everything gone abit mad !!

[lilly_kitt]

Hi

Ty recently started STTN which was great as he's 16 months old.  He was a 7pm-6.30am kind of guy which was ok.  He had one nap around 12 for anything up to 2 hours.  Now its mad, he gets up at 5.30am, desperate for a nap by 10 when he has an hour, then today he had another hour 3.30-4.30 (in nursery)  so his bedtime is later (as it was yesterday) but he still wakes at 5.30

Is he now having too much daytime sleep which is affecting his night sleep ?  I thought it maybe the birds waking him a stupid o'clock so tonight there is a fan on low pointing at the wall.  When he wakes he's happy and wide awake.

Any ideas ??

Sarah
x

[sianie]

I would say a 2hr nap for a 16 mth old was just fine.

If you're finding that the mornings are getting lighter then it may be that disturbing him. White noise is also a good idea.

I assume you don't think he's teething or anything?

[lilly_kitt]

Am not sure on the teething, am giving him meds before bed as he has a stinking cold at abit of a cough.  Today he was in nursery and had one sleep of 1.5 hours after lunch so am not sure how that will affect tonight (he got up at 6am) we've got the fan running again. When he wakes I give him his morning bottle in the vain hope that he might drop off but he never does.

[sianie]

I've found that colds really mess up LO's sleep.

Have you tried a plug in vaporiser in his room? Also, elevating the cot/ Vicks chest rub etc can all help.

[lilly_kitt]

Hi

well yesterday he had one 2 hours nap as we were out and about, i came in took his shoes and coat off and he went into his cot without waking up.  So he woke at 6 and then napped from 11.30-1.30, he then went to bed at 7.20 (long A time) he woke this morning at 5.15 (really 6.15 due to clock change).  Doing the same today, went back down at 11.45 (fast asleep).  At the moment he is doing around 10.5 hour nights and 2 hours in the day.  Does this sound right ?  I would love for him to get up at 7 but just cant see how that would happen when he's an early riser.  Could he just not need the 11 hour night as recommended on the how much sleep table ?  He wakes very bright and alert.  Last night i also didn't give him meds as his cold has cleared and cant see any teeth coming though.  I heard him in the night but he wasn't crying and self-settled.
When he wakes I give him his morning bottle in his cot, do you think this might be why he wakes ? (although i would think he would be crying if it was through hunger not chanting 'tyler 'tyler', his name)

Sarah
x

[sianie]

Has he generally always been at the lower end for night sleep?

I wouldn't get hung up too much on the table of sleep amounts, they are there as a guideline & some LO's will be at the lower or higher end of this. For me it's more about looking at the total amount of sleep your LO is getting in a 24hr period & whether your LO is waking happy or waking crying etc. All these are clues as to whether they are getting enough sleep or not.

When he wakes in the AM, do you go straight in or wait until he starts to cry (his 'Mummy, I need you!' cry)?

If I were you I would try & keep him on the 1 nap (especially as he seems to be napping well) & stick to this consistently for the next few days. You might find that his nights to start to lengthen &/or you might be able to push BT back a bit once he can handle longer A times. It did sound like he had gotten into a bit of an OT loop plus having a cold wouldn't have helped so hopefully now these things are improving then his sleep should get back on track. 

[lilly_kitt]

Hi

Thanks, he has always been low sleep.  He only recently started STTN. When he wakes in the morning he can happily stay in his cot for 30 mins chatting to himself before it descends into a 'come and get me' noise. when i get him, open his curtains and we go downstairs.  He always wakes happy from nap and sleep, although i have found that he naps better when he is left until he is dropping, then there are no protests, straight in his cot and fast asleep.  Today he had 1.45 nap and has gone down at 7.30.
Hubs in charge tomorrow so he will be under strict instructions.
Sarah
x

[sianie]

If he's low sleep needs & waking happy then that would suggest he's getting enough sleep.

Try the 1 nap for the next few days & let me know how you get on! Good luck!