2 YO waking at 12:30 each night, should I try wake to sleep?

[sare_mac]

Hi Guys

I'm a newbie here, but I have just started to notice a pattern with my little one (2yrs and 1month old).  She seems to be waking each night at around 12:30, and she should be cold as it is nice and toasty in her room.  All I have to do is go in give a kiss and cuddle and put her straight back down and she falls back to sleep, but I'm not keen on this continuing, as she has never been a good sleeper, and I don't like her to form bad habits if possible!

Should I try 'wake to sleep' or is she to old for this.  And If I do try wake to sleep, when should I do it?

thanks heaps.

 

[mumofoscar]

I have done W2S on many occasions with success. I did it 20 minutes before the wake time, but some people do it an hour before. I go in, and stroke ds cheek until he stirs and shifts to another position. I find this is enough to break the "habit".

[Layla]

Hi and welcome to the boards  !

What does her day look like? Nap, when and how long? Wake up time and bedtime? When she wakes at night, does she cry out for you or is she just making noises and you go in?

[sare_mac]

Hi, she generally wakes at 7am, goes down for a nap at 10am for 2 hours, wakes and has lunch and afternoon play and then tea at 6pm, bottl and bed between 7:00 - absolute max 8:45 if we've been out for the day and her routine was a bit later than normal.  When I get up to her it's either to a mummy call or a scream.

Thanks   

[Layla]

I think the waking is more related to her being overtired. Her nap should be more or less around middle of the day. So no more than 5.5-6hrs of activity time. So maybe try shifting her nap closer to 12.30 to see if that helps. Her being awake for 7-8hrs in the evening is probably what's causing her to wake at night.

Give that a try and let me know how it goes
Layla

[sare_mac]

sorry, I should have written max 7:45!  no way do I let her go that late (8:45)!! I like my evenings way too much!  she has a problem which is why her nap is so early on, if I let her sleep past 1:30 in the after noon she won't go to sleep until at least 9pm, so she generally has a pattern of up for the day, 3 hrs and then nap for 2 hrs, then up for 6 and a half 7 hours max.  I've tried pushing her sleeps out so she has say around 4 hrs in the morning, but appart from her being unbearable, it doesn't stop the night waking, (however, I haven't tried the different routine with the W2S yet)  maybe i will give it a go!

thanks

[Layla]

  I would still try to push her nap until at least midday. It might require taking her out of the house and allowing her some physical activity (running around at the park, maybe dancing at home if the weather is iffy) and the same before bedtime and a longer windown to get her nice and sleepy at bedtime....

Try w2s (you shouldn't have to do it for more than 5 days in a row) and let me know how it goes
Layla

[sare_mac]

Thanks, I'll let you know, I will probably try and stretch her til at least 11am soon, but we are going on a church camp on friday and then going away for 2 weeks not long after that, so she will be out of whack for a while!! yay NOT!  anyway, once things get back to normal I'll give it a go.  I'd better get cracking though, as no 2 DD is on her way in early October!