bedtime.

I am just not sure what to do when LO wakes at 5, goes back down at 9, wakes at 1015, goes back down at 145 but wakes at 215. We would try to push her a bit, but those are the days we ended up with the worst nights and wakes as early as 445.

We have made progress recently, she has woken up 6AM the last few days. She had an awful napping day yesterday though.

[jessmum46]

I think when things have gotten very very early sometimes you need to do a massive push all at once, a bit like you would do for DST.  Basically just jump everything an hour later immmediately and ride out a few rough days of overtiredness.  It sounds a bit extreme but I think can be a better way to get out of a too-early cycle than constant tweaking.

If that's too much I would at least push her morning nap later, regardless of WU time.  A nap at 9am where she is allowed to sleep uncapped will most likely prolong that early start x

[Shiv52]

I agree. I'd push the day forward for sure. Do a CN. Do what you can to get to a better bedtime and just do that for a couple of days x

[LaraAndrea]

Thanks!

We did push her AM nap Which worked pretty well. Unfortunately she would never give us a cap nap.

Our last couple days have begun to line up much better. Brief OT wake at night but we have made huge gains. I am expecting a 645-7 on BT tonight

[LaraAndrea]

So my LO has been going down to bed between 7-730 for the past 3 days (yay).

Her naps have been ok, some good ones some short ones.

She is still waking between 5-515 AM should I be resigned that this is her wake up time? Or are there other adjustments that can be made?

[Shiv52]

What is she doing when she wakes? I tended to feed and resettle. I always had a set time of 7am and before that I resettled as best I could.

Saying that you've only had the later bedtime for a few Days so may just take a few more to affect wake up.