I need to see a turnaround!!!!

[sleepygeorge]

Hi

I am now at the stage whereby; I feel that it is quite crucial that I break my current routine that I have had in place from day one.  We are getting to the point where we need to see some affective changes occurring as the sleep depravation is now reality 10 months down the line.

I am certain from a friend who has raved about 'The Baby Whisperer' that this is going to be the way forward.  I have been given some excellent and very positive feedback so I am absolutely determined to give your methods my best shot!!!!

I will list in point form the daily routine we have implemented.

·   Waking time 0500-0545- George will be breastfed at this time and he will be bought into our bed and will normally tend to go back to sleep until 0715-0730

·   Once George is fully awake, I bring him downstairs for a full breakfast

·   After breakfast George will have playtime for generally 30-45 mins and will then normally be ready to have his morning nap.

·   Before his nap I have always encouraged a breastfeed and he will automatically fall asleep and will then be transferred into his cot whilst sleeping.

·   This sleep tends to vary anything from 45 mins – 1 hour 15 mins

·   After his morning nap as he is now mobile further time is dedicated to ensuring he can have plenty of stimulation which can range from reading books to crawling, assisted walking or a walk in the fresh air.

·   Lunchtime can be anytime from 1200-1330 and a further sleep will be encouraged- it always tends to be every 3-4 hours and he will be ready to go down- again a further breastfeed will be offered and a sleep can vary from 30-45 mins

·   Afternoons tend to be fairly calm with either a walk or visiting friends who also have young children.

·   There have been occasions where he becomes sleepy again at around 4 ish and will have a very short nap.

·   Evening times revolves around tea being given at 1800-1815- quiet time which normally involves reading books and then bath time no later than 7 – by this time, George is always ready and is fully aware that it is bedtime and will have a further feed and fall asleep whilst feeding and is transferred to his cot whilst sleeping.

·   George will wake up at least twice in the night and I will without fail lift him out of his cot and feed him to ensure he goes back to sleep.

The purpose of contacting you for further advise and assistance is because over the last week nap times during the day have become quite a distressing time as George is not relating a feed to a sleep and after a feed becomes restless and on occasions is a very trying time as he tends to think that it is playtime when he is over tired.  I am getting to the point where I need to see positive changes occurring.

Thanks in advance for taking the time to listen. 

[chell]

Hello sleepygeorge, welcome to the boards! It seems as though there are a few issues to be worked through. Before we start, I just want to say that you and any others involved will need to be patient, persistent and consistent - the three most important factors in implementing the changes you are about to make.

Ok, so it seems as though you have been doing some accidental parenting - so easy to fall into - we have all done it! By this I mean that George has become reliant on something outside of his control, (being fed) in order to get to sleep. So he needs to learn how to get himself off to sleep independently.
Does George take full feeds at night, including the 5am feed?

For a 10 month old, they need about 11 hours of night time sleep plus 3 hours of naps, but they are also all individuals, so this is just a guide. The length of time they can tolerate being awake, before becoming overtired is 2.5 - 3hours. So, assuming George has a cat nap still of 30 mins, it seems as though he has between 2.25 and 2.5 hours of shorter naps. I think it may be worth trying to extend his 1st and 2nd naps with a view to dropping the third. I also think you will need to jiggle his routine a little, by gradually extending his awake time between getting up and going down for his first nap. This could help with the early waking at 5 am.

It seems as though you have a nice balance of stimulation and quiet activity.

Teaching George to sleep independently, is going to be very different for him, and not what he recognises as the way to get to sleep, so he may get very frustrated to begin with. Do you know what kind of personality he has - have you done the quiz? Here's the link-https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=52283.0

The methods which we use in Baby Whispering does not involve leaving bubs to cry on their own, but there will be crying, as it will be unfamiliar to them, but you will be there for George. The methods we will be using will be Put down (PD)- a version of Pick up /Put down (PU/PD), and maybe some pat/shh. The plan will need to be tailored to your lo's individual likes/dislikes, which we will find out by trial and error.

Do you have the book - The BW solves all you problems? I would really recommend it as a valuable resource.

Have a look at my questions and see what you think. Then we will devise a firm plan.