**AggieBeth06**

drea_raye

Thought I would start a new one for the weekend

Since starting PU/PD J has been harder to get to sleep, but it works. Not sure how I feel about it... he hasn't cried this much in a while, so used to rocking him until sleepy at least (and have done that a bit, but never to sleep.) I am thinking it is time to start extending his awake time, since he had 2 40 min naps today... but I kinda wonder if he is teething... it is always something, isn't it?

I totally want a video monitor. Not as much for nanny camming (although I would if I had anybody besides DH willing to try to put LO down) but because I am now worrying when he sleeps longer! J did a 4 hours stint, and I nursed him after, not as much b/c I thought he needed it (he has a habit of waking at 11) but b/c I realized that I didn't mind that one... probably going to hurt me in the long run? Opinion welcome

Okay, can't type much now, should sleep when he does at night (not just naps, silly insomniac) but I really am pulling for your speedy recovery! I know how it sucks to have a routine in mind and then have to hope it works with others doing it. Not that I have a really big type A personality or anything...

AggieBeth06

Hey, sorry! I missed this earlier.

Remember that you're changing habits and setting a routine... so crying will happen. It does ease off, but it eats on my nerves and to be honest? Self confidence and esteem. It's hard for me to look forward to naptimes....

What is his awake time now? What was it before starting? It is definitely possible that he is overtired or undertired (OT/UT).

It is odd when they go longer than you're used to... and the only reason I don't have a nanny cam is the same reason I resisted getting an iPhone until work made me. I'd never relax and just accept that he's sleeping.

But if it bugs you enough, don't close the door all the way so that you can peek in. That's what I do! You can just ease it open enough to peak to see that his chest is still rising and then slink off to have some more peaceful time for you now that your mind is at ease.

The 4-hour stint - was this day/night time? My pain-laiden mind doesn't comprehend the reason why you nursed? If it was daytime, it's good to nurse that frequently, but if it's nighttime, you're probably fine. Are you doing a dreamfeed? Many babies dreamfeed until 7+ months. Tummies have to grow and solids need to be fully established before cutting out the dreamfeed (usually occurs between 10 and 11 pm).

A sidenote - I pump a bottle for the DF because I am wary of picking up DS and setting him back in bed without waking him. I never give the same amount it seems. I don't know if that's okay or what, but I offer all that I pump (ranging from 1 oz to 5 oz) and then if/when he starts stirring enough to bat at the bottle or kick in the crib, I stop the DF because he starts stirring. I'll be glad when it's time to eliminate the DF because I'm finding myself having to stay up late to do it. I don't think that was part of the plan. But it's not much longer until he'll be on 2 solid meals a day, so we're getting there. I think.

It's just scary to  hand it over. And I felt so bad for DS because I don't think that it's fair to him to have such an inconsistency when we're trying to change. But as you say about teething - it's always something!

drea_raye

He is awake about 2 hours, I think I need to stretch that a little bit now that he has really caught up on sleep. Today I am going to try for 2h15m. I hate the crying too! It is such a new thing that it is hard to keep in mind that this is a positive change. I can't imagine how hard CIO must be, I could never do it.

The 4 hour stretch was from 7pm to 11pm... I have been waking him at the 2 hour mark for naps (not that they went that long yesterday...) . I haven't been dream feeding since like you I am afraid to wake him and he doesn't take bottles well at all. Going to try to get him back on the bottle, but it is hard without help from DH...

He is nursing all.the.time. I can't get him past every 3 hours in the day, and yesterday it was every hour (again I think it is teething related.) I think I am stuck with that until we do solids to be honest. I am just going to go with it... it was naps that were causing me the most distress, I am thinking I am going to roll with the night wakings for now. 

AggieBeth06

He's about at the age for a growth spurt, so it could be that! I would definitely try to feed him if you know he's hungry.

If you're not sure, PUPD for NW (night wakings). You'll soon learn the difference of what his whining about sleep cry is vs his hungry cry. Some of the NWs may be habitual, but some may truly be hunger.

I agree about stretching his A time as you can. Every so often, see if you can stretch the time between is E's, but I have read that many BF babies are unable to stretch to 4 hours between feedings. It's only been in the past week and a half that David has stretched to 4, although sometimes he's hungry sooner, so I just roll with it.

I couldnt do CIO either!

drea_raye

I can never tell if he is in a growth spurt... I think he was in one for his first 4 months! (I mean up until a month ago he was still gaining half a lb a week steady). And there is one at 4 months and one at 6, so factoring adjusted age... he could hit it at any time.

Rolling is the most disruptive. I am currently half swaddling his legs, just b/c he can't seem to keep them calm enough to sleep unless they are contained. 

AggieBeth06

Yeah, it's hard with preemies to pinpoint growth spurts! But that's good Means that they're catching up.

He'll work out of the rolling soon. Of course then it will be crawling, and pulling to stand and walking...

He could just be a steadily growing little man!