Everything has changed and I am so lost-Please help!

[peeta]

I don't know where to begin but I'll try to keep this short.  My DD has just turned 5 mths.  Four weeks ago she was doing 2hr nap in the mornings, 2 hrs in the afternoon and 30 min catnap.  Everything was going very well.  And then we went away for a weekend and she got sick and she got teeth.  Fast forward.  She now wakes up at 6:15 and plays (sometimes she will go back to sleep-more often than not she won't) Her naps dropped to 1.5 hours and now 1/2 hour.  She is struggling to stay awake as long during the day because her naps aren't as long.  She was an Angel baby, but is now becoming irritable. We put her down between 6:30-7:30 depending on when her last nap ends.  We were on a textbook four hour EASY-now it can be anything.  I am so lost and close to giving up. 

When she wakes up from her naps she is happy and smiling...there doesn't seem to be a "transition stage"  She opens her eyes and starts talking and laughing almost immediately.  Do I start pat/shh then, what about PU/PD...although I've read Tracy's books, I had completely understood when to use the techniques...and because my DD was an Angel baby I didn't really need them.  I now have no clue where to begin or what to do.

Any and all help is so very much appreciated!!

[Richelle]

HI,

Anything new developmentally?  Rolling etc?

How much is she eating?  Has her appetite changed?

Does she have any teeth or show signs of teething?

[peeta]

Everything!  The past few weeks have been developmentally crazy!!  She has rolled from back to front, got two teeth and I think she's going through a little bit of a growth spurt.  I'm sure there is more happening that I haven't noticed too!  Having said all of that, I think we are at the tail end of all that.  Maybe this needs to be in the get back on track area? I don't know...like I said, I'm lost!!

[Richelle]

If you posted a typical day maybe we could start from there.

Likely you need to tweak her A times, very common at this age to start becoming more active and needing a longer A time. 

Also try and feed her more, are you BF'ing or FF'ing?

She is going through alot right now but you can definatley get things back on track and if you want to post your typical day we could go from there.

Richelle

[peeta]

Ok

Three/Four weeks ago

W 7:15
E 7 30
A 7:45-9:15/9:30
Sleep 9:15/30-11:15/30
E 11:30
A 11:45-1:30
Sleep 1:30-3:30
E 3:30
A: 3:45-5:15
S 5:15-6:00
A (Bath etc...)
E:6:45
Sleep 7:00
DF 10:30


Last week

W 6:50
E 7 30
A 7:45-8:45
Sleep 8:45-10:15
E 11:15
A 11:30-12:00
Sleep 12:00-1:30
E 3:00
A: 3:15-3:45
S 4:00-4:45
A (Bath etc...)
E:6:30
Sleep 6:45
DF 10:30

As of 4 days ago

W 6:30
E 7 30
A 7:45-8:20
Sleep 8:20-9:15
E 11:15
A 11:30-12:00
Sleep 12:00-1:20
E 3:00
A: 3:15 3:30
S 3:30-5:00
A (Bath etc...)
E:6:45
Sleep 7:00
DF 10:30

*** She is eating creal with her evening feed.  And she has an A time between her wake and her eating***  I hope this helps.  The past two days I have sat in her room durring naps and transitioned her back to sleep from 45 min to 1 1/2 hrs.  If she went to wake up I was there putting her back to sleep.  SHe does go back, but for someone who was such a good sleeper...this can't be good.

Thanks for the help!

[Richelle]

You probably don't want to hear this but everything looks very normal to me and I think it is developmental and you are doing the best thing for her by being there and helping her through the sleep stages.

I know I said that her A times may need to go longer but now that I see them they look good except with all the new rolling and moving around (do you find her more active?) she may need a bit of a shorter A time first thing in the morning.  Try and go for an A time of 1.5 hours for a few days and she may extend her naps on her own.  This will help if she is in fact overtired by the time her 1st nap comes around.  I know that with my DD, when she started rolling/crawling and walking she was MORE tired than usual and I would have to really pay attention to her A time and cues so she wouldn't get overtired.

I HTH

Richelle

[peeta]

Thanks a lot Richelle!!  I really appreciate your help, the listening and the encouragement.