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12month old with jet leg

9 replies

MrsNutella · 18/01/2014 10:27

Hello,

We just got back from the states on Thursday and have been trying to get DS back into his routine and encourage him to go to bed at his usual time and sleep... Well last night was awful and he went to bed fine at the usual time and slept until about 9pm but then he kept moaning and whinging and waking. Went in to settle him I don't know how many times. But once he was asleep he was generally starting up again about 5 minutes or less later.
In the end he was up and wide awake between about 22:00 and 00:30 DH and I are knackered! DH managed to get him to sleep and then brought him in to sleep with us. That was after about an hour of me shushing, singing cuddling him in bed with us.

Other problems are that I think he has some molars coming through and he could well be on the verge of walking... All things which I know are not super for great sleeps. DS has never been a great sleeper but I really really need some sleep!

I am repeating the mantra "this too shall pass" but when?! And if anyone has any tips on anything that would be lovely. Thank you!

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MrsNutella · 18/01/2014 21:34

It could be walking... He has been slowly progressing to lots of standing (hands free) and will walk holding a hand, sometimes 1 sometimes 2. Today he took a couple of independent steps too... So I'm leaning towards walking... How long will this night time restlessness last though???

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whatsagoodusername · 18/01/2014 21:43

It generally takes a day for every hour time difference - 5 days for the East Coast, 8 for the West Coast. And then add a day or two just because DC are contrary!

Just take it slowly, it is easier and less frustrating if you accept that the week or two after your trip will be shit. Wake him up a little earlier each day (even if it means you are getting less sleep) and try to get out of the house during the day to force the daytime routine.

You have my sympathy. We were in the US for Christmas and I had a lot of very late nights with the DC when we got back.

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Longdistance · 18/01/2014 21:55

It always takes mine 3 or 4 days to readjust.

We regularly travelled to and from Oz, and that's how long they took to readjust each time. Give it a day or so, and all should be normal again. We just tried to stick to their usual routine, and if they needed a nap I let them.

Sorry, I'm not much help, but that's pretty much how my dd's seemed to sort their jet lag.

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whatsagoodusername · 18/01/2014 22:01

It is also a good time to reset morning wake up times if you feel DS wakes up too early usually. My DC are currently still sleeping until 7:30-8 when before it was 6-6:30. It is lovely getting to sleep a bit later! I'm sure they'll go back earlier again as the days get longer, but for now it's nice!

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MrsNutella · 19/01/2014 08:42

Thanks whatsa and longdistance. Last night was night three I feel sick with tiredness this morning. DH got up with DS this morning and I'm having a lie in; but I can't get back to sleep.
DS normally goes to bed at 7ish pm and wakes for the day between 7-7:30. Although usually he wakes in the night too - he has never been a great sleeper and I'm still hoping he will sleep through one day.

But the last couple of nights he has been up between about 9pm and 00:30. It's the late night and unsettled sleep that is wearing DH and I out. What was your DC's jet lag like? Did it gradually get better or were they suddenly over it?

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whatsagoodusername · 20/01/2014 01:44

They were up until 5 am, then 4, then 2, then midnight, 9/10, 8, 7/8 (normal bedtime), I think. They slept in until 10 the first day or two, then I started getting them up earlier by about a half hour every day or two (stopped at 8am!).

For the first day or two, I did let them sleep in the day when they needed it (late afternoon usually), then started trying to get them in bed for naps earlier

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whatsagoodusername · 20/01/2014 01:48

And limiting nap times to an hour.

It is very hard with your own exhaustion compounding it. I hope you are having better luck tonight!

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lljkk · 20/01/2014 03:00

It generally takes a day for every hour time difference - 5 days for the East Coast, 8 for the West Coast. And then add a day or two just because DC are contrary!

This , I always say a week for adjustment to/from California.
Sympathies, just keep trying, they do adjust in the end, tends to be slow rather than fast adjustment.

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MrsNutella · 20/01/2014 20:41

Thanks ladies. I really appreciate your advice and having a time fame always helps! - even if it takes a week for DS to get back to what is normal for him it makes me feel a tiny bit more positive as the days pass.

The thing is his routine is almost normal. Morning nap (30-45 minutes), lunch, afternoon nap (an hour usually or a bit longer - he is not a great napper), dinner and bedtime are all following their usual routine. It is just that about two hours after he goes to bed he wakes up and will not go back to sleep for about three hours....

Whatever is disturbing his sleep I hope it is better soon. Last night when he finally started to get tired and we got him back to bed at 00:15 he slept fairly solidly until 8:15 (we each got up once or twice and stuck the dummy back in or soothed him briefly) which was pretty good for him!