Quick Question: Early rising-when is first nap and how long?

[newmum27]

Hi, I just have a quick question:

My son (5.5 mo) woke up at 5:45 am this morning and didn't go back to sleep. His first nap is usually starts 8:30/9am but because he was up so early he was tired early. He started his nap at 8am....Do I let him sleep through to 11 am and make up for this morning or wake him up after 2 hours?

Ruth.

[claires mum]

Hi Ruth

The general principle is that you need to make up the lost sleep time during the remaining hours of the day.  If you can't, then early to bed (those lost hours need to be made up at night).  Does that make sense...you don't want him to get OT by bedtime. 

He'll get back on track.

[newmum27]

Hi, thanks claire's mum. So because he normally gets up at 7am I need to make up the 1.25hrs during the day time as well as what he normally gets during the day as naps, is that right?

Ruth.

[claires mum]

Yes that's basically it.  If you can't catch up the hours during the day ...then earlier bedtime.  I read my LOs cues on days like this...I can't always get the full quota in the day but end up missing maybe 30 minutes rather than the full 1.25 hours.

Good luck..let me know how it goes and whether things get back to normal tomorrow.