mudder17
08-18-2004, 09:30 AM
Okay, like Tarah, I have a problem with lack of sleep, although in this case, it's for day time naps.
I started sleep training a la Weissbluth when DD was about 17.5 weeks old and DH and I were at the end of our rope. She was pushing her bedtime later and later and then she was waking up every 1-2 hours at night. I was particularly exhausted because she is EBF. She was also getting really fussy during the day because she was so sleep deprived. She is now almost 6 months old.
Well, after a couple weeks...actually after 5 days we noticed the difference! In any case, we played around with bed times and have finally discovered that she does best when she goes to bed before 6 p.m. (she usually fusses and falls asleep by 6) and wakes up around 6:30 (+/- 30 minutes). She wakes up once (anywhere from 12:30 until 4:30) for a feeding in the middle of the night.
We're having trouble with the first nap. Our LC (and sleep expert) says that she should be going down for her first nap within 45 minutes of her wake up time. I've tried within 1.5 hours, within 1 hour, within 45 minutes, and within 30 minutes and she still stays awake quietly, fusses or cries or screams (or a combo of all) for 30 minutes to an hour (we usually give up after an hour). Am I putting her back in bed too early? I've tried reading her sleep signs, but at that time of the morning I just can't seem to get a good reading on her. When she ends up missing the first nap (because she was awake and complaining for an hour), it just throws off the rest of the day. I'd like to solve the rest of the day as well, but I think if I could get her to take a solid nap first thing in the morning, the rest of her day would improve dramatically.
So what should I do? Should I take her for a walk right after she wakes? Should I change her and feed her in a darkened room and put her right to bed? Should I let her play for a while before putting her back to bed? Also with regards to the night waking, should I make her wait a certain amount of time (I usually wait until at least midnight) before feeding her? I don't mind one feeding, especially because Weissbluth says many babies may need one feeding until their 9 months old, but should I be doing it after 2 or 3 or what? LIke I said, she usually wakes for the feeding anywhere from 12:30 until 4:30.
TIA!
Eileen
Mother of Beautiful Kaya
born 22 February 2004
http://lilypie.com/baby1/050222/2/16/0/+10/.png
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_rosequartz_3m.gif Breastfed 3 months and counting
http://www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya
I started sleep training a la Weissbluth when DD was about 17.5 weeks old and DH and I were at the end of our rope. She was pushing her bedtime later and later and then she was waking up every 1-2 hours at night. I was particularly exhausted because she is EBF. She was also getting really fussy during the day because she was so sleep deprived. She is now almost 6 months old.
Well, after a couple weeks...actually after 5 days we noticed the difference! In any case, we played around with bed times and have finally discovered that she does best when she goes to bed before 6 p.m. (she usually fusses and falls asleep by 6) and wakes up around 6:30 (+/- 30 minutes). She wakes up once (anywhere from 12:30 until 4:30) for a feeding in the middle of the night.
We're having trouble with the first nap. Our LC (and sleep expert) says that she should be going down for her first nap within 45 minutes of her wake up time. I've tried within 1.5 hours, within 1 hour, within 45 minutes, and within 30 minutes and she still stays awake quietly, fusses or cries or screams (or a combo of all) for 30 minutes to an hour (we usually give up after an hour). Am I putting her back in bed too early? I've tried reading her sleep signs, but at that time of the morning I just can't seem to get a good reading on her. When she ends up missing the first nap (because she was awake and complaining for an hour), it just throws off the rest of the day. I'd like to solve the rest of the day as well, but I think if I could get her to take a solid nap first thing in the morning, the rest of her day would improve dramatically.
So what should I do? Should I take her for a walk right after she wakes? Should I change her and feed her in a darkened room and put her right to bed? Should I let her play for a while before putting her back to bed? Also with regards to the night waking, should I make her wait a certain amount of time (I usually wait until at least midnight) before feeding her? I don't mind one feeding, especially because Weissbluth says many babies may need one feeding until their 9 months old, but should I be doing it after 2 or 3 or what? LIke I said, she usually wakes for the feeding anywhere from 12:30 until 4:30.
TIA!
Eileen
Mother of Beautiful Kaya
born 22 February 2004
http://lilypie.com/baby1/050222/2/16/0/+10/.png
http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_rosequartz_3m.gif Breastfed 3 months and counting
http://www.chemicalgraphics.com/kaya