NW, EW ... OT or UT ... I'm very confused!!

[aly_mac]

DD is nearly 18 months. Has been EW (5ish) for an eternity and more recently long happy NW too (usually around 0300). Have been doing set nap (currently 12ish) and then bedtime based on nap length. She used to take ten minutes to fall asleep, but now it's often an hour. I am really confused about BT and think this is where I'm going wrong. She usually falls asleep about 5.5 hours after she wakes from nap ... could she really want an A that long? We've just come through a long wonder week which can't have helped but it's definitely time to sort this out.

Could I cap the nap to shorten the day and lengthen the night?

WEDNESDAY
0615 wake up
0700 get up
1225 asleep (in bed 1203)
1420 awake
1945 asleep (in bed 1900)

THURSDAY
0445 awake
0540 asleep
0720 awake/up
1307 asleep (in bed 1207)
1433 awake
1959 asleep (in bed 1831)

FRIDAY
?? NW
?? wake up
0700 get up
1150 asleep (in bed 1135)
1405 wake up
1936 asleep (in bed 1847)

TODAY
?? NW
?? wake up
0700 get up
1203 asleep (in bed 1136 - very tired this morning, already yawning at 0945)
1400 still asleep

All suggestions gratefully received 

[Buttonbobs]

I would let her sleep as long as she needs to (up until 3 hrs for that nap) and aim for BT at about 7pm again.

In the long run I think your routine is ok with a long nap and a 6.30 WU to 7/7.30 BT but he will be getting OT with that EW. There is a sleep regression at 18 mo which can e pretty rough. The best thing is to stick to your consistent routine and understand there will be sleep troubles in the meantime.

Have a look here:

18 month sleep regression support thread - Part 2

Just in case there is anything else, is she teething? Or is anything else going on?
Does she usually sleep through the night independently? What is your nap/BT routine

Hugs xx

[aly_mac]

To conclude yesterday

1420 wake
2009 asleep (in bed 1931)

... I didn't hear any waking overnight and she woke this morning at 0605! So that was a 5:50 A from nap wake to sleep 

I understand there may be a regression coming, just want to make sure everything is in place before we get there 

Re anything else, I don't think she's teething as the waking is not unhappy and I do not need to attend to her, she self-settles. Developmentally I am hoping she will start talking soon, but who knows. We have had quite a few changes within the last two months (Dad working away, we have relocated interstate) but I really think she has come to grips with all that.

Routine for nap is story, nappy change and into sack, twinkle twinkle, in bed (about 15min). Bedtime includes a BF.

[Buttonbobs]

I would just stick as you are in that case. It might be worth trying meds before naps and BT to see f it makes a difference. Happy WUs are often teething here, she's not necessarily in pain but just too uncomfortable to sleep.

Keep me posted x