Bec - I would have to agree with Connie. Perhaps try getting him up at 7am regardless of how much he has had overnight. Then he would be tired earlier the following night. I wouldnt let him sleep too much during the day. Although thats rarely a problem hey? I think the 'average' baby has about 4 hours of day sleep at this age. Perhaps you could think about solids too..but not sure..and I wouldnt try too many things at once as you will never figure out what is going on! Good luck with it all.
gotta go attend to a squealing baby. Its her latest thing
thanks girls. Mum has also been suggesting to try him on some solids , just farex mixed with bm to see how he goes. I think he's too young though but the signs do seem to be pointing towards his readiness. He is using lots of energy too, like swimming once a week and he goes crazy in the jolly jumper every day. I made the mistake of eating a biscuit while he was in the sleepy wrap a few days ago, and omg.. you should have seen his face watching me eat it. I don't know. I always said I would give it to him when he is ready (thought that would be 6 months) but how do I know if he really is and not just going through a growth spurt? He has been pretty predictable during the day, he has settled into his own sleep/wake pattern but some days (like yesterday after swimming) he will go through a 4 hour period where he will feed every hour. He's getting about 4-5 hours sleep during the day.
I might try your idea Connie and try to get him up earlier in the morning. I might find it difficult to get up that early myself though.
Thanks dory, we have a bed time 'routine', jolly jumper for 15-20 mins to wear him out a bit, bath, massage, feed, then bounce on the fit ball to sleep. That works well, but he wakes up after an hour, usually at about 7. that's when the problem starts. He is obviously tired but just won't sleep.
fuzzy - thanks that's good advice about not trying everything at once. I'll see how the new hammock goes at getting him to sleep earlier to start with, and wake up earlier in the mornings. I'm going to an ABA meeting tomorrow so I might ask about the solids then, I'm sure there'll be lots of knowledgeable ladies there Oh dear have fun with the squealing..
I am with Connie - a little whinging goes a long way .... and you learn to know when it's not just a whinge anymore. It's hard to do at first, as the temptation is to rush in... that's why I hang out on BB. It's resting but not anything I can't drop if it escalates.
Chuckie - glad Pearl got some more zzzz's.
Fuzzy - too cute about the squealing.... our girls are sharing their milestones again.
Bec - Isaac sounds like he is just full of beans.... but the thing at night? Seems like he's only sleeping one sleep cycle and doesn't know how to get himself back to sleep on his own, so needs your help but at the same time would rather be up playing with you. It's so hard not to want to engage with them, even when you know you shouldn't.
I would try to get him to learn those skills first during the day sleeps? Everything is harder at night, so I always say that's not the best time to be doing new things, for both Mum and bub. Let me try to think about how HB and I got to our current routine.. I used to give her way to much stimulation in the afternoons and evenings and we'd have heaps of trouble. So I just changed the timing? So the more energetic things I do earlier in the day and in the lead up to evening sleeps - we lay outside on a rug and she has pants off time,and well some squealing,( so maybe it's not so quiet?) then some stories, then a bath and a feed. Not sure why I do bath then feed. I think H was just calmer generally with that as she loves her bath so much and it also gave DH a chance to get home from work and spend some time with her before the quiet time of evening feeding. But all you can do is try things and see how they go.
I am reluctant to start HB on solids until 6 months too, but she sounds very similar to Isaac in terms of interest in food. She is always watching when I eat or drink with such intense concentration. Hope your ABA meeting goes well and gives you some ideas about sleeping and solids. Maybe you can try calling parentline too? They might have some strategies.
Just quickly on solids - I am taking a step backwards. I was starting Chloe by trying her each day on a little - twice a day. But she has taken to gagging a lot and then vomiting up everything. I have made it super-runny so its pretty much liquid but it doesnt seem to help much. I am thinking she either isnt quite ready yet or just doesnt get what she is supposed to do with it once it is in her mouth. Thoughts?? Today I tried putting the food on the tray of her Bumbo so she could feel it and perhaps put it in her mouth. Well we ended up with apple puree everywhere except for in her mouth!
wow Isaac is still asleep. We did everything as normal tonight, quick play in the jolly jumper, bath, feed, and then he went to sleep as normal. The only different thing I've done is put him in the hammock. He stirred a couple of times but the movement made the hammock bounce and he settled back to sleep really quickly, he woke for a feed then fell asleep feeding so I put him back in the hammock and he's still asleep! I think it must have bounced his wind out or something, as he didn't wake from belly pains after 40 minutes. Wow. I am so happy. I hope this means I have my evenings back.
Oh dear have fun with the squealing..
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