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Parenting

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5 month old false starts at night

6 replies

SleepyMama321 · 08/12/2022 13:02

For the last month or 2 my LO has a false start almost every night - waking after 30 minutes after bedtime. When it takes ages to get him to sleep in the first instance, this is so frustrating! Last night, it took over an hour to get him back to sleep so I think he treated it like a nap. What can I do?!

I follow wake windows during the day and he normally naps every 1.5-2 hours (most often around 1 hour 40 mark). Since the 4 month sleep regression started, most of his naps are 30 mins but he’ll have the occasional long one but they’re completely unpredictable. This means he normally has 4-5 naps per day (depending on nap length). We aim for bedtime around 8pm as we cosleep but depending on last nap, it can sometimes be as late as 9.30pm which is less ideal.

I’ve tried longer and shorter wake windows before bed but it doesn’t seem to make much of a difference. Never longer than 2 hours though.

I know false starts can be due to under tiredness or overtiredness but there’s not much more I can do to lengthen his naps. I used to be able to extend them when he woke at 30 mins but since the regression, it’s impossible and became more stress than it was worth because it never worked.

Anyone have any advice? Helppp

OP posts:
naomiembrace · 08/12/2022 14:50

Are you doing a bed time routine to signal it is bed time? Bath, story,Milk, dark room, quiet etc? Would also suggest consistently stretching last wake window to around 2.5 hours and curtailing last nap of the day so it is a 15 minute power nap

SleepyMama321 · 08/12/2022 16:10

@naomiembrace Yes we do a bedtime routine of bath, lullaby, sleep sack, milk and bed.

I’ll try 2.5 hour wake window and see. Normally we find when the wake window is closer to 2 hours, he cries A LOT during bedtime routine so worry 2.5 hours will lead to overtiredness but will see!

OP posts:
Crimsonripple · 08/12/2022 16:12

We had this for a while. You just have to ride it out. They're struggling to get into their deeper sleep pattern. It eventually peters out. Sorry no miracle cure!

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Crimsonripple · 08/12/2022 16:13

Just saw your comment about crying - this can help strangely with knocking them out quicker and deeper. It's not pleasant for you but just do a quick bath and then in bed.

naomiembrace · 08/12/2022 19:32

Or if he enjoys Bath then you could do v long bath (ie after been awake for 1. 50 hours put him in bath for 20 minutes or so. I agree with pp that tears when putting them in pyjamas etc can be difficult to avoid because they are tired

Bobbybobbins · 08/12/2022 19:34

My DS2 did this for a short while, drove me absolutely mad!! It did pass though

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