Eat and Sleep Routines

Similar problems with my 6 month old. She does naps but wakes up at 5 am - it's killing me!

Honestly I think you are very lucky. All babies/kids are different. I have 2 healthy girls. One is 4 and other is 16 months. The one that is 4 did not sleep through the night until she was about 3 years old! She does good now, but my 16 month old wakes up constantly also. She sleeps deep for about the first 2 hours at night and the rest of the night is up and down. Your babies mouth is probably really irritating her and waking her up. Good luck with her and make sure you have plenty of orajel for night time to help w/ her pain. Take care.

During the first year you will notice her sleeping patterns will change as she reaches new milestones. She will likely sleep really well for a month or two and then all of sudden start waking up during the night for a week or two and then go back to sleeping through the night. Same thing with daytime naps - you'll have a period where she'll take long ones and then a stretch where she'll barely sleep. It's frustrating because it's unpredictable and you feel like you should be doing something different. I think all you can do is try to be consistent with your response to her and with the daytime routine. Hang in there, it does get easier!

Just keep putting her down at regular times- she'll finally start sleeping normally again- my 3rd son has gone thru this little routine everytime he is teething- and it was 5:00am for us! then he started sleeping until 7 again...now he is 22 months and getting all four of his inscisor teeth in- and it's a bear! he only naps about an hour or hour and half- and he has been waking up at 6am..once they have come half way out- he probably start sleeping "normal" again- I don't know why folks think "sleeping thru the night " is such a milestone because it's constantly changing...but hang in there- she 'll go back to her regular routine in a week or so...
Good LUck
Nikki

M.--babies do much better when THEY can predict what they are doing next.

That said, it is next to impossible to do with busy parent schedules. You can also adjust them to your preferred schedule, if that becomes a solid schedule. Schedule is not routine. If she has a bath every night, right before bed, but sometimes that is 8 pm, and sometimes 6 or 9, that is a routine and not a schedule.

It has to be the same ALL of the time. It is hardest on you and Dad.

It also does not have to stay that way forever....but sometimes for longer than our patience. I have four children, and this was easiest with my first. I was a stay at home mom and we COULD do the same thing at the same time everyday. I had thought I would just let the baby set his own routine--because we could--but by the time he was a year old, we never slept and NOONE was happy.

You are trying to work parttime that will complicate the schedule. But if you can--do it. Then they nap and wake at predictable times and you know when you can get stuff done. Read Dr. Ferber. READ IT. It is not letting the baby scream all night. Schedule is necessary because, like all of us, we are less cranky when we know what to expect!

good luck with your precious little one!
Chris

Here are some suggestions that may help. Loose scheduels have always worked well for my 2 girls. Waiting to see if she fals back asleep is a good idea My 6.5 month takes a nap around 2 to 2.5 hours after she wakes up if I wait too long she protests and I think she's not tired but actually shes over tired. Even if she fusses I put her down at 10:30 every morning (she wakes usually about 8) If she wakes up early I always give her about 10 -20 minutes to see if she just woke and will fall back asleep but it sounds like you do this already. (unless she is really upset) she also only takes 2 naps a day I know some babies this age take 3 but we just couldnt fit it in and I like her afternoon nap lining up with my 3y/o's nap time. During teething time her naps vary from 1-3 hours I guess depending on the day but I always keep the times the same and she seems to fall back into a normal routine with in a week or so. Well good luck, if she isn't miserable maybe she just needs less sleep. Have you ever tried Hylands teething tablets they are all natural and work great for my daughter she is teething too!

I would be thankful she sleeps through, even though she is getting up earlier...my 9 month old little boy still wakes up during the night sometimes! We have a pretty consistent routine, he gets himself to sleep, and he's a pretty good napper, but separation anxiety and teething have been h*** o* him. I would just ride it out, doing what you are doing and she will Probobly go back to sleeping in a bit later in a few weeks.

Be thankful that she's a good night time sleeper!!! I work also, so I know how you are feeling :)

Good luck!

I totally understand what you are going through. I went back to work when my baby was 3 months old. I had him on a great schedule and the daycare got him all out of whack. Is your little girl in daycare? I am still dealing with his schedule. On the weekends we are fine, then the week starts and we are back to him not getting his naps like he should, or not getting as much of his bottle like he should. I have talked to the daycare so many times about it I have just given up. They just do what they want.
My advise to you, try to go with the flow. If she is not totally cranky then she must be okay with the lack of sleep. I know that they do constantly change, they need less and less sleep the more they realize what is out there and what they might be missing while sleeping. She is just getting more active and more aware of what is going on. Keep laying her down when she should be napping, even if she seems not sleepy. Let her play in her crib. If she goes for 30 min and still no signs of sleepiness. Then just give up and try again later. Try pushing her night time back a little even if its 20 min. We do the same thing evernight. Solids at 6:15, books and play till 6:45, then bath, lotion and pj's, bottle at 7:00 and drowsy around 7:20-7:30 I lay him down in his crib and he sucks his fingers until he falls asleep. I pushed that 20 min extra in there around his play time right before bath. He sleeps until 7:00 now. I hope this helps you.
Good Luck. The best thing to do is relax and watch her, she will let you know. Don't get too hung up on a schedule. Things will work out the way they should.

If everything about your routine is the same except for her ability to sleep, you may just want to go with the flow if you can. She sounds as though she is getting exactly what she needs! Great Job MOM!
By the way, I hope it helps to hear, you are getting way more sleep than I could have dreamed of when my daughter was this age! Smile and wink!

Sounds like you are doing a fantastic job... everytime yo think things are settling and you are getting the hang of this stage... it will change! Makes it fun if you go with the flow. You sound very wise and have good intuition! Go with it. Do what feel right to YOU... not what you read you should do in some book!

I believe in attachment parenting... holding them when they cry, we co-sleep and I have a very loving, well adjusted child. I was out of town this last weekend and she had her first sleep over. she was so excited and did well! She slept 12 hours at their house! When I got home she did not want to let go of me and told me she loves me a million times! I think that is pretty good balance.

All the best and check out my site if you have questions there is some great info there (and more to come). www.PassionParent.com

Here's to being a Passion Parent!
C. Hiebel
www.PassionParent.com "Where a Parent can be a Parent!"

Babies this age need 12 hours of sleep at night and usually take two naps, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, but give up the morning one by this time. She should be having a nap of about one hour in the afternoons. She should still be sleeping 12 hours at night. What time does she go to bed? My oldest was in bed by 6:30 to 7 pm, waking up at 7 am each morning, and this was the case with the second child, as well. Neither gave up their afternoon nap until they were in first grade. Sometimes the more they sleep, the more they sleep. Try an earlier bedtime and also do not enter the room during the nap if she wakes up too early -- give her a little time to lie back down.

Hello-
First I would like to let you know that my daughter was a somewhat strict routine when she was in the hospital ( she was premature) but when I got her home I at first listened to what everybody else told me about she should go to bed at 8 adn she should nap for this length of time and all these other "rules". None of these worked for me and I was frustrated and tired. What I eventually found was that number 1 every child is different and there is no one way to do anything that works for everyone. Number 2 I found out that may daughters routine is what is best for her. I did not put her on a routine at all and she made her own. Everyday her body tells her she is tired and it is about the same time everyday. I can pretty much set my watch to it. She gives me the signs and I take her to the bed and rock her to sleep and she takes 3-4 hour naps EVERYDAY!! She wakes up around 8 or 9 and goes to bed around 9. All things I allow myself to be flexible with but since I started trusting her internal clock and not fighting it to fit my life it has worked out wonderful for everyone. Now that she is older (almost 3) if I ask her if she is ready for nap she willsay yes or no. I don't have to force her or deal with any of that crying and screaming or anything. I know there are some who really have to have a set schedule but if you are set try something new and it just might work. Feel free to call or email me if you have any more questions about what I did or doing now. Wishing you all the best!!

Hey M.,
I know that can be frustrating, especially when you probably need the extra sleep! You didn't say if she is still going to bed at night at the same time. There's the possibility that she has gotten to the age where she doesn't need the extra sleep. I know some babies that never took naps during the day and required very little sleep. The teething, change in routine may have just disrupted her rhythm for a while but she'll get used to that. Try cutting her naptime down to just one nap during the day and see what happens. I know my boys starting sleeping less and less after about 6 months so that remains a possibility.
Good luck!!
P.

Hi there-- My 9 month old boy does not take long naps. Never has, and although they have lengthened to 45 minutes from 30, they remain shorter than what I hear other kids do. My doctor says not to worry, that he is getting what he needs by sleeping so much at night- usually around 12 hours like your daughter. So as far as naps are concerned, it sounds like you are doing what I have been told to do, but has not really seemed to lengthen them, but atleast we are trying. :)
Good luck! I always feel like I am guessing as what I am doing too- every day- still!

hi M.,
i can remember when my first son was a baby that his nap/sleep schedule changed so often, i felt like as soon as we got into a routine, it changed...but as they grow this happens...if she is generally happy, you just need to read her...usually if they aren't getting enough sleep, they are cranky...i know that some times people stick to a strict routine whether they need to sleep or not, encouraging them to stay in their crib, quiet time, kind of thing...i never did that...because once i knew he was up, and wasn't going to go back to sleep, i got him out of the crib...just be consistent with whatever routine you want to follow, and know that it will change depending on how long the baby sleeps...one of the parenting books, (i can't remember which one..) tells how much sleep they generally need at each age...it might have been "how to get your baby to sleep through the night"...or something like that...good luck! and know that you are doing the best you can...