Early waking but happy??

[Lilasmom]

Hi girls.  I'm not sure if some of you remember me or not, but I had posted probably about a month ago with night waking problems.  Anyhow, after being consistent and the molors came through, she's back to sleeping all night.  The only issue is that she is waking early 3/4 of the time - between 5:30am & 6am.  She doesn't cry or anything, just sits in her crib and plays and talks.  Usually I just leave her and go in and get her between 6:30am & 7am.  Other mornings I don't hear her until 7am - which was the norm for her.  The only issue I'm seeing with the early wakings, is that she's tired for her nap by 10:30am (only been doing one nap a day for a few months - she's 16 months old).  I usually try and keep her up until 11:30am, but I feel bad because she becomes overtired.  Her nap is usually 1 1/2-2 hours long.  Any suggestions?? TIA 

[mari]

Does it affect her nap if you keep her awake until it's due?  Does she nap shorter because she is more tired due to waking early?  If not, try to keep her nap at the usual time in order to try to keep her on track. 
You are doing the right thing, if she isn't crying, leave her and go to her when you are ready to get her out of bed.  Alex wakes at 6.45-7am and I have a shower before I get her, she is happy to stay there.

[Lilasmom]

Well it hasn't seemed to be affecting her naps, except today  She woke at 5:50am, I kept her up until 11:30am and she only napped for 1 hour!!!  That's the first time that's happened 

[mari]

hmm, ok, it could be that she was overtired for her nap then.  You could try an early cat nap at around 9am for about 30 mins and then a later real nap at 12pm, hopefully that will sort out the early wakings too as she wont be so overtired.  Thats my guess.