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Should I 'make' my 5.5 month DS sleep?

16 replies

Pavlov · 14/05/2010 15:27

He is generally ok with naps. Has a rough routine. Not hugely specific but roughly 1.5 hours AM, roughly the same PM. sometimes longer/shorter on either, times have a window AM goes off around 9-10am, PM any time around 2-3pm. Occasionally has another midday nap. and the odd 30 mins pre-morning nap.

So generally ok. Sometimes, he won't nap in the morning. Not often, but then he will generally have an epic nap in the afternoon.

Today. He is not napping. At All. He is knackered. But not upset. Well, he has moments of la'ing sadly, but he is kicking and figiting lots, like he has too much energy and is trying to get rid of it. He is feeding lots. More than an average day. But he likes milk to go to sleep, so i sort of guessed he was feeding as he wanted a sleep.

During these feeds, he has dropped off for most of them, then woken at most 20 mins later, happy as, big grins. but mostly, he wakes as soon as he finishes suckling, or i remove him and he is awake and happy.

It is now almost 3:30pm and he as yet has not had more than about 45 mins in 5 mins here and there, with one 20 mins. He is looking tired now, and he is a little grizzly, making la noises, not really unhappy, but he won't sleep.

Should I just put some tv on for him and chill him out, not worry about his nap? Then put him to bed early? Or should I do anything in my power to get him to have a good sleep now?

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StarlightMcKenzie · 14/05/2010 15:30

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Pavlov · 14/05/2010 15:32

I dont know about him, i could do with a nap! He has been sort of fussing since about 1am. He had a great sleep 8pm-1:30am, sound asleep, woke for a feed, then slept lightly for the rest of the night, waking lots. Awake for good at 6:15am!

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Pavlov · 14/05/2010 15:34

I have put baby tv on. Stopped the la'ing. Have also put him in his car seat, as sometimes not always but every now and then, he will fall asleep in it. He will sleep his most epic sleeps when it is time to nap, in it though, or if he has his nap in the car, will sleep for hours!

Except today. DH took him out at lunch time to take DD to nursery, and he was wide awake when he got back, not a jot of sleep in him!

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Songbird · 14/05/2010 15:35

What about taking him for a walk? Does he drop off in the pram?

Pavlov · 14/05/2010 15:35

Oh fgs - he just squealed at the tv and is now rocking himself which he does when he is happy/excited! Oh bless him he looks so happy! starlight you are so right, i need to just accept this as it is!

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Pavlov · 14/05/2010 15:37

(Snowbird* tv and internet still on, no phone though! I am wondering how long I can keep talking on MN for!)

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Songbird · 14/05/2010 15:47

maybe it wasn't too good to be true then!

Milsy · 14/05/2010 15:51

In my experience, it can be a tough night after a day of little or no napping!

Pavlov · 14/05/2010 15:52

milsy oh no don't say that! Shall I tell DH he is sleeping on the sofa then, so I can spread out with the cub?

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MissusRabbit · 14/05/2010 15:52

If you think him not napping will ruin bedtime or his night sleep then i'd make him nap.

I'd go out with the pram or car. Have done this many times myself as when my kids are overtired they are hellish!

hairymelons · 14/05/2010 15:57

It would depend on how much I needed a nap, if on-my-arse knackered then we would both go to bed. If not then I wouldn't bother exhausting yourself, sounds like he's having a lively day. Sounds gorgeous aswell, making me v clucky.

True what Milsy says, can make bedtime a bit lively when they haven't napped. Worth the risk if it buys you some extra sleep later though.

Pavlov · 14/05/2010 16:04

hairy there is one^ way he will sleep. And that is on my boob. End of. If he comes off, he is awake.

Tried the car, not worked, tried walking/bouncing/cuddling/soft music, not worked. He will fall asleep at tea time.

He is perfectly happy atm, a bit 'over-excited' but not in a grumpy way. He is doing a lot of squealing/shouting/cooing/leg kicking at the tv.

Problem with napping now, with him, is as soon as he does eventually get to sleep, and I do, it will be time to get DD from nursery!

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Pavlov · 14/05/2010 16:05

Could it be a growth spurt? DD used to feed/feed/feed/feed/feed, then sleep for a couple of days afterwards. Could I be this lucky, that its just a growth spurt? [cautious emoticon]

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hairymelons · 14/05/2010 16:09

DS was the same. That's why us both going to bed was the only way to guarantee a nap, cos he could stay attached! Shame you've got the nursery pick up, used to love those afternoon snoozes.

Any chance he's teething? I know he's not miserable or anything but they could be keeping him awake.

Am heading upstairs to wake sleeping DS- he's 2 now and would sleep all afternoon if I let him. If someone had told me I would actually be waking this child on purpose one day I would never have believed it.

Pavlov · 14/05/2010 16:32

hairy you know, he could be teething. He nipped me 4 times in the night while feeding, never done that before.

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hairymelons · 15/05/2010 08:40

Hope you had a nice, long sleep last night.
Also hope he isn't cutting any of those teeth just yet...

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