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Sleep

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Original poster

Extending sleep in a 10.5mo

16 replies

pettyprudence · 20/02/2012 11:56

My Ds is 10.5mo and on the whole a pretty good sleeper BUT since just before christmas he has started walking at 5.30am-ish every morning and will only go back to sleep after a 45min bf and then back in to his own cot. He won't co-sleep (used to but he's one of those babies that likes his own space). I am knackered because it takes me ages to go back to sleep (I cant feed and sleep). That's if the bugger cherub will go back to sleep. Sometimes, he likes to start the day bright and early!

How do I either a) make him feed quicker (he used to be a quick feeder) or b) sleep longer? tried soothing/patting etc... but it just enrages him

Thanks!

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fififrog · 20/02/2012 21:19

I think the 5.30 starts are 'in' for 10-11 month olds if you browse the threads. Mine won't ever go back to sleep after bf unless like last night she coughed herself awake at 4.20 and didn't really get back to sleep... Sometimes she will snooze til 6 after the 5.20 to the minute wakings, but often the 5.20 is it, and I an't remember the last time she slept past 6!

Original poster

pettyprudence · 21/02/2012 08:28

I think its probably one of those "this too shall pass" things by the time they are teenagers and we have to drag them out of bed

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omama · 21/02/2012 21:22

What's his daytime routine like atm? PP is right 10-11months is a typical age for wonky sleep & its down to their daytime sleep needs starting to reduce in preparation for them dropping to 1 nap, which typically happens between 15-18months (though earlier for some). It might be he needs his morning nap pushing back a bit later &/or cutting back a bit.

Original poster

pettyprudence · 21/02/2012 21:33

Well the sleep has been wonky for 2 months but this past week or 2 he's not wanted his morning nap and has just had 1 after lunch, but only for 45mins. He really needs more daytime sleep but he's not ready for another nap until 4.30pm but then he's still bouncing around the house at 8pm (tried this last night, made no difference and he actually started the day earlier today!). Might try putting him down just before lunch (have a snack instead) and see if that helps him sleep longer in the day. He used to have about 90mins in the morning and 45 mins the afternoon. Oh how I miss nap times!

OP posts:

omama · 21/02/2012 22:39

Hiya.

He's pretty young to drop completely to 1 nap & he definitely sounds very overtired. Can you post your previous 2 nap routine so I can see what he was doing? Could you try & carry on with 2 naps, but tweak the timings. If he was refusing his AM nap it sounds like he wasn't quite tired enough for it, so perhaps you could try putting him down maybe 30mins later than usual & you might find he settles ok? Then his afternoon nap will likely need to be a bit later than usual, so you would need to cut it a bit shorter, or he won't be tired enough to go to bed. By gradually pushing out one nap & cutting the other nap shorter, you work your way steadily towards 1 nap rather than suddenly dropping one of them, and it gives your DS more time to get used to being awake for a longer period before he naps.

If he still refuses the 2 naps & you feel you need to stay with the 1 nap, I would definitely bring it a wee bit earlier as he's likely to be very overtired by naptime, especially with him waking early too. Perhaps try more like 11am & you might find he naps for longer. If you get a 2hr nap I'd be aiming for more like 6-6.30pm BT. If he does a short nap I would definitely recommend a very early bedtime - as early as you dare. 6pm was the earliest I would ever do but if you were brave you could try 5.30! Many people are scared of this in case they wake even earlier the next day, but put them to bed later & they are overtired & sleep fitfully & wake early. An early bedtime can often prevent overtiredness & mean they take a better & longer sleep at night & he might surprise you & wake up at the same time.

If you can get him over the initial hump of OT you can very gradually shift the nap back towards lunchtime & BT back towards 7/7.30pm but be aware this may take several weeks/months to achieve.

hth.x

OliveandJim · 22/02/2012 09:22

My 10.5m old DS is dropping all his naps since a few weeks now, I count myself lucky when he sleeps for 45min around 11AM, even though he does sometimes collapse at 8.30AM when he has been up early (like this morning 5.15AM), or collapses at 6PM if he hasn't napped at all. I was talking to a mum at the playground yesterday who mentioned her DS did exactly the same at that age and it got all straighten when he started walking as he was tiring himself properly by burning more energy and needed to nap again to refuel. My DS is on the cusp of walking and I think / hope / pray his naps will get better once he walks....

LittleMilla · 22/02/2012 20:45

I am in this similar hell position. We've had a 5:30am wake up for a few weeks now, just don't seem to be able to sort it. I am dying, job hunting in between naps doing prep.

I have been trying to shift him to two naps, which is just about wokring,always had three. Bit of a revalation last couple of days is to keep him awake longer after he wakes up. Used to be 2 hours after wake up, now trying to stretch to 3 hours. He then has a kip after lunch for 1-2 hours.

Today is first day of early bedtime (6:30pm) and I am hoping that it'll make a difference. GOt an interview tomorrow am and so going to be in a sec, just incase it doesn't work.

hugs to all going through this. Think I'd actually take a wake up and then going back to bed versus this.

LittleMilla · 23/02/2012 07:07

Well that didn't work. Up at 10pm (tho think he was hot as i'd put an extra blanket on). Then up slightly earlier at about 5:25am.

Do I try again tonight? Or just stick to normal bedtime of about 7pm and just ride this out...?

I think I am starting to get a little depressed, with no light in sight .

ledkr · 23/02/2012 07:53

can i join you to pick up tips? DD is 12 months and has never slept particularly well. Over the last 2-3 weeks we seem to have cracked it and she was sleeping around 7-6 or sometimes even 7. The last few days though she has woken up anytime from 4.45 the latest being 6.15.
After a year of not much sleep i should be thrilled i hear you say but she wakes up crying,still led down,eyes half closed and then spends the morning moaning and falling over with tiredness often not fancying her food. She is then extremly difficult to get to nap even if i try for ages. Im not really sure what to do as i really feel she would be happier with an extra half an hour or so. She is baby no 5 and i remember the others would wake up refreshed and happy and bouncing in their cots.
She did have 2 naps yesterday which were hard to get her to have. She also had a later bedtime of 8pm but still no joy today.
I will poach your advice f you dont mind.
I too am feeling permanantly tired,i drive a lot in my job and me and dh both have jobs where we would be in serious trouble if we made a mistake.I only work part time though.
We go to bed early every night to sleep sex has been totally forgotten as we need to sleep. Arrrrrgh.

LittleMilla · 23/02/2012 09:30

PP apologies for this blatent thread hijack, figured it was best to grow one versus starting another!

After this morning's early start, I kept DS up for 3 hours, but then he's only napped for 40 mins. Woken up like a rat (the crying was akin to someone sticking pins in his eyes!) and I have actually just put him down again. He's still whinging, but when up was just crying cause he's so tired. His bags and dark circles are almost as bad as mine.

Feel like such a shit mum right now - why can I not get it right? ledkr I am on my own Mon-Thurs as DH works away. He's actually excited about getting up with DS on a Friday, which is some respite I guess. Not even sure why I am thinking about going back to work at the mo, I would be fit for nothing! Got an interview at 11:30am...sure coffee can see me through that!

ledkr · 23/02/2012 09:38

Good luck with interview.I am actually considering going full time just so i can only be a mum to moany pants in the evenings. I could honestly do the eraly mornings if she wasnt so miserable.She has been up since 6 had breakfast,2 bottles.numerous cuddles,2 poohs,hit me plenty,been for a wlak to take dd1 to school and stopped for a swing.She is still awake and clearing out my dvd cuboard for the umpteenth time today. I just live to go to bed. Dh does get up a lot with her cos he feels guilty (i already had 4 dc,had dd for him) That does keep me going.

LittleMilla · 23/02/2012 10:36

Aw led, it's bloody wearing, isn't it?

My DS is going through a biting stage, so unless I have my wits about it, I end up being grabbed and bitten too. It takes all of my strength not to lose it at times....

ledkr · 24/02/2012 18:31

Another moany old day.She was alot easier when i got out so maybe summer will be pleasant. Im going to look at joining some more groups i think,at least i can drink coffee whilst she plays.
6.15. today,improvemnet but still felt like the middle of thr night to me.

LittleMilla · 24/02/2012 19:13

DS excelled himself - 4:40am!! Yup. Thankfully DH came back last night, so he got up with the bugger whilst I had some much needed rest. DH is obviously shattered though having done a full day work.

We've had lots of fresh air today, gymboree and plenty of food (along with a couple of naps - 2.5 hours total). He's just gone down, so we'll see how tonight is.

I saw someone today who said her DD simply 'got over' it one day. She said that NOTHING she did could alter it, so just embrace it (as much as you can) and keep on telling youself that it WILL improve.

We're on week three now, so keeping my fingers crossed I haven't got too much more. DS is usually quite good at whizzing through these phases a bit quicker than expected, fingers crossed!

ledkr · 24/02/2012 21:43

Yes im not doing too much,im hoping she will walk soon and tire herself out more.
I find the hardest thing having to go to bed so blumming early,im like a child.

I have sky plussed Stella to watch at 6am. Dh is working and on Sunday he has a 4-midnight so i can hardly let him get up, then im working Mon an Tues so that will be well over a week since i had a lie in past 6am,i feel shattered and have awhole weekend ahead of me alone

fififrog · 25/02/2012 09:52

Ugh we have had a 4.40 this morning as well. Total mess. Even actually tried feeding her 5.15 breaking my rules but she has a stinking cold (although this is nothing unusual) that didn't even help... She eventually dropped off at 6.15 when I was feeding her again even though dh had been all enthusiastic and morningy switching on lights etc. Now had a 30min fight for a nap - would normally have left it rather than trying for normal time but we have swimming then out to a friend' birthday at 2 so need to get post-lunch nap squeezed between the two!

2 weeks ago we had 50:50 6am & 5.20am, we were beginning to think we could stay up til 10 and maybe watch a DVD but now we're back to 9.30 bed and feeling like trash!

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