23 month old up for TWO HOURS at night

[Sarah511]

I have used BW methods religiously since (Textbook) DS was about 3 MO. He has generally slept through the night, with the typical regressions.

This one is bad, though. I am clocking starting the 3rd hour of being awake. It is 2:33 a.m. here and he has been up since 12:33 a.m. with no signs of sleeping. I even gave him a bottle, which I never do. Still, nothing.

This regression filled with multiple night wakings has been going on for 3 weeks.

His typical daytime routine is:

6:00 - 7:30: wake (used to be 7ish, but three weeks ago this changed)

8:30: breakfast

11:00: lunch

11:30 - 12:00: Nap start (he falls asleep easily)

2:00 - 2:30: Nap end (He wakes himself)

3:00: Snack

6:00: Dinner

6:30: Bath

7:00 - 7:30: Bedtime (Never falls asleep immediately and now it's a struggle)

He used to fall asleep at naptime and bedtime with no issue and now he is wide awake at bedtime.

And now...starting hour 3 of being awake in the middle of the night.

Someone please help!

[Jodes112]

hello!

Sorry you have been going through this!

After looking at your EASY id definatley suggest to move that nap later in the day, closer to 12.30/1pm. So you can give lunch first then nap. It may be that you would need to shorten it also but pushing it along might help first so id give that a try.

You said that its been 11.30 & 12 so id stick with 12 for a few days then gradually push it along over a few days at a time, and see how that goes.

For us an indication that more A time was needed in the morning was an EW!

[Sarah511]

Thank you Jodes!

I was wondering if I needed to make his nap later. Seems counterintuitive as then I would think he wouldn't be tired enough at bedtime. But I'll try anything!

He eats lunch before naptime now, so that will be nothing new for him to adjust to.

I was thinking of shortening his nap too to see if that tuckers him out.

[Jodes112]

Possibly as if you are moving nap to 12.30/1pm its likely he wont be awake until 3 so if you think he wont be tired for bed then, i would sharten the nap too to 1.5hrs & see how it goes xx

[Sarah511]

I've both moved the nap forward and shortened it...still no dice. I just want my 7 to 7 sleeper again...

[Jodes112]

Ahh, whats been happening with that? Is he still waking in the night? Wonder if just moving the nap without shortening is the way to go. The nap is definatley still too early, what time have you been putting doen for nap now? x

[Sarah511]

This is his new schedule:

730 - wake (which is an improvement)
830 - breakfast
1100 - lunch
1200 - nap
215 - wake (he has done this on his own)
315 - snack
600 - dinner
645 - bath
730 - bedtime (he hasn't fallen asleep at bedtime but has been sleepy enough not to bounce around...he is usually asleep 5 to 15 minutes after laying down)

But still...

300 a.m. - awake, bouncing, playing - no matter if we feed him, or nit, he's up for at least an hour, if not two, at a time.

So early waking is solved but the night time waking are still occurring and have been for a good 6 weeks now. Once per week he will sleep though, if we're lucky.

Last night was another two hour waking. We were both so exhausted we just let him play. He eventually went back to sleep. He doesn't act any different when this happens, meaning he is not traumatized by it. Quite the opposite actually: he loves being able to play and then goes back to sleep.

[Jodes112]

Ok, just try and push that nap back further. If you can get to 12.30 over the bext week and stick it at that for a few days & see how you get on.
Does sound under tired, but think that nap still need to be later xx

[Martini~]

Being honest at 2yo 2-2.5h nap with a 12h day would be to much sleep for my boy. I would either massively cap a nap or just push BT. At 2yo I would say average sleep needs kids needs around 13h per 24 of sleep. If he is only slightly on a shorter side he is just probably UT, wakes at night and than catch up at nap time. I wouldn't bother with time of a nap at that age just make sure he is not OT by bed.

[Sarah511]

I seem to have achieved a certain level of success, ladies!

He awakens when he likes...between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m.

Nap at 12:00 sharp

Up time is no later than 2:45, though he usually wakes himself up before then.

Bedtime at 7:30 sharp, though he may or may not put himself to sleep at that time; but no later than 8:30.

No more 2 hours up at night...though he does wake and self soothe.

RESULTS!  I am so happy!

Thank you all so much!

[Jodes112]

Lovely update!
Glad you are all getting a better night sleep 😊