When CIO doesn't work...

I don't know what the heck happened. CIO worked two weeks ago and their naps were golden. It worked like magic. Then, out of nowhere, they just would not take their naps. I have tried not going in there at all and they will cry for the whole hour (following HSHHC). I have tried modified CIO. I have tried rocking, swing, pacis...everything you can imagine I have tried and NOTHING is working. I even have them in separate rooms, but they still cry and cry and cry. I'm about to lose my marbles. I told my husband today that I cannot raise them by myself. I'm just no good at it because I have run out of all the options.

The sleep through the night from 6:30 - 6:30. They are eating enough through the day, so I now they aren't hungry. They aren't gassy, poopy, or sick. They just refuse to sleep during the day. I put them down 1 1/2 to 2 hours after being awake and that isn't it. I don't know what else to do. Their morning nap goes ok, but they do wake up halfway through and I have to reinsert pacis and let them fuss for 20 or so minutes and they are back to sleep. Their afternoon nap is the killer! They just don't sleep at all, but I know they are tired. They rub their eyes, yawn, fuss, cry...like they are begging me to put them to bed, so I do and the incessant screaming begins. Oh and forget about their third nap that goes as well as their afternoon one. Are they too young to drop those naps? They can't possibly survive off of one nap a day they will be monsters.

I don't know what else to do. I seriously have grown three more gray hairs in the last day! Any advice is soooo appreciated.

 

In my experience, my twins naps were like yours all over the place and not consistent. I would try the HSHHC book and it was good to tell me infant sleep patterns but the nap schedule did not work for my kids. Our naps, no matter what I tried did not start to work out until they hit 6 months. I don't know what it was about 6 months but it was like suddenly they got into a groove. We did have to do CIO for naps to wean them off of being rocked (thanks DH) but the schedule that seemed to work well for us was 2 naps a day and the first nap would 2 hours after waking, 2nd nap would be 3 hours after waking from the 1st one and then bedtime was 4 hours later. I think for me, naps were the hardest part of the first year! Good luck! It does get better!

 

I was just going to suggest that maybe they are ready to drop the third nap? Could they get on a 9 and 1 schedule? Sorry i'm not much help as i am still figuring out naptimes with my two :hug:

 

QUOTE(mummy2ambernruby @ Jun 17 2009, 02:26 PM) [snapback]1358229[/snapback]
I was just going to suggest that maybe they are ready to drop the third nap? Could they get on a 9 and 1 schedule? Sorry i'm not much help as i am still figuring out naptimes with my two :hug:


I would love for them to drop the third nap because it's only an hour long and I think they could do without it. They wake up at 6:30 so the 9 and 1 schedule doesn't work for them and I'm starting to find that maybe the whole HSHHC book isn't working for them either. I guess I just need to wait it out and hope that it gets better within the next week or two. Thanks for the advice!

 

QUOTE(orangeyaglad @ Jun 17 2009, 07:31 PM) [snapback]1358240[/snapback]
I would love for them to drop the third nap because it's only an hour long and I think they could do without it. They wake up at 6:30 so the 9 and 1 schedule doesn't work for them and I'm starting to find that maybe the whole HSHHC book isn't working for them either. I guess I just need to wait it out and hope that it gets better within the next week or two. Thanks for the advice!


Could you not just get as close to those times say 8/8.30 and 12/12.30 and shift there bedtime up aswell? I follow HSHHC, somedays they are tso extbook it's fab, othertimes i think my babies just don't fit the mould at all lol
Everyone keeps talking about the magical 6month mark, we are nearly there! Try and keep your marbles in tact until then

 

QUOTE(mummy2ambernruby @ Jun 17 2009, 02:53 PM) [snapback]1358287[/snapback]
Could you not just get as close to those times say 8/8.30 and 12/12.30 and shift there bedtime up aswell? I follow HSHHC, somedays they are tso extbook it's fab, othertimes i think my babies just don't fit the mould at all lol
Everyone keeps talking about the magical 6month mark, we are nearly there! Try and keep your marbles in tact until then


They do go down at those times. They can barely make it to the 2 hour mark. They usually go down 1 1/2 hours after being awake. I will try to keep things together, but I don't know how much longer I can hold on.

 

Aww hun i'm sorry it's taking it's toll, i feel your pain!! I've just replied on my topic also lol, maybe try putting them down abit earlier? They could already be overtired by 1hr 30. My girls go down peacefully at 1hr40 but in the morning one of my girls is pooped after 1hr15mins so i try and drag her out as much as i can. Stay strong Christine i hope things get better soon x

 

Well, my kids were AWESOME sleepers with very little intervention until.....about 4 months. And then began 2+ months of just awful sleeping. Bad or absent naps, waking every coupld of hours in the night. I thought I was going to have a mental breakdown. I resorted to driving them around in the afternoons so they would sleep (or at least I wouldn't feel so bad if they were crying)

And then right about 6 months, things started to turn around. They began STTN (more or less, at least not eating in the night), naps are much more regular and consistantly 1.5 hours. I no longer bang my head against a wall.

So, I have no advice, other than I've been right where you are and it sucks. Big time. But I have confidence that you'll either come up with something that works or they'll grow out of it. In terms of brain development/sleep, 4-5 months is a big time for changes and growth, so their little brains just need to mature a bit.

Big hugs!

 

QUOTE(bekkiz @ Jun 17 2009, 04:20 PM) [snapback]1358448[/snapback]
Well, my kids were AWESOME sleepers with very little intervention until.....about 4 months. And then began 2+ months of just awful sleeping. Bad or absent naps, waking every coupld of hours in the night. I thought I was going to have a mental breakdown. I resorted to driving them around in the afternoons so they would sleep (or at least I wouldn't feel so bad if they were crying)

And then right about 6 months, things started to turn around. They began STTN (more or less, at least not eating in the night), naps are much more regular and consistantly 1.5 hours. I no longer bang my head against a wall.

So, I have no advice, other than I've been right where you are and it sucks. Big time. But I have confidence that you'll either come up with something that works or they'll grow out of it. In terms of brain development/sleep, 4-5 months is a big time for changes and growth, so their little brains just need to mature a bit.

Big hugs!


Thanks so much! I would totally drive them around during the day if we didn't have only one car which DH takes to work everyday. Sucks, but I'm hoping to purchase one around next tax time. Well, I only have one more month to go. Seems like they were doing great sleeping during the day up until a week ago then everything went haywire. Not sure if they are trying to drop a nap or what and I'm not sure if that is something 5-6 months old do?

 

My girls went through a nap strike also around 4 months... we went for long drives a lot, but I see that's not option for you, how about a walk with the stroller? Do you still use a swing? sometimes you just have to do what works even if it's not part of the HSHHC plan.

 

QUOTE(rumbo @ Jun 17 2009, 07:31 PM) [snapback]1358644[/snapback]
My girls went through a nap strike also around 4 months... we went for long drives a lot, but I see that's not option for you, how about a walk with the stroller? Do you still use a swing? sometimes you just have to do what works even if it's not part of the HSHHC plan.


Long walks, in the afternoon, in Florida make the girls even more cranky. They HATE being hot. Otherwise, I would take them out...lord knows I could use a good sweat, but they just can't tolerate it. They don't like the swing because they don't like to sit in any one place for too long. They are really trying to be mobile sooner than normal. I think that I am going to try again tomorrow. They went down for bedtime tonight (and every night for that matter) like a dream. Their morning nap isn't bad at all, we hit that afternoon nap and all hell breaks loose. I think I'm going to see if they will stay up longer during the afternoon. I might be putting them down too soon and might be reading their signs wrong. DH and I were talking about it tonight. They probably aren't tired at their very first yawn or eye rub. My girls seem to sleep better when they are really, really tired, so who knows. At least I have time to try some more options.

 

I'm glad you still have a few tricks left to try out! Hope it goes better than yesterday for you.

 

This is where everyone yells at me casue they are only 5 months, but are they on solids at all yet? Even one eensy meal of plain cereal around lunchtime could help. It has with all three of mine. Or, even try a "second stage" milk. They could be still hungry even after their bottles and it's keeping them from resting. They could have a little virus, or a mild ear infection. Go the the ped just to have all that stuff ruled out too. They could be starting with teeth, as well. If it gets too unbearable, try a dose of baby tylenol. They could be feeling wonky. Good luck, and keep us posted!

 

QUOTE(Neumsy @ Jun 18 2009, 08:20 AM) [snapback]1359091[/snapback]
This is where everyone yells at me casue they are only 5 months, but are they on solids at all yet? Even one eensy meal of plain cereal around lunchtime could help. It has with all three of mine. Or, even try a "second stage" milk. They could be still hungry even after their bottles and it's keeping them from resting. They could have a little virus, or a mild ear infection. Go the the ped just to have all that stuff ruled out too. They could be starting with teeth, as well. If it gets too unbearable, try a dose of baby tylenol. They could be feeling wonky. Good luck, and keep us posted!



they started solids when they turned 4 months as advised from their doctor. they can't drink milk because they are allergic, but thanks for the suggestions.

 

I remember going through this. They were taking 30-45 min. naps on and off all day long. Not good. Eventually, it did get better. Just hang in there. I would try to keep them up for 2 hours, if you can. I remember them taking a quick 45 min. nap around 4 or 5. They really needed it and then all of a sudden, they wouldn't sleep for it. They would cry or just babble. I knew it was time to drop it and tried moving the 2nd nap later. They still have that schedule. They get up around 7am and nap at 9am. They go down for their second nap 3 hours after they wake up from their 1st nap, which is usually between 1-2pm. I think yours are too young to drop any of those naps. I think mine were taking 4 naps a day at that age. I would put them down at 8:30am and then 2 hours after they wake from that nap and then 2 hours after they wake from that nap. The 3rd nap is usually a short one. Just keep at it and they will come around. Everything is a phase. Before you know it, you'll have them taking 2 really nice naps a day. I promise.

 

I don't have any advice, sorry. Just wanted to let you know that I am going through the same thing. My babies take 10-45 minute naps. They are chronically tired and often cranky. I pray that it gets better. DD had been taking some longer naps, but it's been awful for the past 3 weeks. DS has never napped well. I haven't tried CIO, and I'd really like to avoid it. Maybe it's the only way. I hope things fall into place a 6 months like so many people say.