Operation Early Bed Time

usernewname

As most of you know (and are experiencing yourself) DS's nap suck. Cries, fights etc.

After reading some things online and reading everyone else's opinions, I decided a early bed time might be something to try. Usually he's down by 9-930 and we begin bath and feed at 8. Tonight I started at 7. Closed all the blinds, turned on the white noise and was quiet like usual.

And he's asleep! I don't expect it to last, but its a start. 

I don't write this to brag, but I've been loosing my mind. Wondering what I am doing wrong. How can my child not sleep? I can get a whole class of toddlers to sleep. What was I missing? I was feeling quit defeated hearing everyone else be successful. Something had to change.

Oh and look. He's awake. That lasted 10 minutes. Sigh.

usernewname

Oh no not time change lol

He's nursing now which he does to sleep. We will just keep trying. I know logically it gets better. But poor guy fights so hard during the day there needs to be a balance.

Emmagk

I'm right there with you. We tried a 7PM start time tonight but he didn't drop off until gone 8. I'm sitting here listening to him start to fuss on the monitor hoping he goes back to sleep. We usually start bed time at 8.30, his naps today have been terrible

PattyTC

I'm right there with you as well. No matter what time we start DD won't go to sleep until 11-12. This is fine for now but I go back to in a few weeks and I'll need all the sleep I can get. We are nursing (comfort sucking) for the second time in an hour. Tonight might be even worse as our little legs are at the end of the bassinet so we are going to try the flat pnp. I'm nervous as we haven't napped well and last night she was up more than usual. We might be breaking the bassinet out again if needed.

usernewname

The comfort sucking the worst for me. My nips are not liking the comfort duck.

usernewname

Glad to hear I'm not alone. Kids eh.

usernewname

So he's asleep on my shoulder after an hour and half of feeding and soothing/waiting him out. Luckily it wasn't a screaming fest. Just can't settle fest.

hbird0723

I'm right there with you! I hope it's a phase. She really stinks at naps and it takes like an hour to get her down then 2 more times of laying her down before she will nap. If I'm lucky after all that work I might get 30-45 min out of her. She did get to bed by 8:20 tonight so who knows! I did notice though that when she was going to bed by 7 7:30 her naps were a lot better but she has now decided to take a later nap and so our bedtime routine got pushed up. It's been so bad this week that the random times she does take a 2 hour nap I can't nap because I am just waiting for her to wake up. I'm exhausted and this 3 times rocking and bouncing and sucking is killing me. I know your pain about the comfort sucking too. Mine is 8 weeks maybe this is a growth spurt? Hopefully they will grow out of it!

MrsT2008

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child is my bible when it comes to sleep. It's not really about techniques but rather just a lot of information about newborn and infant sleep and what sorts of problems may arise. @anniemore hit on a lot of the major points. My DD goes down around 6/630 because that's when her body is ready for it. My first was the same way (she was in bed at that time until probably 18 months, then over time it shifted to 730 (what it is now at 2.5. She's usually asleep around 8)).

usernewname

My phone HATES suck and another word that rhymes with duck lol. I've given up.

I've been trying the EASY routine (somewhat), as in diaper change, eat, play and sleep. He sleeps on me so the Y is kinda here nor there. He's about every 2 hours and the past 3 days have been nice. A couple times of really fighting sleep, but I'm still learning his precues. He's down by 9-930 still. But now its not so much of a struggle.