23 Month Old - What is going on with naps????

[Ewan's Mummy]

My 23 month old is a great sleeper.  His sleep routine has been for some time.
6am get up
12.00 - 2.00(ish) nap
7pm bedtime. 
It's been great.  He happily goes to bed and sleeps through.  ANYWAY it all seems to be going wrong.

This week he's been waking up early on some days (5am) but obviously still tired and has also been refusing his nap on others.  He woke up at 7am the other day after not going to sleep until 8pm and then would not go to sleep for his nap.  I left him up there for an hour and a half (popped in a couple of times to check he didn't have a dirty nappy or need a drink) and he ended up doing really cross and wanting to get up.

This morning he was up at 5am again obvioulsy shattered and has gone down for his nap at 12 as usual but was very very tired.  What is going on? It must be too early for him to go without a nap?  Anyone else had this problem or anyone got any advice?

[yaya]

I'm really not that experienced but he may be needing a little less day sleep.
How much is he haivng at night?

[Ewan's Mummy]

between ten and a half and eleven hours at night.

[yaya]

hmm maybe try reducing nap to 1.45 or 1.30? Not sure but maybe he's waking early as he needs less sleep? My DS 'should' get 11 hr night and 2 hrs day so figure ur would need a bit less?

[Lucysmom]

Can you take a look and see if his 2 year molars are on the move?  His routine sounds good to me. 

[yaya]

oh yes! hadnt thought of that

[TDR'smom]

I also thought of teething.  Or anything developmental such as talking??

[Ewan's Mummy]

I did look to see if I could see any molar action, but there was nothing obvious there... I'll have another poke around (I may lose a finger!!).  He is talking a little but he's been at that stage for ages, using a few words.  He has become obsessed with stickle bricks... he want's to play with them ALL the time.. Could it be that?  When I  got him out of his cot this morning his first word was brick and he pointed to go downstairs where the stickle bricks are.. 

[TDR'smom]

I would bet it is developmental.   I know you said he is stuck at a certain stage of talking, but he could possibly have a language explosion very soon. 

[Ewan's Mummy]

Thanks.  I hope it is developmental we were up at 5 again this morning!  I'll have to wait and see...

[Beata]

We've been going through the same thing, and if you throw in a cold or teething, hings get more tired. I think it's the talking. The best thing you can do is keep everything consistent...even if it's tough. Try to get him back to sleep until the normal am wake time and then keep his nap at the same time, even if it's just quiet time in his crib. IMHO, be supportive, if he needs you to be there with him, do that. Don't ignore his needs. BUT, if he's not crying, just leave him be until you are ready o get him. Also...try a longer wind down time for naps...whatever you can think of to stimulate him as little as possible. "Quiet his mind" so to speak.

Just some ideas that worked for us. And they helped me keep my sanity instead of forceing dd back into her schedule. Good luck

[Ewan's Mummy]

Thanks for the advice.  He was up at five again this morning and would not go back to sleep.  He was shattered by 10am, kept him up until his normal nap time though and he's asleep now.  He does go down easier if I stay and cuddle him and sing to him for longer before bed, it's just I have a nearly six month old as well so it's hard to spend too much time in there.  Anyway, I'm just trying to keep things consistant and wait for it to pass....