Sleep is off whenever DD's Grandparents come to visit, 19 mos old

[Lulu m]

Hi all. My parents and 83 yr old Gramma come to visit me from out of state about every 4-6 weeks. I love them dearly, my 19 mos old daughter LOVES them to death. So this is GREAT.

However - when they come she fights her nap, fights her bedtime, will hardly eat, and wakes about an hour earlier in the morning (yesterday it was nearly 2 hours earlier - AH!!!) and will continue to do so for about a week after they leave. UGH.

I am starting to dread their visits, and this makes me feel just awful. Not only that, they want me to fly out to see them, and I cannot imagine what two plane rides, sleeping and eating in a new place would do! By time we got home, I would have to work so hard to get her back on track.

I do keep her routine as much as the same as possible when they are here. I know she is excited and is having a lot of fun, but it can be a nightmare for me.

Obviously I do not want to live in a bubble, but is there anything I can do about this?

Thanks

[becky1969]

It's possible the visit is so stimulating that she is OT by the time of her normal nap and bedtime.  That's why it also takes a week to get her BOT -- she's cumulatively OT by the end of the visit and it takes a week or so to unwind the OT cycle.  The 2 hours earlier in the morning is the key evidence -- that sounds like it's probably a 9-10 hour night which is a CLASSIC OT sign!

I'd def. try an earlier nap and bedtime during the visit and see if that helps.  You may also need to do a longer wind down to help her transition from the excitement of the new, loving people to her boring old room and sleep. 

P.S. -- This WILL get better as she gets older.  So perhaps in  6 months you won't feel as intimidated about traveling to see them.

[Lulu m]

OK, got it. Thanks so much!!!! 
We had a good morning wake up today, but a nap from hell. Tomorrow is another day, and hopefully a better one!