16 month old, suddenly longer naps and Early wakings?

[emzi]

Hi All,

Last week, we thought we had finally got Ruby settled at night times.
She has never been a good napper, usally 1 hour at a max and although sometimes she would be O/T at bedtime it wasnt too much hassle and usually adjusted an EBT to compensate.
However, this week she has gone to upto 2.5 hrs at lunctime and is desperate to go to bed by 6.30pm! This has resulted in morning waking from as early as 5am which of course makes for a grumpy morning for all . I have posted our routine below, can anyone see any problems with it?

5-6am- Wake
8am- Breakfast
10.00am- Morning Snack
11.30am- Lunch
12-12.30pm- Afternoon Nap
2-2.30pm- Afternoon Snack
4.00pm- Dinner
6.00pm- Fruit
6.30pm- Bath
6.45-7.00pm Asleep

Thanks

Emma

[Truly Blessed]

Hi Emma,

Her morning A time is long especially on a 5 am WU, so the short naps could be down to OT by nap time. I'm guessing on a 5 am WU you always go EBT  

Can you achieve the following routine:

WU 5/6 am

Nap 10.30/11.30 capped at 2.5 (may be too long but I would start there)

BT 6.00/7.00

This would shorten her day and hopefully lead to a better/later WU at which point you can keep the same A times but move the day later IYKWIM 

One thing to say though is that if this has just started this week and you feel her routine suited her up until now, then when LO suddenly start to sleep more it is sometimes down to something other than routine for eg: A growth spell/teething/pending illness   Possible  noticed any of this going on 


(HUGS)

Vicki.x.

[emzi]

Thanks for this, just had two new teeth so could be to blame I suppose!!!

Ive found that if Ruby goes to bed in the morning she will only sleep about 30 mins and have a rubbish afternoon as she is really overtired by say 5pm.

Could capping the nap help? Im shocked that when waking at 2.30pm she is desperate for sleep by 6pm!

[Truly Blessed]

Could capping the nap help?

I'd be wary if she is ready for bed that soon, it may be really tough to get her through to a decent BT if you cap. Does she tack on sleep  ie: if you put her down earlier will she wake at the usual time the next day or earlier  If she doe tack I'd be tempted to go for BT when she seems ready to help her catch up.  What do you think 

x.

[emzi]

If I put her down earlier she will usually wake earlier. This morning she woke crying at 5am, a sign that really she isnt ready to get up. I went in laid her down and left her, she was upset for about 10 minutes and then went back to sleep until about 7am.
There si nothing that could be waking her at this time, the room is dark, its not cold in her room etc

[Hobbes]

If she is wanting BT quite soon after a long nap, it could be because her A time before her nap was too long? Something I have just discovered with my own 16mo! He did 5hr A time, 3hr nap but then wanted BT 3hrs later (and was grumpy the whole time). Could you try shifting her nap forward a little? Give an early lunch at 11 and then nap 11.30?

[emzi]

Yes will give it a go then, she is at nursery P/T so its just trying to get them to stick with the plans!!

[Truly Blessed]

Something I have just discovered with my own 16mo! He did 5hr A time, 3hr nap but then wanted BT 3hrs later

Absolutely, long morning A time often allows/requires a shorter afternoon and if you miss the window then it can take some time to settle.

x.