Sleep Check-In: Feb 4th

[whitney4126]

1.) How is daytime sleep going?

2.) How is nighttime sleep going?

3.) What is your biggest sleep frustration right now?

4.) Anything you want suggestions or advice on?

5.) GTKY: What are you most looking forward to doing outdoors with LO, once the weather gets nice?

[whitney4126]

1.) How is daytime sleep going?

I never got the hang of a nap schedule on routine during my 4 month maternity leave. Now daycare is dealing with it. They say some days she just cat naps, some days she takes 1 long nap, and a couple of days, she doesn't nap. On the weekends I usually just hold her during her naps, and they still aren't frequent or long.

2.) How is nighttime sleep going?

She wakes up every night 2-5 times still, and she is still wanting to sleep with me since her regression started in December. But, I've been able to get her back in the bassinet for her first stretch of sleep, which is usually her longest, most nights.

3.) What is your biggest sleep frustration right now?

I just want her to sleep in her bassinet or crib, wake less frequently, and not have nights where she demands a nipple in her mouth to sleep the entire night. Are all of those things too much to ask? Haha.

4.) Anything you want suggestions or advice on?

I still like reading what has worked for people in general. I am not interested at CIO at this time, and I am still fine with nursing to sleep.

5.) GTKY: What are you most looking forward to doing outdoors with LO, once the weather gets nice?

Taking LO hiking with me in the ergo.

[alioop1028]

Feb 4, 2015 13:07:00 GMT -5 whitney4126 said:

1.) How is daytime sleep going?

I never got the hang of a nap schedule on routine during my 4 month maternity leave. Now daycare is dealing with it. They say some days she just cat naps, some days she takes 1 long nap, and a couple of days, she doesn't nap. On the weekends I usually just hold her during her naps, and they still aren't frequent or long.

2.) How is nighttime sleep going?

She wakes up every night 2-5 times still, and she is still wanting to sleep with me since her regression started in December. But, I've been able to get her back in the bassinet for her first stretch of sleep, which is usually her longest, most nights.

3.) What is your biggest sleep frustration right now?

I just want her to sleep in her bassinet or crib, wake less frequently, and not have nights where she demands a nipple in her mouth to sleep the entire night. Are all of those things too much to ask? Haha.

4.) Anything you want suggestions or advice on?

I still like reading what has worked for people in general. I am not interested at CIO at this time, and I am still fine with nursing to sleep.

5.) GTKY: What are you most looking forward to doing outdoors with LO, once the weather gets nice?

Taking LO hiking with me in the ergo.

I am beginning to be ok with night nursing. At this point I'm going with whatever works!

[alioop1028]

1.) How is daytime sleep going?

Only short bursts of naps, but I can finally put her down. Now to get her to sleep away from me in her crib. It's like she knows I'm not in the room or something!

2.) How is nighttime sleep going?

Better. She now sleeps in 3-4 hour blocks instead of waking up every 2 hours and I'll take what I can get.

3.) What is your biggest sleep frustration right now?

I think I'll need to swaddle this kid till she's 18. I tried to slowly remove sleep aids (swaddle, white noise, nursing, etc.) and it did not work and I was tired and close to tears from the exhaustion that I just quit. Also she does not stay asleep, goes down awesome, but will not STTN.

4.) Anything you want suggestions or advice on?

I have read every book and blog about sleep and it's killing me. I have shut myself off from any more info till I regain my sanity. But if anyone would like to share their night time routine, I really would love to hear it.

5.) GTKY: What are you most looking forward to doing outdoors with LO, once the weather gets nice?

I feel like I live in the only state not covered in snow. My sympathies to all. We are walking the park every Sunday and LO loves it. She babbles and gets excited at everything and when we get home she knocks out for her nap. Looking forward to a picnic when we get the chance.

[hurricanenellie]

1.) How is daytime sleep going?

Still exactly the same. Naps for 40 mins and is awake for 2 hours at a time. You can set a clock by the 40 min nap.

2.) How is nighttime sleep going?

Not great. I can't keep her in her crib. It's like she will have one really good night (only 1 wake up) and then 5 nights in my bed. Then 1 really good night. Repeat.

3.) What is your biggest sleep frustration right now?

Crib. I could do 3 wake ups per night if it was in her room and more of a routine. Also, being up at 5:30 every single morning kind of sucks. But I have pretty productive mornings these days.

4.) Anything you want suggestions or advice on?

Just curious how everyone else is doing/hopefully progressing.

5.) GTKY: What are you most looking forward to doing outdoors with LO, once the weather gets nice?

Stroller walks. And going to the lake.

[danielle2010]

1. Daytime sleep: four naps between 30 min (usual) and 2 hours (like once a week), and only while held.

2. Nighttime sleep: we are way in the four month regression and teething hell up every 45 minutes- an hour.

3. Biggest frustration: I want him in the crib but I'll cosleep forever if he'd go back to giving me at least one stretch that's longer than two hours.

4. No just hoping everyone is getting sleep.

5. Long walks and picnics in the park.

[whitney4126]

I've got a question that I should have asked earlier. I've pretty much stressed myself out with the amount of sleep babies are suppose to be getting at each age, because we're always under the minimum no matter how I try to schedule. So now that LO is almost 5 months, I think she's suppose to be getting at least 12 hours of sleep. Well we get up at 5:30 every morning. I try to sneak out of the room and get ready, but only twice has she slept past 6 and usually she's up with me. We try to start the bedtime routine at 7, and she usually is asleep between 7:30 and 8, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later. There is no possible way with our schedules to move anything earlier. It's hard enough doing it this early. DH doesn't get home till 6 and I have 1.5-2 hours every night to get things ready for the next day, cook and eat dinner, get a 5 year old bathed and give LO a bath, and anything else I have to do. So from 7:30-5:30 is only 10 hours of sleep, and that's not counting the 2-5 wake ups a night. LO also often doesn't sleep much during the day, so I'm wondering whether she just doesn't need as much sleep or if I'm depriving her. How do other moms deal with scheduling bedtime so that LO gets enough sleep, especially those that have to get up early and take LO to daycare?

[designaddiction]

1.) How is daytime sleep going?
It varies. Mostly one sleep cycle, 40 mins, sometimes less, sometimes more if held and he is starting to refuse one nap per day, so I would say that he is ready to go to only 3 naps, but he gets really cranky at the 1.5 hour mark usually when awake.

2.) How is nighttime sleep going?
Just this week he has started sleeping from 9pm-5am, eat and back down to 8. Hope it last! *crosses fingers* he always seems to sleep better the first part of the week, after I've been home for the weekend.

3.) What is your biggest sleep frustration right now?
Naps. They are so inconsistent lately and no one can get anything done, me or DH. Household chores?! Who does those!!
I also wish I could sleep, I still wake up when he used to wake up, sometimes can't get back to sleep since I'm anticipating him waking up.

4.) Anything you want suggestions or advice on?
Always love hearing what is working for everyone, especially since it changes day to day. Nice to hear that most are still nursing to sleep, we will stop eventually. It just works so well!

5.) GTKY: What are you most looking forward to doing outdoors with LO, once the weather gets nice?
Our weather is really nice right now, we don't get snow at all. I am hoping to take some pictures with LO outside soon. I need to make a point to be outside more, I feel like I'm always working.

[doglover31]

1.) How is daytime sleep going? DS takes pretty good naps during the day. He will take 2-3 30 minute naps and then one long one that is 1-2 hours.

2.) How is nighttime sleep going? He is waking every 2 hours on the dot. He acts hungry so I feed him. But it's exhausting.

3.) What is your biggest sleep frustration right now?
Nighttime sleep. I would love to have just a 3 or 4 hour stretch.

4.) Anything you want suggestions or advice on?
I would like to know others night time routines. And how to tell if my little man is really hungry when he wakes up or I just wanting to comfort nurse. I don't mind comforting him, I just would like to do it in other ways besides just nursing him.

5.) GTKY: What are you most looking forward to doing outdoors with LO, once the weather gets nice?
Taking him on walks. We have a lot of state parks with nice trails around. I think he would enjoy it.

[doglover31]

whitney4126 DS is the same way. He wants to sleep with me all the time and always wants the boob in his mouth.

alioop1028 I would love a 3-4 hour block of sleep! Enjoy it! DS is 5 months old and we still have to swaddle. We tried stopping and that was a terrible idea. So he is still swaddled, has pacifier, and white noise still.

hurricanenellie no progression here

danielle2010 hope your LO stops waking every 45 min to and hour! That's tough. The 4 month sleep regression is terrible.

designaddiction yay for LO sleeping so long. Hopefully you can start sleeping and enjoying those long stretches.

[alioop1028]

doglover31 I'm totally enjoying it! It's amazing what an extra hour or two can do. And with the swaddle,seriously, whatever works at this point. I'm just afraid she is going to outgrow it soon and I suck at swaddling so much I need the velcro blankets. I think if she gets too big I'll just make my own. Haha

whitney4126 I stopped reading the books that gave me a recommended sleep time. Especially since they kept telling me my baby was supposed to be sleeping through the night. It made me crazy. I figured as long as my LO seemed well rested, then she probably makes up the hours during the day with her naps.

We put her down pretty late at first. We started at 10 because she would refuse to go to bed any earlier, then progressively made her bedtime earlier by 30 min increments each day so we are at 8:30 bedtime now and sometimes she wakes at 6 and sometimes later. It's a gamble, so I feel you. I have to wake up at 5:30 to go to work and every morning is a mad dash if she wakes up.

[doglover31]

alioop1028 we have the Velcro blankets. He is starting to break out on them though. We will have to buy the next size up soon. I feel like it's all about survival at this point! So if it works right now I'm doing it!

[alioop1028]

Feb 5, 2015 11:46:08 GMT -5 doglover31 said:

alioop1028 we have the Velcro blankets. He is starting to break out on them though. We will have to buy the next size up soon. I feel like it's all about survival at this point! So if it works right now I'm doing it!

When you buy the next size up let me know where you get it. Lol #teamswaddle.

[vavavictoria]

If you guys haven't tried it yet, I'd try the Merlin sleep suit. Your LOs are old enough to roll and that's supposed to be the end of the swaddle. The suit was life changing for DD. Sadly our pedi told us to stop using it so she can move around more at night but we aren't as bad off as y'all are with sleep (not a brag. I feel for you guys. I'm exhausted with 2 wake ups at night. With the sleep suit she slept for 8 or 9 hours straight and that's over now) I would totally keep using it if she only slept in 2 hour increments.

Eta: it also made putting her down drowsy but awake a dream. Now there is a lot more crying and I have to go in and bounce her to sleep instead of just letting her go to sleep on her own.

[alioop1028]

vavavictoria My LO hasn't rolled over yet. We're working on it but as soon as she does this suit is on my amazon list. Question though, you said that this restricted your DD movements? We had to keep swaddling because her thrashing kept waking her up and she kept hitting herself in the face.

[vavavictoria]

alioop1028 it is great for preventing that kind of movement. DD can move her arms enough to get her hand to her mouth if she really wants to but it takes a lot of effort. No way she could hit herself in the face. It does prevent rolling and the pedi said she should be allowed to roll into her belly if she wants to. I'm kind of thinking we should have just kept her in it bc she doesn't seem to have any desire to do that. But now that I've committed to not using it I'm in it for the long haul.

[alioop1028]

Feb 5, 2015 12:48:28 GMT -5 vavavictoria said:

alioop1028 it is great for preventing that kind of movement. DD can move her arms enough to get her hand to her mouth if she really wants to but it takes a lot of effort. No way she could hit herself in the face. It does prevent rolling and the pedi said she should be allowed to roll into her belly if she wants to. I'm kind of thinking we should have just kept her in it bc she doesn't seem to have any desire to do that. But now that I've committed to not using it I'm in it for the long haul.

Thank god for Amazon Prime because I really think I'm going to try it. Lol And I hope it gets better for you soon. Any transition sucks.

[anewadventure]

a couple of comments to leave here.

whitney4126 i think you should add a line for LO's current age at the top of your check in post each week. a lot of people have not put tickers in their siggy's and that can make a difference in advice (like what leap you are in, when to stop swaddling, etc).

a lot of you mention wanting to know the bedtime routines of other people here. i think starting a new thread with that as the topic will garner more responses on that specifically as opposed to within the check in. just my two cents.

although they don't work for everyone, i want to throw another plug in for the magic merlin sleep suit. it is amazing for us. i'd be happy to wax eloquent about it for anyone with more specific questions. i know it is hard to stare at the price and buy it in case it doesn't work. good luck ladies.

[bella2425]

1.) How is daytime sleep going? Pretty good I guess? We usually get two longer naps and a shorter one, you just never know what order they'll be in!

2.) How is nighttime sleep going? Sometimes good, sometimes horrible. I think he's becoming dependent on his binky and is waking up a ton whining for it. He also rolls all over his crib and gets wedged up next to the rails and whines to be moved. It's getting kind of exhausting.

3.) What is your biggest sleep frustration right now? The binky addiction, I think I might have to take it away if things don't improve but thinking of doing that kind of breaks my heart for him.

4.) Anything you want suggestions or advice on? When do they start figuring out how to put their own binky back in? My oldest sucked his fingers and I kind of wish this guy would do that too, so much easier!

5.) GTKY: What are you most looking forward to doing outdoors with LO, once the weather gets nice? Stroller walks and just getting out of the house so my toddler can play!

[doglover31]

vavavictoria thanks for the suggestion! DS can roll, but to get him out of my bed last week I had to put him back in his swing so he can't roll in that. I plan on trying the crib again soon. He used to sleep in it until the 4 month sleep regression.

[whitney4126]

Feb 5, 2015 15:14:42 GMT -5 anewadventure said:

a couple of comments to leave here.

whitney4126 i think you should add a line for LO's current age at the top of your check in post each week. a lot of people have not put tickers in their siggy's and that can make a difference in advice (like what leap you are in, when to stop swaddling, etc).

a lot of you mention wanting to know the bedtime routines of other people here. i think starting a new thread with that as the topic will garner more responses on that specifically as opposed to within the check in. just my two cents.

although they don't work for everyone, i want to throw another plug in for the magic merlin sleep suit. it is amazing for us. i'd be happy to wax eloquent about it for anyone with more specific questions. i know it is hard to stare at the price and buy it in case it doesn't work. good luck ladies.

I'll add the age next week. I haven't even looked into putting a signature on here. I tried on and off for like 6 weeks at the bump and despite reading a ton of posts on it, could never get it to work. I'll look into it on here next time I'm on my computer and have some time.

I have a question about the Merlin sleep suit. How long can they wear them? I've looked at them before, but hate to spend $40 on something that might not work and that she may not use very long. Also a PP said something about her pedi telling her to stop using it. My LO will be 5 months on the 10th, but she's still not rolling over. It would be totally worth $40 if it helped us sleep more.

[suitern]

1.) How is daytime sleep going?
Day time sleep is getting better now that I can see a schedule emerging for her. I have also made all naps upstairs in her room when we are home. We are out almost every morning during the week due to DS's schedule, so it is a little harder for the mornings. She still naps in her mamaroo for her long nap in the afternoon, but naps in the crib for all others. We are still trying to get past the dreaded 45 minute crap nap.

2.) How is nighttime sleep going?

Night time sleep is a totally different story. She has always been an awful sleeper and continues to be even worse with the dreaded 4 month regression and 4th leap. She is actually starting off the night in her own room and crib instead of in the pack n play next to my bed. I am sure she will end up in there at some point tonight. Usually she is up every 2 hours, lately it's been every hour...yawn.

3.) What is your biggest sleep frustration right now?
I am exhausted because she sucks at sleeping at night! I just want 4 hour stretches, that would be awesome.

4.) Anything you want suggestions or advice on?
Not really, I am going to start reading sleep books on advice of how to help her go back to sleep at night without nursing...that hopefully doesn't involve crying because she is the type that will cry forever.

5.) GTKY: What are you most looking forward to doing outdoors with LO, once the weather gets nice?
Going on walks around town and going to the playground with DS. I am thinknig she will be big enough soon to sit in the baby swings by the time spring/summer comes.

[anewadventure]

Feb 5, 2015 19:48:41 GMT -5 whitney4126 said:

Feb 5, 2015 15:14:42 GMT -5 anewadventure said:

a couple of comments to leave here.

whitney4126 i think you should add a line for LO's current age at the top of your check in post each week. a lot of people have not put tickers in their siggy's and that can make a difference in advice (like what leap you are in, when to stop swaddling, etc).

a lot of you mention wanting to know the bedtime routines of other people here. i think starting a new thread with that as the topic will garner more responses on that specifically as opposed to within the check in. just my two cents.

although they don't work for everyone, i want to throw another plug in for the magic merlin sleep suit. it is amazing for us. i'd be happy to wax eloquent about it for anyone with more specific questions. i know it is hard to stare at the price and buy it in case it doesn't work. good luck ladies.

I'll add the age next week. I haven't even looked into putting a signature on here. I tried on and off for like 6 weeks at the bump and despite reading a ton of posts on it, could never get it to work. I'll look into it on here next time I'm on my computer and have some time.

I have a question about the Merlin sleep suit. How long can they wear them? I've looked at them before, but hate to spend $40 on something that might not work and that she may not use very long. Also a PP said something about her pedi telling her to stop using it. My LO will be 5 months on the 10th, but she's still not rolling over. It would be totally worth $40 if it helped us sleep more.

don't worry guys, i'm not trying to stress you out about siggys, just mentioning that they can be really helpful. i also don't mind helping people if they can't figure it out.

we've been using the merlin suit since just before 3 months. our pedi wanted us to stop swaddling at 2 months because he says it inhibits motor development because their arms are restricted. our LO kept waking hiimself up by throwing his arms around. the idea behind the merlin is that there is no restriction like the swaddle, but the thick padding of the suit acts to muffle movements. so your LO can still move all the body parts, but it takes more effort, and the Moro reflex is muffled until they grow out of it later in the year. so, my LO can bring his hands to his mouth, and kick his legs etc, but only he if really feels like it. it has worked wonders for us. an added bonus is i can keep my house cooler because it is so thick and warm. i think it works well for us because my LO loves to be snuggled so it makes him feel snuggled and cozy and warm, YKWIM?

i did see that a PP mentioned their pedi did not want them to use the suit because it prevented LO from rolling over at night. personally, i don't agree with that - obviously take it with a grain of salt as i am not a doctor. i have been kind of surprised how much differing information we all get from our various pediatricians. provided that your LO is not prevented from rolling over 24 hours a day, wearing the merlin suit at night is not going to be a problem. it does not prevent rolling, really, it just makes it a lot harder. to answer your question, it is actually related - merlin suits can be worn up until the time that LO learns to roll over whilst wearing it. that would take some serious effort. they make them in two sizes... 3-6 mo and 6-9 mo. generally people get great use out of them until at least 7 months and often people stop using them just because they don't want to buy the bigger size. so in that respect, i wouldn't be concerned about spending the money but not getting enough use out of it, unless for some reason your LO hates it. that is very unlikely, as usually the people it "doesn't work" for don't see an improvement in sleep, but don't see a specific negative reaction either...more that it doesn't create a drastic change. we happened to be able to borrow one from a friend to see if it worked for us before purchasing, but we ended up loving it so much that we already bought two in the smaller size and one bigger one. it's that great.

hope that helps. if you are super concerned, you can of course ask your pedi, and i am sure others here would offer their opinions as well.

[anewadventure]

Feb 5, 2015 22:03:31 GMT -5 @giamia923 said:

anewadventure I'm always on mobile so therefore I think the siggy's don't show up? I'm wondering what to even put in mine and where I get the codes for it? I briefly looked at the FAQ for the tapatalk app but am confused. You can PM if you want so I don't completly take over this thread lol TIA

sure thing. how about we chat about it in the snooty thread i made about changing settings? that way other mobile users can chime in and other people can ask questions too. why don't you clarify for me what you want to put in your siggy (if anything) like whether you want a ticker or just some text or whatever...

[bella2425]

RE Merlin's suit: We used it with our LO. He started rolling really early (dr says it was a strong reflex) so we started using it before he turned 3 months to keep him from rolling over. Used it probably 3-4 weeks before he started rolling over in that, so we had to quit it.

It did work though! He could still reach his face if he tried, but he wasn't startling awake anymore. He seemed really comfy in it and even though it's thick, it did not make him hot at all, it's really breathable material. It did take a couple days for him to get used to it, but once he did it really worked well. He's out of it now and transitioned to the sleep sack really easy.

[vavavictoria]

DD actually did transition relatively well out of the Merlin into the sleep sack. As long as I feed her to sleep at least. Otherwise bedtime is a battle. She sleeps much longer when i feed to sleep too. But that's a side Story. I think the Merlin works really well as a transition from the swaddle to sleep sack or nothing for babies like all of ours that are face smackers or who startle awake still. It took about a week post Merlin but V actually slept for almost 8 hours last night without it.

[horselover]

Just reading through everyone's posts and I feel terrible you're having a hard time as lack of sleep for this long is no fun so please know I'm coming from a place of help as to what has worked for me:
1. Keep the sound machine on all night long and pretty loud (not to hurt their ears but pretty loud) - no need to stop the machine until they ask for it when they're older. My dd wakes up the minute I turn it off so I would imagine if it wasn't on all night and for naps it would be harder for her to get back to sleep
2. Make your last feeding no later than 430 and try to keep them awake until 7pm bath and 730 feeding. This will help make sure they're really hungry and fill up for the night. We sometimes have a 30-45 min nap before depending on how many naps she had during the day.

I'm not going to get into CIO and fussing as that's such a personal decision but I thought those 2 easy tips might possibly help one of you mammas get more sleep!

[tch4lfe]

We used the Merlin as well for a little over a month. My dd hated to be swaddled and the Merlin was a perfect transition. She loved it! After a month or so, she seemed to be getting frustrated in it and was not sleeping as well. We decided that it was time to transition her into her sleep sack. After about 2 nights, she was sleeping great in it. So long story short, it worked for us, and didn't take long at all to transition her out of it.