I have been trying to get my almost 6 1/2 month silent reflux baby onto 4 hour feeds. He is medicated and comfortable thanks to Zoey we have managed to get Daniel napping fairly well independently with shh/rub anywhere from 45mins - 2hours, but never consistent.
While on the 3 hour EASY he would usually do 3x 1 1/2 naps and maybe a 45 minute in the afternoon. He would usually fall asleep on his own in 15 minutes and his A time was spot on each time, 1h45-2h. Finally we were doing great and seemed to have the magic A time!
A week ago he started to sleep 2 hours slots and I was able to move towards 4 hour EASY, not every day though, because some days I could not get him to sleep more than an hour, so I fed him at 3 1/2 interval. I just went with it because I though he was moving towards 4 hour EASY on his own time.
We introduced solids 3 weeks ago, slowly.
But since then his naps have gone so erratic and I wonder if it's because his A time is changing, or he wants to drop a nap or it's the 4 hour EASY? Or can it be due to teething, even though it doesn't worry his night sleep? I read in Tracy's book this can sometimes happen at this age, but how do I get him into some routine again?
He is an alert and spirited baby so we do the wind down early. He usually grizzles and losses interest in things and this is my cue for bed.
I have been playing with his A time to see, what works best, playing with 2h - 2.5 hr mark. When I put him in the cot after his 5 min cuddle to calm him, he babbles and plays with his toes, scratches/sucks the sheet and giggles so much that he becomes over tired and I find if I don't go in and shh him on his side he will start to get so tired it takes me forever to get him to sleep. If I try to extend this time he becomes so much harder to put to sleep and sometimes I can't get him to sleep. It seems once he is too upset he gets so frustrated and at this point I used to be able to roll him onto his side and shhh him to help him along but now his cry is one of anger/real hard cry so I pick him up and calm him usually 5-10 minutes then put him in at which point he turns onto his side and settles. The more I have to do this the less he is falling asleep on his own and even now falling asleep on his own involves crying ( more angry ) whereas before it was only grizzle?. Also he has started to like rolling onto his tummy.
He sleeps between 10-11 hours at night, though I hear him wake several times, but he goes back to sleep without much fuss, he gets more restless from 3am onwards, waking maybe every 1hr or so.
I have posted his routine to show how much it differs, even when I put him to sleep the same time, same tired signs etc. We started off well....trying the to move to the 4hr routine, and it seems the old 1hr 45 A time is all of a sudden too short, so soon?...
Now if his A time is 2hr30-2hr45 and you want 2 2hr sleeps, what happens to 4hr EASY?
Anyone able to guide me?
Thanks
Sharron
Just wondering if anyone can see a problem here.
3 hr EASY as a week ago
Monday
woke 5.45am
E 6.15 140ml
A 7.30 in the cot 1hr45 took 15 mins to fall asleep 2hr mark
S 7.45 slept 1hr20. Fell asleep on own.
woke 9.10am
E 9.15 110ml
9.45 pear & rice cereal
A 10.45 in the cot 1hr35 took 20 mins to fall asleep 2hr mark
S 11.10 slept 1hr30. Fell asleep on own.
woke 12.40am
E 12.45 140ml
A 1.35 in the cot 1hr45 took 15 mins to fall asleep 2hr mark
S 2.40 slept 2hr15. Fell asleep on own.
E 3.30 120ml
A 5.10 bath
E 6.15 140ml
S Bed 6.30 fell asleep on own at 7.15
E 10pm 160ml
Total sleep 10 1/2 night, 5h1/4 day (15h1/4)
Tuesday had to do 3 hr EASY
woke 6.00am
E 6.30 180ml
A 7.45 in the cot 1hr45 took 15 mins to fall asleep 2hr mark
S 8.00 slept 45min. Crying, PUPD, rolled him onto his side and shhh to help him along
woke 9.00am
E 9.05 150ml
9.30 pear & rice cereal
A 10.30 in the cot 1hr30 (to make up for short nap earlier) took 50 mins to fall asleep 2hr20 mark
S 11.20 slept 1hr 20min. Crying, PUPD, rolled him onto his side and shhh to help him along
woke 12.40pm
E 1.30 140ml
A 2.20 in the cot 1hr40 took 20 mins to fall asleep 2hr mark
S 2.40 slept 45min. Crying, PUPD, rolled him onto his side and shhh to help him along
woke 3.25pm
E 3.30 80ml
A 5.10 bath
E 6.00 130ml
S Bed 6. 30 fell asleep on own at 7.15
E 10pm 100ml
Total sleep 11 night, 2h15 day (12h15)
Thursday 4 hr EASY
woke 6.15am
E 6.30 150ml
A 8.10 in the cot 2hr took 15 mins to fall asleep 2hr15 mark
S 8.25 slept 1hr 20min. Crying, rolled him onto his side and shhh to help him along
woke 9.45am
E 10.30 190ml
11.00 pear & rice cereal
A 11.45 in the cot 2hr took 30 mins to fall asleep 2hr30 mark
S 12.15 slept 1 1/2hr. Crying, PUPD, rolled him onto his side and shhh to help him along
woke 1.45pm
E 2.15 120ml
A 3.30 in the cot 1hr50 took 10 mins to fall asleep 2hr mark (very tired signs, tried earlier)
S 3.45 slept 15mins. Crying, PUPD, rolled him onto his side and shhh wouldn't go back, laughing etc.
A 5.15 bath
E 6.00 170ml
S Bed 6.15 fell asleep on own at 6.30
E 10pm 130ml
Total sleep 12 night, 3h30 day (15h30)
