Home › Forums › Infant Reflux Information › Sleeping › Karen…knb18..sleep question.
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June 22, 2006 at 2:16 pm #10297AnonymousInactive
Hi Karen,
I noticed in one of your posts that you are a nap expert. (You may get lots of questions about this!!).
Anyway, Myles is a good napper, but he’s a consistent early riser. Do you have any ideas about that? No one else in my family is a morning person so we’d all benefit if Myles would learn to sleep later in the morning. I put him to bed at 7:45 pm. He falls asleep on his own and typically wakes once around 1 or 2 am. If he doesn’t go right back to sleep I give him his nuk and then he usually sleeps until 5 or 6. I really don’t want to get up for the day at 5 am, or even 6 am, so I usually give him his nuk again. He’s content with that but often stays up for an hour before falling back to sleep and by that time it’s usually time to get up for meds and feeding. He’s really not a problem because he talks to himself and doen’t usually cry, so I can go back to bed, though I don’t usually go back to sleep unless he does. I just don’t want this pattern to become permanent. It’s just too darn early for me to start the day.
He takes one 2 1/2 – 3 hour nap each day.
Do you have any suggestions?? My first two were not early risers, so I have no experience whatsoever with this.
If anyone else has ideas, I’d really appreciate them. Thank you very much.
Christine
June 22, 2006 at 2:18 pm #10298AnonymousInactiveLOL…
A LOT of babies are just early risers (mine included most days) and
sometimes there is not much you can do about it – for some it’s just
something they grow out of eventually.He’s only on one nap a day? He’s quite young for that – what time is
that nap? Could he be overtired come bedtime and hence the early waking?June 22, 2006 at 2:39 pm #10299AnonymousInactiveThanks Karen,
He naps from 12:15 until 2:45 or 3 – 3:15. It is unusual, the one nap thing at his age, but with two older sisters running around, he just seemed to fall into their routine. And, it works well for me, too. To have them all nap at the same time. He probably would nap in the am if I put him down, but he’s usually outside with me and the girls or running errands, and he’s quite happy despite maybe being a little tired.
He is quite tired at bedtime, maybe overtired, which always surprises me considering the long nap. I could try putting him down a little earlier…maybe 7:15 or 7:30, but I’ve been afraid that he would start getting up at 4! He used to wake everyday at 4am, so 5 am is actually an improvement. But, I’m hoping he’ll sleep until at least 6:30, and hopefully until 7am eventually. Maybe my expectations are unreasonable because my first two were not early risers and still sleep until at least 7 and usually 7:30 every day.
What time does Marisa get up?
June 22, 2006 at 2:48 pm #10300AnonymousInactiveThe average for one nap is 15 months – generally babies do it sometime
betwen 12-18. If he’s doing OK with it and it works for you, stick with
it – generally I think two naps of 1-1.5 hours works better.Marisa generally naps for 1.5-2 hours in the morning and 1 hour in the
afternoon. She used to wake at 5 or 5:15 but lately wakes between 6-6:30 am (with
7:45 bedtime). Yesterday she only had two short car naps as we were out
visiting my mother and she crashed at 7 – woke up at 3:45 but back to
sleep at 4 and slept until 7:30 this morning.If he’s generally up at 3pm for the day I’d definitely put him to bed
7pm, 7:15 latest – you may be surprised and it may make him sleep
later! Generally if babies are too overtired when going to bed they
fall into a deep sleep too quickly and wake earlier – may seem
counterintuitive, but…At the least, it should keep him from being overtired in the evenings.
My niece used to be an early riser but now at 18 months sleeps until 7
or 7:30 most mornings…knb182006-6-22 15:2:51
June 22, 2006 at 3:17 pm #10303AnonymousInactiveChristine
Does he seem tired during the day? He is getting what, about 13 hours of sleep a day? We spoke to someone about Matthew’s sleeping (he only gets about 10hours a day but he is really not tired) and he said that some babies just don’t sleep much until they are 18months or even 2 years old… so we just put matthew down for bed at 9pm and he sometimes sleeps until just before 6pm. If i put him down at 7pm, he wakes up at 4am for the day, if i put him down at 8pm he wakes up at 5am (we tried it all with the doctor first saying that the earlier we put him down the later he will get up). The doctor finally conceded that i have a baby who only needs 9hours of sleep at night at the most…
Sorry, did not want to hijack but Matthew does not sleep much either
June 22, 2006 at 5:12 pm #10324AnonymousInactiveThanks, Karen. Hmmm…the falling into a deep sleep too quickly does make sense. He does sleep hard for the first few hours, but is much more wakeful and restless later on in the night and in the wee hours of the morning. I’ll try the earlier bed time. It’s worth investigating, though I’m nervous about it. I’ll have to feed him earlier since he needs an empty tummy, followed by meds, and then the 30 minute wait before he gets his bedtime bottle. Prevacid is such a blessing, but a real PITA, as well!
Thais….thanks. He generally does not seem very tired during the day. He ocassionally dozes off in the car if we are out and about in the morning but wakes up as soon as he senses any action (doesn’t want to miss a thing). If we stay home all morning he’s happy as a clam until about 11 am which is feeding time so I can’t put him to bed yet anyway. I usually feed him and then he perks up and is a little grumpy but fine until I put him down at 12 or 12:15. Then he sleeps like a rock! He’s very happy in the afternoon until about 6:30 pm. Then he gets pretty grumpy, rubs his eyes, etc. But I keep him up to give him his meds at 7:10 and his bottle at 7:40. He’s in bed by 7:45 – 7:50.
I am afraid that he may be one of those babies who doesn’t need as much sleep as others, like Matthew. I was spoiled by my 12 hr. per night firstborn! On the bright side I’ve read that babies who require less sleep are usually highly intelligent and also become better sleepers in the pre-school years and beyond. So, maybe I (and you) will get to sleep until 7 am again one day.
Christine
June 22, 2006 at 8:53 pm #10334AnonymousInactive13 hours total is pretty good – 14 is average so he’s not far off! If
he’s getting tired at 6:30 though I’d definitely try the earlier
bedtime. Can you do meds at 6:30 and bottle at 7 and then bed? Worth a
try for a week – if it doesn’t work you can always shift later if you
want.June 22, 2006 at 9:28 pm #10339AnonymousInactiveI agree with Karen that an earlier bedtime is generally better, and actually does help them to sleep better. Would you believe that Sarah went to bed at 6:15 until Hailey she was a year and a half. Then she started to go to bed at 7. Now it’s pushed up to 8. But it’s basically Weisbluth’s phrase “sleep begets sleep” (I have to add a disclaimer that I HATE that guy after reading his views on reflux and sleep, but I do believe that statement). The earlier you put them to bed, the more likely they are to have a full night of sleep and to wake up rested at a decent hour.
I think that Hailey actually gets tired at around 6:30, but like you, it’s hard to get the little ones into bed when the older ones are still awake. So Hailey and Sarah both get ready at the same time, and Hailey gets her bottle at 8, and then she drifts off. (But we have to hold her for a LONG time after that).
Anyhow, sorry to ramble… my point is that I know it sounds counterintuitive, but I do believe it’s true. Put them to bed earlier, and for the most part, they’ll sleep better. As for later, I tend to believe that they’re pre-wired as for when they’re going to wake up for the most part, so I don’t know if you’ll be able to change that one.
Good luck though.
June 22, 2006 at 9:41 pm #10346AnonymousInactiveHi Lori,
I know what you mean about Weissbluth….but when I read his book years ago I had never even heard of reflux in infants so I really didn’t pay much attention to what he had to say about it. He’s definitely way off on that point, but he’s right about “sleep begets sleep.”
My problem is like what you described. With two older sisters it’s hard to get Myles down much earlier. It would mean coming in from outside, parking the girls somewhere, keeping them quiet, giving him his bath earlier, feeding him and putting him to bed while trying to keep them occupied and reasonabley quiet. It’s so much easier to throw them all in the tub at the same time, get them all ready for bed, and then put them all down around the same time. Plus we have the “prevacid” schedule to follow which adds to the problem.
I did get him down at 7:40 tonight. I’m going to try 5 minutes earlier every couple of days and see if I can train myself to get him to bed earlier. Maybe in a couple of weeks I’ll have him in bed by 7 or 7:15 pm.
Thanks for your input.
Christine
June 23, 2006 at 6:42 am #10358AnonymousInactiveLet us know how it goes Christine!
Speaking of sleep I hear Marisa waking now at 6:40 – have to go!
June 23, 2006 at 9:48 am #10373AnonymousInactiveKaren,
I’ll keep you posted. I put him down at 7:40 last night and he slept until 6am....an improvement. 6 is better than his typical 5:15.
Do you think a three hour nap is too long?
June 23, 2006 at 10:06 am #10375AnonymousInactiveGlad to hear it! Maybe 7:30 would be a good compromise for you guys –
not too early to mess up with the girls’ schedules but not too late
either. No, I don’t think 3 hours is too much at all at his age.
Perhaps as he gets older 2.5 will be better but for now…June 23, 2006 at 12:13 pm #10383AnonymousInactiveMy son is about to turn three. The earlier he goes to be (and actually falls asleep) the later he falls asleep. If I put him to bed at 8pm, he’d be up at 5:00am!! So, I usually try to put him down at 6:30pm then he’ll sleep until 7:00am. When he’s extra tired on weekends, I’ll put him down as early as 5:30am and he’ll sleep until 7am the next morning. The earlier the better has always worked for me. Also, there is a window of opportunity before a child becomes “over tired”, I think by the time the child is rubbing their eyes, they should immediately go down to sleep. I have a very happy child when he’s awake – but he’s not awake very much. (oh, he take 1 four hour nap on Saturdays!!! Normally 1, 2-3 hour other days. I have just discovered that he may have sleep apnea and that’s why he needs so much sleep, so I’m having his tonsils and adenoids out next friday.
June 24, 2006 at 9:17 am #10423AnonymousInactiveHolds true for us for the most part. Like Thursday night M went to bed
at 7:50 and woke Friday at 6:40. But last night we were out and she
didn’t go to bed until a little after 8 and woke at 6 this
morning. Her ideal bedtime seems to be between 7:20-7:50 depending…Marsha – good luck with Logan’s surgery – hope it helps!
June 24, 2006 at 6:31 pm #10445AnonymousInactiveWell, I just thought I would throw it out there that although most babies go to bed so early and the earlier the better, you can always try later if htings don’t work out with the earlier trick. These gerd-lings seem to always throw us for a loop. Lucas — who is really a freak when it comes to sleeping — sleeps best when he goes down between 9:30 and ten and sleeps until 9, sometimes 9:30, and once slept until 10 am. I know it sounds crazy but we’ve tried everything with this kiddo and an early bed time went out the window with a lot of other things we tried. It’s unconventional advice, I know, but if the earlier thing doesn’t work and is a pain in the butt anyway, you cna always try a later bed time to see what happens!!
It’s funny, our child hardly slept AT ALL for so long nad everyone pitied me so much, but when I tell folks that he gets up at 9 am, they are all so jealous! It’s hilarious to me that anyone would be jealous of Lucas’ sleeping… (I guess truthfully they aren’t fully aware of how many times he wakes prior to 9 am, but still!!)
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