25 month old back to waking at night

[bellmaine]

Hello,

I am not new at this board but haven't posted in awhile.  My 25 month old was sleeping on and off through the night for sometime now.  She would sleep about a couple weeks at a time all night and then start waking and we would go to her and sit next to her crib in a rocking chair or sometimes pick her up and rock her until she asked for her crib and she would go to sleep.  In the beginning of November we went on vacation for a week and our 5 year old would sleep with us and her crib was at the end of the bed.  Whew;l she would fall asleep with us and then we would move her to her crib.  Some night she would make it through the night and others we would put her to bed with us.  When we got back it has been a nightmare she is waking up 1-3 times a night and  last night my husband took over and found the LO in bed with us in the morning.  Whew that was alot sorry.  My routine is pretty consistent.  wakes about 6:30-7:30am eat lunch around 12:00pm and nap around 1or 1:30.  She sleep from 2-3 hours. Dinner around 5:30 or 6:00pm bath  and around 8:30pm or 9 bedtime routine lotion after bath read books sing a little and put in crib.  Does anyone have any words of wisdom on what to do when she wakes up at night?  I would appreciate it.  Thanks to all.

[Samuel's mum]

My first reaction is that a 3 hour nap at her age is quite a lot. I would try and reduce that to a maximum of 2hrs every day and see if that helps.

But then conversely she's also got quite a short night. 8.30-6.30 is quite short (9pm to 6.30 would be even shorter). You'd want to be aiming for a 12 hour night.

I think the more common pattern at this age is a 2 hour nap around 12.30/1-2.30/3 and a 7/7.30 bedtime.

Hopefully someone else has something to offer.

[**Clare**]

Just wanted to say that Ive been there/am there!! Am in the middle of 'sleep training' at the mo, my lo is 28 months, he has been rocked to sleep for the last 6 months and has also been sleeping in our bed for the last 6 months!! Starts off in his bed after being rocke to sleep then climbs in with us at un earthly hours!!!  Last night was night 4 and  we almost cracked it!!! So looking forward to see what tonight brings!!

Harvey has around 12 hours sleep in 24 hours, think this probably could be extended but he's little un settled at the mo, is getting up quite early for the day consiering his betime, he used to be in our bed so would sleep in but not for the last 4 days! He's been up at half 6/7 and going to bed at 8.30.

I would say 3 hours is too much, 2 hours is good! If you feel able to wake after abit less I would and you may get an earlier bedtime as a result.  Its amazing how a little tweak can effect nightwakings.  Its worth a try to see if it makes any difference.  Ive been keeping a log for 5 days now and its really interesting to see how long he sleeps, when he wakes etc! One day he had a 10 minute nap an slept less at night than any of the other nights! So this may help, a simple chart with daytime sleep, what time bedtime was an when she woke.  You may see a pattern develop!

Good luck and keep posting!!

[bellmaine]

Thank you for your quick response.  Yesterday I tried to lay her for her nap at 12:30pm. She played in her crib for 2 hours and then I got her out.  Put her to bed at 8:30pm and she woke up 2 times.  When me or  my husband goes in there she just wants us to sit in the rocker next to her crib until she falls asleep but I think she is use to that now.  Sometimes she will ask for milk.  What to I do to stop that.  walk in and walk out?  How is your sleep going.