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Offline mena

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How do I extend activity time?
« on: April 19, 2006, 12:01:25 pm »
Hi,

I just have a very quick question.
I made official today (meaning, I've been observing a lot and made up my mind today) that my LO doesn't last awake for too long. 1:30-2 hours max. Then he starts making tired cues and I put him down for his nap... but since he's on a 4 hour EASY, I know he should be playing for longer. He's 4 months and a half old.
How do I extend his activity time?

Thanks,
Jimena
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Offline Jenna's Mum

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #1 on: April 19, 2006, 15:38:05 pm »
Hi, I would love an answer to the exact same question as my dd is 4 months 1 week old and her moaning is really starting to get to me  :-[  She's up for about an hour and then the moaning starts, but I don't think it's tiredness when it starts initially.  Do I just keep distracting her by moving her from one activity to the next?  Usually a walk in the Bjorn will calm her and she loves it, but if we're in the house it's tough.  She has a 1:30 - 2hr limit too for awake time and she's also on 4 hour EASY so I'm in the exact same dilemma as Jimena.  Thanks for any advice... dd used to be so much happier but now it seems she's moaning an awful lot... also she's drooling a lot so not sure if maybe she's having some gum discomfort but I can't just give her Tylenol all the time... what if it isn't gum ache and I'm giving it to her for nothing?  Thanks!
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Offline Erin M

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #2 on: April 20, 2006, 21:16:58 pm »
OK, the best way to extend activity time when your LO is getting tired is to take them up to their room and play with them on the floor -  nice quiet activities, but ones that have them interact with you so they don't fall asleep on you  ::)  Books, stuffed animals, stacking cups, rings, things that don't light up or make lots of noise.  That way you're sort of beginning your wind down and keeping them up longer at the same time. 

Jimena - it's also possible that your LO needs something like a 3.5 hour EASY at this point - lots of LOs don't transition right from 3 to 4 with no trouble.  I think we did a 3.5 hour until about 5 months when she was able to go to the full 4 hours. 

Jenna's mom - if the distracting works, I would keep donig it.  And as for teeth, it can last for quite awhile -- you can try giving her a cold/slightly frozen washcloth to chew on or a cold teether to see if that helps.  I hear you about not wanting to give Tylenol all the time --- I always try to reserve it just for nights and have her chew on things during the day -- if it's any consolation, they do get (sort of) used to after awhile.
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Offline Gage and Sophie's Mom

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2006, 04:16:25 am »
 When we were extending A time I had to get out as much as possible. Outside entertainment is the best! However, when we had to stay home I would do the distraction thing as Gage would just concentrate on being tired if we were we doing low key activities. I finally figured that out ::) I also figure out that if I started the intense entertainment about 15 min before and after the whiny time it help tremendously. But when you feel like you are going out of your mind, just know we that you are not alone. We went through H*LL and back getting from 45min to 1.5 and now Gage is doing 4hrs+ before bed with little effort ;D This is a rainbow at the end ;)

PS We Still have days like this.
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Offline Sarahboh

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2006, 23:47:12 pm »
When it comes to extending A time what I usually do for a week or two until she adapts better to staying up longer is I keep her active her usual A time then as it is getting close I will pick her up and move around the house with her pointing out pictures, colours, looking in the mirror, etc. By the end of this time she is usually wiped and I move up to bedroom for a windown. Like I said I do this for a week or two until I see she is doing better staying up the longer amount of time and she has did really well. I moved from a 3 to 4 hour Easy doing it this way and even now Ella is moving to 3+ hours A time at the end of her day. Yes, we still have days we listen to whining but now it is not mostly from being tired, it is being bored and needing a different activity. Hope this helps  ;D
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Offline nilly

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #5 on: February 06, 2007, 22:20:00 pm »
not sure if anyone responds to older postings, but i was reading this one and found it helpfull, just wondering if you try to keep them up extra 15 min before every nap, or just one at a time?

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Offline Erin M

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #6 on: February 07, 2007, 04:04:21 am »
Depends on how your LO responds to it -- if extending all at once seems to be too much for him/her do it one at a time.  Otherwise try them all at once and see how it goes.
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Offline nilly

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #7 on: February 07, 2007, 05:26:34 am »
thanks for the feedback, how long is recommended to extend activity time? it seems that my lo goes into the overtierd stage quite quickly.
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Offline Erin M

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #8 on: February 07, 2007, 16:20:18 pm »
Pretty slowly - just by about 15 minutes or so -- stay at that until your LO seems to be able to handle it easily and then extend by another 15 minutes.
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Offline nilly

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #9 on: February 07, 2007, 21:13:22 pm »
thanks so much, i will give it a go... erin, your girls are DARLING looking, really! you must be proud :)
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Offline Erin M

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Re: How do I extend activity time?
« Reply #10 on: February 08, 2007, 15:35:03 pm »
Thanks so much :)  I think they're pretty cute too :)
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