Hi toddler mums
I've had a quick flick through the previous posts, but can't find one about a 13 month old who doesn't nap during the afternoon, and so gets really, really cranky by the end of the day. (not to mention her mum does too)
I thought I'd hit the home straight when dd reached one. She used to be on a great routine (thanks to BW - I couldn't recommend it enough), but started going to play school for the mornings at 1 year old, and the old routine has gone and we haven't found a new one. Also, she comes back from play school so hyper. Added to that there are the usual question marks over "perhaps she's teething", "perhaps she's too cold/hot", "perhaps she's just getting frustrated", "separation anxiety about being left at school" etc. So, there are so many things that we have tried - calpol, giving milk in a dark room, pu/pd...so I've kind of lost the plot a bit. Our routine is something like this....
7.00 wake and milk
8.00 breakfast
9.00 arrive at play school
10-11.00 nap at play school
12.30 lunch at playschool
1.00 pick up from playschool
2.00 Give her milk then try to put her down - CRIES/howls, doesn't sleep. Get her up again and she gets steadily grumpier, bangs into things and becomes clingy and cross.
4.00 put down, cries a lot, but sleeps
5.30 have to wake her for food. She is VERY cross at being woken up, and doesn't eat well.
6.30 bath (calms down)
7.00 bed
She loves school, and has settled in very well. They say she is really happy there, and doesn't cry or get grumpy at all. She also sleeps really well through the night and will not wake until 7.00 am. So, how can I get her to sleep during the afternoon. Does she need it? Am I making things worse by trying to put her down? I need an EASY schedule for toddlers! I hope someone can help. She is usually a really happy baby and I hate seeing her so miserable.
Any advice?
Julia