What is happening here?!

[jess, lukeys_mom]

Hi - I got on here too late today to make any suggestions of what to do for A times - how did the day go?   It is hard to say what to do for times though, it depends so much on him. I believe though that anything is worth trying for a day - if it doesn't work you can always go back to what you were doing before!

RE the dummy.... weaning is really up to you. I am not going to argue that you have to do it...My ds1 STILL has his at night sleep! (he was also a refluxer) DS2 does not, and he never really seemed to need it. The only thing with the dummy is that if lo needs it to get back to sleep every time, then it can work against naps. When they start becoming more alert around your lo's age, sometimes they stir a little and it's enough to keep them awake even if you go in and replug, kwim?

Interested to know how your night went and how the solids introduction went...

[sianie]

Hi Jess!

Thanks for asking.....yesterday started ok, managed to extend DS's nap so he got about 1.5hrs, tho the rest of the day went down hill & had 30 min naps for the rest of the day! He's definitely teething, which I think in part is to do with the problem tho have been giving paracetamol, teething gel & salts before sleeps to help...

Figuring out A times I find so hard....DS's sleepy cues are a lot harder to read now he's older & also when I have the 2 LO's around I find it hard to be focused on looking out for them!!

Last night wasn't great, he took a while to settle at BT then was awake for over an hour from 1am-2am & wouldn't re-settle!

Solids went ok...he's seems to be taking to it...going slowly & just baby rice at the moment!

I am totally thrown about what to do about DS's dummy....I've never been a dummy fan, DD never had one & I gave DS one reluctantly (tho I have to admit it has really helped comfort him with his reflux & also to settle him for sleep, with 2 I don't have a lot of time to do a long wind down & Sssh/Pat etc). I always had 6 mths in my mind....that I'd wean him by then, but he's not far off 6mths and it's so hard to know what to do for the best! He does need it to go to sleep & during his naps he does pull it out & then when he's in a lighter sleep wakes up when it's not there (tho I do try and go in before he starts stirring to re-plug which does sometimes work). 

[jess, lukeys_mom]

Hi,

I know what you mean about A times and sleep cues! It does get harder as lo gets older.  My DS2 is pretty easy to read but with DS1, in order to figure out A times at this age, I had to just start trying them. When one was successful, I would try repeating it and seeing if it kept working for him. 

Also, I cannot quite remember his age, but I do remember that we were at a point where we were struggling to get good naps, and all of a sudden we had a day where our schedule was preventing him from doing 3 naps (I tried AP but it wasn't working), and he took 2 good naps. From that point we mostly did 2 naps and that's when thins really got better for him.  I don't know if that might be something for your lo? (it could be totally the opposite and he needs even more sleep so I don't want to declare that this is the solution, but could be worth a try??) 6 months seems like the average age for 2 naps.

The dummy is also tricky. I am not a dummy fan either, and am kind of shocked that I have a nearly 3.5 yo with one! (Thankfully, he is just about ready to let go of it) but at a certain moment I felt like it was the way lesser of the evils being presented, and we had to choose one. That may also be the case for you guys, so I wouldn't kick yourself for keeping it, nor would I wean at 6 months unless there is reason (i.e. you don't think he needs it anymore or it is interrupting his sleep). BW is about listening to his cues, so IMHO if it seems like your lo is being soothed by the dummy and it's helping his reflux, I would keep it and try to get one of those little cloth things that attaches to the dummy so your lo can find and replug more easily.

[sianie]

Hi!

Thanks for your thoughts!

A quick update....since Sunday I've been trying to go more with DS's sleepy cues (ok when DD isn't around but v. hard when she is!).....been putting him down for naps at around 2 hr A time (which is quite a big reduction, he had been on around 2hrs 15 or so)......with these A times I have managed to extend most of his naps so he's been having roughly 2 x 1.5hr & 1 CN (usually in buggy as we are out doing activities with DD). Not sure why A times have gone backwards....maybe OT from the week or so of short naps?

He is definitely teething which I think is part of the problem....I watched him during his nap the other day & he pulls his dummy out so he can chew his hands which then wakes him up! am giving him meds before sleeps which has helped a bit.

Dummy issue is still a dilemma, my main worry is having the time to wean him off it i.e I know he's going to scream blue murder & will have to do Ssssh/pat & PU/PD which will be tough with a toddler around......