Can I do this?

[cwolff]

OK, I'm so fed up with 45 min naps or no naps at all that I've decided it is time, really really time, to do set wake up times and set nap times.  I just want to know if this is an OK easy schedule.  Here's how today went, and only today, since every single day is wildly different.

8:30am, wake
8:45 Bottle
A
E 9:45 Breakfast
S 11:15 (in car we were going home from trip)

1pm, wake
E 1:15pm
A
E Lunch 2:30pm
A Went for a long walk
S 3:40pm

5pm, wake
E 5:15pm
A
E 6:15pm, dinner
A Bath, books
S Bed 7:45pm

Now mind you that she probably took a good morning nap because it was in the car, but I am trying to keep her up in the mornings for 2-2.5 hours, and the same or longer in the afternoon.  This is based on advice from Taylor's Mommy.  She also said to set wake up times, so I'm going to start doing that, though I think I will make it 8am instead of 7:30am.  Anyway, is this an OK schedule?  If I can get it to stick I will be sooooo happy.  But like I said, every day is wildly different.

[Deb_in_oz]

Bear with me - i am about to go to bed (it is 10:30pm here) and am PMing Taylor's Mommy - will get back to you tomorrow (Tuesday) if that is ok...

[Deb_in_oz]

HI - i have spoken to Taylor's Mommy and she has agreed to continue working with you - she can either jump in here (with her taking the lead and i can chime in wherever i have any advice) or work via PM with  her alone so up to you - if you want to PM her she is expecting to hear from you.

Deb 

[cwolff]

Thanks so much both of you.  Today, she got up around 8:30am again, I didn't have the heart to wake her.  But I figured maybe it would be the same as yesterday.  I kept her up till almost 11am, and put her down.  She was definitely tired.  She was up in 35 min.  Then I held her again, she drifted off, I put her back down and that lasted all of 10 min.  So around 12:15pm got her up, kept her up till almost 2pm.  Then she has slept going on 2 1/2 hours.  It's almost 4:30pm and I'm hearing her now.  So what am I supposed to do with her in the morning if she's obviously tired, I'm keeping her up for longer and she's still taking a crappy nap.  Also, she woke from her afternoon nap at 40min, but was tired enough to be resettled.  Thanks again.

[Taylor's Mommy]

Hi there,

How is she doing today?  Did you wake her up this morning?  A set wake up time was a great thing for us, but if it isn't for you then that is okay, but then everyday will be different.  One thought for you...most babies at this age get apx. 12 hours of sleep at night. so if she is going to bed at 7:45, then waking up at 8:30, she is getting over 12 hours of sleep, which may explain why she is only taking a short nap in the am.  She has had a nice long night sleep which has kind of creeped into her am nap time, KWIM?

Also, just to reiterate from my post in the nap forum, I think for her first A time, 2 hours is the MAX.  Then 2.5 for her second A time.

Hope that helps and keep us posted on the progress!
Andrea

[cwolff]

Well today I got her up at 8am.  Last night, tried putting her to sleep around 7:40pm, but she just wouldn't sleep until almost 9pm.  This morning kept her up from 8am till 10:15am.  She was definitely tired.  She had a terrible morning nap, with pacifier issues pretty much thru the whole thing.  This afternoon, kept her up about 2 hours, and she was definitely tired.  Put her down, within 20-30 min she was whining.  After that, it was every 3-4 minutes she would spit the paci out and wake up.  Did this for close to an hour before she woke up fully.  She is now whining in her crib.  It's time to get rid of the paci I think.  But it's never a good time.  Tonight we have company staying the night, then there's traveling for Thanksgiving.  And she's a fighter, so what am I supposed to do as far as PU/PD when she's fighting and pulling my hair?  God I hate this, I really do.  I thought motherhood would be much more fun and simpler than it has turned out to be.

[Taylor's Mommy]

have you had a look in the props forum for advice and encourgement on weanign the -pacifier?

remember, consistency is the key!  you can do this. 
Also, there is a thread in this forum for april/may moms where you can talk to other moms with babies the same age as yours and get lots of advice and encouragement!

good luck

[cwolff]

I've checked out the props board, and I have several books on it.  I'm just a wimp.  I can't stand to hear her cry, and I don't trust myself not to give in.  I cannot do that to her if I'm going to cave in.  I keep saying well once she starts sleeping better, then I will sleep more and then I'll have the energy to do it.  But it doesn't seem to work out that way.  Thanks for your support though, I know this too shall pass.  Eventually she'll be a teenager who sleeps all the time, and this will just be a distant memory.