EARLY WIDE AWAKE CLUB!! WANT SUPPORT? JOIN US!

[Mamalou]

well, thought we had it figured out..switched his am/pm naps, I mean he'd always done a long am and a short pm nap, but Samijoe advised the switch saying the pm nap is more important so have been trying for a week and a couple of days, and have had 3-4 good wakings.  The key is we have to wake him after 1 hr from his am nap, then he must get a good pm nap 1.5-2 hrs, and then he has to be in bed by 630-640 otherwise, it's a no go.  Last night I don't know what happened, because I thought he'd had a pretty good day, his second nap wasn't complete, he woke after 30, patted him, he slept 45, patted again as he seemed tired still, and then the phone rang 15 min into it, so still it was 1.5 hrs, but he was NOT happy when he woke Got him in bed by 640, but he woke at 430 today He went back to sleep on his on though and then heard him again at 530.  He's also done that a couple of times, gone back on his own to sleep.  Anyway, still trying, going to stick it out for a least a couple more weeks before I try something different. 

Good luck everyone
Kristi

[Tobysmum]

I didn't think I'd have to join you guys - but the early wakings have been going on for over 2 weeks now and I am starting to think that it's going to be a long term thing (boo-hoo!)   - especially as it seems to be getting worse!
Early morning wake-up starts anywhere between 4-5.30 and rarely later than that unfortunately.  Started doing pu/pd which worked for a while but it's been getting progressively worse.  It would get to about 6.00/6.30 and I'd give in and feed him but I've stopped doing that as I know he's capable of going until 7.00/7.30 as that's what he was doing before.  The only thing that actually makes him go back to sleep is if I feed him - but I really don't want to start doing that at 5.30 (unless all other angles have failed!)
He's usually asleep by 7pm and goes straight to sleep with no problems.  His first nap is usually at 9.30 no matter what (usually at 10.30ish when he's at a sitter 2 mornings per week). Afternoon nap isn't as regimented as sometimes he won't go down and it depends on when his morning nap has been - more often than not he has a nap though.  Has 3 good solid meals per day plus 4 breastfeeds per day.  He's usually an angel/textbook baby.  He started crawling one month ago and has learned how to sit up in his cot - which is what he's doing when he's bawling his eyes out when he wakes up.  He now wakes up crying from both of his naps and when he wakes up early (he used to wake up happy and babbling).
Anyway, can anyone make any suggestions?  Have posted on the other boards but am not getting any joy
How much daytime sleep does he need do you think (he usually gets 2-3 hrs at the moment).

Today he slept for 1 hr this morning and has had no pm nap - hence him now being irritable!

Just wondered what you guys tried (nap times etc) and what suggestions you have before I resolve myself to being a permanent on this board  

I understand the fact that if he wakes up at about 5.30 that he's getting 10.5 hrs sleep (and say 2.5 hrs of naps brings total to 13 hrs which isn't too far off the norm).  If we were to put him to bed a bit later do you think that would make him sleep longer or doesn't it work like that generally!!!  Basically, trying for a later wake up time since DH and I really cannot function at that time in the morning

BTW he just turned 11 months today.

Thanks

[andibig]

Hi tobysmum
what time do you usually aim for the PM nap?and what time is bedtime?
for us it was definitely working on nap times to get rid of early wakings.

[litomi]

Tobysmum, no matter when you put your LO down to bed (earlier or later), their wake up time is usually around the same time. Putting your LO later to bed might cause your LO overtired and can cause night wakings.
7pm bedtime maybe a little too late for your LO if he didn't have a pm nap. Would you like to move your LO's bedtime 15min. earlier?

[Tobysmum]

I usually aim to put him down to bed about 4 hours after he went down for his first nap - which if he goes down for his nap at 9.30am then I'll put him down 1.30ish.  As well as watching the clock I tend to watch his cues more than anything - as soon as he starts to get a bit cranky and maybe yawns or rubs his eyes then I put him down.  This has usually served us well!  I have also heard that whatever time you put babies to bed that they tend to wake up at the same time.  I have tried bed at 6.30, 6.45 and 7.00 - nothing seems to make much of a difference!  This morning he woke up at 5.30 screeming but he did end up going back to sleep until 7am which was great!  We'll see what happens tomorrow.
As I said before, if he's with me he always naps at 9.30 although today he wanted his nap at 9.05!!  When he's at the sitter he usually doesn't nap until about 10.30!  He sleeps for at least an hour when he's with me and 30 mins-1 hr when he's at the sitter.  I know that's not helping with the consistency of it all!  What time should I put him down for his afternoon nap - if he sleeps at different times in the morning?  He's only at the sitter 2 mornings per week, so 5 mornings per week he naps at 9.30am.  How long should I let him sleep for etc?
Sorry so many questions!

[andibig]

tobysmum
ask as many questions as you want!!!
when sasha was that age she was on a fairly similar routine.her AM nap was 9.30-10.30.her PM nap was 2pm-3.30pm and bedtime was 7-7.15.
basically i aimed for 3.5 hours between sleeps.this worked really well for us.i always worked from when she woke from her nap not when i had put her down.and she had to be woken from naps.
she seemed to do fine with 2.5hrs of daytime sleep any longer and she woke early (like 5.30am )
HTH

[babyre33]

We love the Backyardigans here too Sashas Mummy.  We had been having early wakings too for almost 2 weeks now.  5:15 like clockwork no matter what (goodnaps, bad naps, late bedtiem, early bedtime, etc.)  Found out she had an ear infection from teething drainage.  I hope her wakings go back to normall after this clears up. 

So be sure you all consider any medical issues, just in case.

Sending love out to you all!!

[¤ Efka ¤]

Oo my, we are here again. Already for couple weeks early wakeup. Last week it has been 5.30 today somehow 5.50

[rinajack]

I am here too. 5am this morning.  Seems she wakes earlier the morning after two nap days.  So I think this issue is part of the transition from 2-1. 

[andibig]

We love the Backyardigans here too Sashas Mummy. 

Sasha absolutely LOVES the backyardigans.everything stops when its on!!!
Hope your LO feels better soon

[babyre33]

Thanks Sasha's Mummy.  I've had VERY little sleep for the past 2 weeks almost, and struggling with the first trimester sluggishness I love so much with pregnancy.  I remember all the naps I took when pregnant with dd #1, early bedtimes, sleeping in...ahhh the good 'ol days!!!

[Tobysmum]

Well, since posting on here and letting him cry 3 mornings ago, he's still woken up at 5.30 but he's gone back to sleep the last 2 mornings until about 7am!  So here's hoping that it continues.  Still not sure why he's waking up then.  He napped great yesterday - I didn't let him sleep more than 2.5 hrs and am planning on doing that today also.  Fingers crossed.  I live in Bermuda so we don't get the Backyardians but I think I saw it when I was visiting England!

[andibig]

tobysmum
thats great news!!!for some reason sasha still woke at 5am at that age.she'd talk to her self for about 5 mins and then go back to sleep
babyre33
must be tough dealing with early wakings AND being pregnant.i remember the first trimester well
 

Can't help noticing that a lot of the ladies on the "early wide awake club" are pregnant .must be something about this thread.

[Mamalou]

ugh yes, as I said in my ppost I THOUGHT we had it figured out.  Guess not. Yesterday was a perfect day.  Woke him after 1hr in am and had a 2hr nap in pm (woke after 1hr15 but was crying so patted him a bit and he went back to sleep for 45).  Thought he'd wake up later today, but nope, 5 am!!
Maybe it's too much sleep? 
Today was another great nap day 1hr am and 1hr45 in pm so we'll see what tomorrow brings..

good luck for 'sleep-ins'
Kristi

[litomi]

Wow... Rina, Zara is ready for 2-1 nap? Are you sure? She's only 10+mo. DD refused to take her pm nap yesterday. She had problem with her am nap... wouldn't nap until 10:30 (4.5hr of A time!), took almost 1.5hr nap until 11:30, then wouldn't sleep. I put her to bed at 6. She woke up around 4, cried for 3min then went back to sleep until 6:20.
Do you want to wait for few days before switching to 1 nap. Lately, I just feel that DD's body is trying to adjust to 1 nap but not quite ready yet.