Nightwaker/Early Riser - Please Help my Friend

[NikiJ]

Hi

I'm posting for my friend who is a lurker on these boards since her lo was born.  Her ds is 2 in January.  He is a angel/spirited baby who has never been the best of sleepers.  Recently (past couple of mths) he has been either getting up at 3am for 2hrs & going back to sleep at 5am for a couple of hours or he has been getting up at 5am ready for the day. 

My friend has recently gone back to work & her ds is going to a child minders.  He no longer has a day time nap since she went back to work & he will not have one on her days off either.  Her son goes to bed between 7 & half past but at that stage he is very over tired.  It is a long day for a 22mth old.

Is there any advice you ladies can give my friend to help her son sleep through a bit longer & to skip his 3am wake up?  I have no experience with this so I haven't been able to help her.

Thank you

Niki

[Layla]

Niki, he does seem too young to be giving up on naps so it might just be a phase. In the meantime I would suggest a really early bedtime... as early as 6pm to give him chance to catch up on sleep. On the days my dd doesn't nap (the 2.5yo) she's in bed by 6 & she wakes at 6.

So for now I think an earlier bedtime shoudl help your friend & his ds.

[Shdef]

What does his routine look like? Can he go to sleep independently? Is he teething molars by any chance?

Hugs to your friend, how very frustrating 

I would suggest a VERY early bedtime to start off with just to fight the OT. And the next day a nap in the buggy or car or whatever, otherwise there isn't much a chance to teach an overtired toddler how to go to sleep on his own...

[Sungrl]

I totally agree that if he is skipping a nap she should try a SUPER early bedtime.