Honestly, i don't know what's going on - and i've spent all summer trying to figure it out. This started in June - was a separation anxiety spell (it started w/ a not good babysitter experience one night) that got better after a month of gradual withdrawal training. July was better, sleeping through the night again and regular naps. Then it came back in Aug when dad was gone for a week. Although she's obviously sensitive, and has struggled w/ sleep on and off (every milestone has really thrown her off), and needed a pretty strict routine, overall she has been a great sleeper. Overall has needed more sleep than the average.
So, here's her routine when things are going well:
6:30 or 6:45 Wake
12:30-2 Sleep
7:15 or 7:30 Sleep
So usually 12.5 or 13 total hrs sleep.
She was doing better last week after it was really bad, and then one day we got home late from a play group, and although she fell asleep ok, her nap was an hour late. then the overtired thing started again, and she woke at 6 the next morning (she had been doing 6:45-7). When the overtired thing is going on, we have 1-3 night wakings, short naps, etc. And she's set on waking up at 6 during these times. That's the waking i was wondering about wake to sleep for (the other wakings are more random). It's obviously too early as she's SOOOOO grumpy. and there is not getting her back to sleep. i think she looks at the clock knows that during the 6:00 hour we let her have books in her bed (we have let her after 6:30, cause "the rule" is she stays in bed until 7). If she wakes at 5:50, i can get her to go back to sleep (i'm wondering if it's cause she doesn't see the "6"). So we need to change her clock or something.
I can't imagine her being ready to give up her nap. But who knows. We've been struggling with something for 3 months....and i've wondered if we're not putting her down at the right time or if there's something we're not getting right routine wise or what. I know so many of my friends with 2.5 year olds are not still putting their kids down at 7. Most it's more like 8 or 8:30. I don't even know what end is up though right now and all we've been doing is trying to get her over these overtired sessions. I don't know what our goal should be, or what is best for her, or what she needs right now. It's so frustrating.
Until a few weeks ago, i was still sticking to nap time at 12:30, even if it was an overtired cycle. but after reading lots of posts on here, i'm hearing it's better to try and lay them down 5.5 hrs after wake. so on days she wakes up at 6, her nap should be 11:30. This is hard to do, but we've been trying. yesterday i got her to sleep by 12, which was earlier than normal for a 6 wake-up, and she fought sleep for an hour, falling asleep at 1 for a 45 min. nap. And she woke up crying and so grumpy. i know it wasn't enough. THen at night, we laid her down at 6:40 and she went to sleep right away. Maybe we really need to be strict about the 5.5 thing? and even if it's ridiculously early, just do it?
OK, sorry so long, but there's the background. anyone seeing anything i'm missing? Of course, my parents, who we only see 2-3 times a year are coming to visit this weekend. they're going to think i'm NUTS for putting her to bed so early. I was really hoping this would be cleared up by then.....oh well.
thanks so much......sarah