anyone want to chat about the 2-1 nap switch?

[rinajack]

Hey guys...just wanted a quick opinion about how our sleep training is going.....

She is actually taking longer now than she was on day 3.  Today is day 5 and bedtime took 25 mins from the time I started to leave to the last time I left...she wasn't asleep then though, I think another 10-15 mins til she was asleep.  But I get longer out of the room before she cries again.  Is this good?  It is still hard to get out the door (she often cries as I am shutting it..but if it stays open she thinks that is an invitation to get up...she has ALWAYS slept with the door shut).

Also, todays nap wasn't brilliant - same length as yesterday 1 hr 15 mins....with a resettle today (didn't ahve to yesterday), but for the first time tonight I havent' had to resettle at the 45 min mark after falling asleep for the night....


are we on the right track?

[KathrynK]

hey Rina
isn't it common with sleep training for them to be doing really well by day, but then have a regression towards days 5-7? Maybe that's what's happening?

[babyre33]

It still sounds good.  A little progress in one area, a step back in another.  It will be like this for a while probably.

Good news!!!!  I was going to extend Adalyn's A time before bedtime to see if it made a difference (I'm so scared of the OT monster). We were out at a fiesta and on the way home started yawning, she was in bed, asleep, on her own, no crying, fussing, playing 20 min later.  She did wake after just under 11 hrs sleep, but she had her shots yesterday too so to make myself feel better I'll say it's that. 

I do think that she's going to wake at the same time every morning, not enough for W2S though because it's not exactly like 6-6:45.  ANy ideas on how to get her to sleeplater so she gets at LEAST 11 hrs sleep?

[KathrynK]

is there anything environmental that could be waking her? I know Sophie comes into a light sleep after 11hrs and if the house is quiet she'll sleep another half hour. But if NOISY hubby gets up she'll wake up guaranteed. I could cheerfully have strangled him at 6am this morning. Men have no concept of keeping quiet, do they?

[rinajack]

I actually don't care how long she takes to go to sleep once I am not there, so long as she is not upset. That has never really bothered me.

And yes, I think she is looking for me a the 1 hr 15 mark during her naps...

So, last night was pretty decent.  6:40ish to 6:20ish with two very brief wakeups - "Time to go to sleep now Zara" make sure she has dummy and lovie and leave   Again, at those wakeups I think she just wants to check that I am still around...cause as soon as I walk in the room, she lays her head back down LOL.

Re the nap length, I will persevere...her nights are getting longer again and improving...so hopefully the naps will follow.  Also, she has always had less S time than average for her age - I actually will be suprised if she ever become a really long napper.  She is waking happy after that length nap and staying happy all the way to bed time (other than the usual tantrums like not wanting to get out of the bath LOL).

[EsMum]

Hi ladies,

So today was a bit better for us...Ella did 45m this morning and was awake at 10:30.  I put her to bed for nap 2 at 1:30pm...it took her 40 mins to fall asleep (no crying, very happy) and she slept for 1.15 (actually it sounds very much like Rina's day!). 

So I have been trying to analyze this...I would have thought that taking 40mins to fall asleep meant she should have gone down a bit later (she usually takes 20min to fall asleep, max) and I am usually happy with any nap length over 45m!  But if I understand from the reply to Rina from Stacy above, it doesn't matter how long it takes her to fall asleep and a 1.15 nap means overtired?  Is this right?  Again, I'm just trying to get all this straight in my head.

Thanks!
Michelle.

[rinajack]

I think that 1 hr 15 thing may relate to when they are only taking one nap, but stacy might clarify.  I never came across that until we started one nap.

[OliverRowland]

argh for early wakings....i sound like a broken record!   I have shortened the pm nap from 2hrs to 90min.  The am nap is 45min (he did 30min on his own yesterday).  But he continues to wake early in fact he woke even earlier this am (5:00am).  I get really frustrated and concerned as I am shortening his day sleep and he is shortening his night sleep, so he is getting even less sleep in total.       I know i need to give it time but HOW LONG?!  (am i impatient?!  )

[rinajack]

maybe it is the nap timing that is wrong, not the nap length? Maybe it needs to fall earlier?

Also, I found on two naps Zara was shortening her night more and more...now that we are sticking to one nap, it is lengthening again - and whilst I am working hard on naps and bedtime, I really haven't done anything about making her sleep in, that is happening on its own....

[EsMum]

I think that 1 hr 15 thing may relate to when they are only taking one nap, but stacy might clarify.  I never came across that until we started one nap.

Michelle - 1hr15 is overtired when they are on 1 nap.

Honestly, I am happy with anything over 1hr....

Oh thanks, I didn't realize you were talking about one nap - now I'm happy! 

[OliverRowland]

the first or the second nap earlier?   i find that if my A time isn't long enough he is tough to get down and ends up going to sleep around the same time any way.....

[rinajack]

I was thinking the 2nd nap.  Maybe you need to find the magic amount of A time between 2nd nap and bedtime - ie is it too long or too short right now?

[BabyBsMommy]

I haven't been around for a while but skimmed the thread some.
I agree with Stacy.  DS has been on one nap since the beginning of March but every once in a while he needs a catnap in the morning still (usually will doze off in the car or stroller if he does, very occasionally "asks" to be put into his crib).  When he has one nap, if he wakes up earlier than 2 hours he is overtired and wakes up crying.  If he sleeps longer than two hours he wakes up happy and good to go.

[debo620]

so whats up with 1hr 45min naps? are they overtired?

today was
wake 6:45, out of crib at 7:15am
nap 12:15-2pm, he'll usually sleep 2 hrs- 2.25, and then is in bed for 7:30
I put him to bed at 7:05 pm but so far he is still quietly talking and I'm sure playimg with his lovie and its 7:45pm.!

[BabyBsMommy]

DS's sleep cycles have always been 40 min so I've found he needs 3 to be rested enough on one nap.  That's why if he wakes up after 2 hours, he's happy because he got all three in.  If he wakes up even midway through the third sleep cycle he is very upset with himself when he wakes up because he is still tired.