HELP! 7mo.New to Gina Ford, bad naps!!

[monkeysmamma]

Hello all! First off, I just want to thank you for such an amazing site - I have found NONE out there as wonderful as mumsnet! Now on to my ds!!

Ds has always been a great napper/sleeper until about 2months ago (is 7mo now). I am at my wits end and only until today after finding this site have I felt a glimmer of hope in all our hard work! He is still sleeping through the night, but his naps have been only 20-45min 3x a day. This is so very different than his typical 1.5-2hrs each nap and he is wiped - cranky, rubbing eyes, etc. I know it is due to so much at this stage: teething (tho none yet!)curiousity, etc. And I don't have a hard time with cc through it all and I don't rush in when he stirs - it just seems as though that even with cc he makes it all the way to his next feeding - crying/fussing which of course has him thinking if he goes long enough, someone will come and get him!
We have had black out shades and routines(Babywise book) since 3 weeks old but he is SO off at this point that it is a battle to make it through each day cos hes so tired. Something needs to change! He is at the age where I know he needs 2 solid naps vs the 3short ones but we can't seem to even get there and I really want to start GF's method to get him back on track. Of course, I am not able to get the book for a few weeks (backordered here in US) and I am DESPERATE to get going on something!! Is there anyone who knows what a typical 7month old routine looks like on her system so I may start slowly as I wait for her book? I have heard she is pretty similar to Babywise over here in a lot of ways, however, I have been disapponited with BW and its lack of examples in routines etc. but have heard great things about GF and the success Mamma's have!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU in advance! I am SO excited and thankful for a some new direction!!!
Sorry so long!

gf recommends for 6-9 months of age :
awake at 7 am
nap 9am for 30-45 mins
nap at 12.30pm for 2hrs

hth

As the lunchtime nap is between 1 1/2 and 2hrs I sometimes found that at this age, DS also needed a kip in the afternoon of no more than 30 mins, no later than 5pm.

BR

What I meant was, if he didn't sleep for the full 1 1/2 2hrs....

Don't worry, I have been trying the GF method, doesn't necessary work. My little one is 3 months old, a great sleeper, read the GF book and took some advice, bu listened more to my relatives, let the baby sleep when it wants to. Some research is mentions that young babies don't necessary sleep better in darkened rooms, my baby in the day sleeps in its pram in a bright room, always has had its day time sleeps in a bright room. Sleeps generally a good 45 min in the morning, sometimes only hour sometimes up to 2 and a half during lunchtime and likes a good 30 minutes in the afternoon. The little one goes to bed between 5.30pm - 6pm and has a good routine for bedtime and generally sleeps through till 4.30am. I found the GF routine not at all appropriate for my little one, the patterns don't work for the baby. I have given up the routine for GF sleep.

Thanks for your wonderful responses! I am ready to try GF and stick with a bit since nothing has seemed to work!? Worth a shot I guess!! Perfect timing so far since ds was up 7am today...

thank you!

ARRRRGH!! SO tired! Tried a loose version of GF today and ds went down w/o a peep which is good - he is still stuck though! 9am nap was only 20min, afternoon nap has been only 30. I am leaving him in there for the full time though and have prepared myself for some ccing- but no crying or even a peep from him yet and only 15min left til I feed again - just laying there. That is just what boggles me!? No sufficient daytime sleep AT ALL, just laying there most of the time - but of course, the rest of our day goes to pot since he is overtired!
Any tips would be great from those GFers out there!! I ordered the book but it will take a week or so. I am just going to stick to the GF tips I have gotten so far of going donwn 2hrs after waking and trying to get him down to 2 naps vs. those 3 horrid 20-30min catnaps. So far - not so great!??? But, I realize it is going to take a bit of just sticking to it I guess!?

Stick with it Monkeysmamma. It may take a few weeks but I bet he will learn to sleep at those times eventually and in the mean time be thankful that he doesn't cry. He needs to learn how to get himself back to sleep - this is the key. My 5mth DS has learned this well but it took some cc but he is so much happier now that he has 3 hoursish sleep in the day. The GF routines certainly worked for me but stick with the main points or you risk getting stressed out if you or DS are 10 mins out of sync. Good luck.

Thanks, Pebs!! The encouragment means MORE than anyone knows! This site has been a God send and has really kept me going during this past week.

Today was unbelieavable once again!? Just blows my mind!? I put him down at the recommended time of 9am after he woke around 7ish (I don't have GF's book yet but am going by what I have seen/read/been told about - it should be here in a few weeks) and he slept for only 25min. I left him in there the full 2hr nap and he didn't make a peep!? Just played and chatted....I have just been lucky the past few days since typically I would have to battle with cc/ing it out - don't know what is up?! I am sure I will be doing that in the next days or so though. It just drives me batty though that he just will NOT sleep!? It affects his entire day - he just isn't himself!? He is so wiped and not even getting half way through the day!? Do you really think he will grasp that nap time means nap time?? I know it may take a while but I am SO motivated to get him back on track it doesn't matter to me that this may take weeks...I guess I just need that encouragment from you amazing ladies that this hard work isn't all in vain! Well! onto nap #2...he just woke up after EXACTLY 30min....AAARGH! Here we go!

why don't you give him his 3 shorter naps to get him through the day - he may not be ready for the 2 naps yet.
Try the Babywhisperer book and follow your ds sleepy signs and put him down then rather than when the 'book' says you should.
My ds was rubbish at following gf and have only recently followed his sleepy signs and he seems to have better naps - although he still wakes up grumpy most of the time

Thank you for all the input, everyone! It is SO helpful during this crazy time!

Thanks, too, TraceyK, I think I am going to continue to try and implement GF for a while though since we have tried BWhisperer as well and haven't seen any difference. I do really like many of her techniques though and we still use many of them today (patt/shhh is GREAT!!). These short naps have got to go since all it makes is for a grumpy and sad baby on our hands all day. He hasn't always been like this - has normally taken a 1.5-2 hr nap twice a day and then a catnap in the late afternoon nearly like clockwork. I agree though, as we continue to stick with GF i am going to keep up that catnap since he seems to need it. No clue if that is what GF suggests in her book but I am just trying to get him caught up on sleep at this point!
WEll! Off to go try at another nap -
consistency...consistecy...nap miracle??

Thank you for all the input, everyone! It is SO helpful during this crazy time!

Thanks, too, TraceyK, I think I am going to continue to try and implement GF for a while though since we have tried BWhisperer as well and haven't seen any difference. I do really like many of her techniques though and we still use many of them today (patt/shhh is GREAT!!). These short naps have got to go since all it makes is for a grumpy and sad baby on our hands all day. He hasn't always been like this - has normally taken a 1.5-2 hr nap twice a day and then a catnap in the late afternoon nearly like clockwork. I agree though, as we continue to stick with GF i am going to keep up that catnap since he seems to need it. No clue if that is what GF suggests in her book but I am just trying to get him caught up on sleep at this point!
WEll! Off to go try at another nap -
consistency...consistecy...nap miracle??

Hi Monkeysmamma
At 7 months, your baby will not need to sleep for two hours at 9am (did I read your earlier posting correctly?) The maximum daily sleep (ie between 7am and 7pm should be no more than 3hours) This could then be 30 mins at 9am, 2hrs around mid day and a further 30 mins anytime between 4pm and 5pm. Don't let any sleep happen after 5pm cus that only messes up night time sleep. Obviously, by making sure that baby is fed well and stimulated well, it should make him tired enough for his sleep. Finally, I can't recommend sleeping in his own bed where at all possible. I try and make sure that only the afternoon sleep is either in the pushchair or car seat if I'm out.

Good luck and enjoy the book! Don't forget that she has written others that may be of use to you as well.
Cinnamon

Thanks, Cinnamon! Doesn't GF recommend dropping that catnap around this time?? I too had heard having 3hrs during the day for naps (total)- but I am lucky to get 1-1.5 out of ds as of now for his nap TOTAL!!? If I drop that catnap in the early evening - shouldn't that help him extend his morning and afternoon naps equaling out to 3rs total? I don't mind keeping that catnap if that is recommended - I think I may just be confused!? Great tips on the other books too! I just passed the potty training onto my girlfriend