16 months and sleep issues

[apayne]

My dd is 16 months old.  We are having some sleep issues.  I think she is transitioning to 1 nap but I am having a hard time knowing what to do.  Here is our schedule (although it is a little different from day to day).

6:30 (5:30 since the time changed) wakes up.  I try to leave her in bed for 1/2 hour unless she is really crying.  I then bf
7:30 breakfast
8 bath, play
sometime between 9-11 she is ready for a nap.  If I let her sleep it last about 1.5 hrs. 
11 or 12 lunch
play and snack
3:30 she is tired but won't sleep so we play until dinner
6 dinner
6:30 wind down, bf
7-7:30 bed

It seems like no matter what time I put her to bed at night she wakes up the same time the next morning. 
The last 2 days have awakened her from her nap after about 1 hrs and she still won't take the pm nap
She is really OT by about 6. 
HELP 

[RyansMum]

Hi when my son was about that age he would sleep from about 12.30 till about 2 give or take half an hour.

I would personally be guided by her so if she needs 1.5 or more nap and its the only nap I would go with it and just have really quiet time in the late afternoon.

[apayne]

So even if her nap is at 9am, do you think I should just let her sleep as long as she wants then just keep the afternoon low key? 

Then would I try to move her nap closer to 1pm over the next few months or so?

[RyansMum]

Oh!! sorry I missed the bit about her wanting a nap at 9!!  No I would try for 2 naps if she had one that early.  Say she sleeps for 2 hours in the morning till 11 then perhaps a little half hour cat nap later in the day around 3-3.30.

If she goes till 11 before her first nap then I would try for just that one nap if she fights a cat nap but I don't think it would hurt for her to have a little half hour cat nap in the afternoon to get her through till bedtime either.

I found as my son got older his nap got further along so started at 11.30 then he would go down at 12.30-1 and I would let him sleep till 2.30 at the latest just cos I knew he would not sleep at bedtime if he had a cap nap. He pretty much told me though through his actions that the second nap was not needed.

[apayne]

Both today and yesterday my dd has been waking at 5:30am.  Then by 9 she is ready for a nap and only sleeping between 45 min (today) and 1.5 hrs.  I haven't been able to get her to take a nap at 3:30pm when she is acting tired.  So by 4:30pm she is cranky. 

Before the time change she was sleeping until 6:30am and was able to stay awake until 10:30am or 11am.  Lately she wasn't interested in an afternoon nap. 

I'm not really sure how to:
1) move her wake up time from 5:30am.  It seems like not matter what time she goes to bed 5:30am is wake up time. 
2) get her to take an afternoon nap since her morning nap is so early. 

Thanks for your help.  I really appreciate it. 

[RyansMum]

Will she go down later at say 4.30?  What time is her bed?  She is likely to be overtired if she is napping at 9 and not any other naps and that is likely to be the reason for her early waking.

[apayne]

I try to get her in bed around 7.  I think I will try to get her to nap this afternoon even if it is late, like 4:30 especially since her nap was only 45 minutes this morning.  I know they say that if you put them to bed early they won't wake up earlier. 

If she doesn't take an afternoon nap (like at 3:30pm), Would it be better to put her to bed at 6pm instead of doing the 4:30 nap?  Or should I just try the 4:30 nap and put her to bed at 7?

Is my goal just to get her over this OT span and see if it adjusts her early morning waking and naps?

[RyansMum]

In my experience I always kept my sons bedtime the same (7.30pm).  I don't know about the bed early they won't wake up earlier, I don't think my son got that message! lol! Though it was rare for him to wake up as early as your lo.

I would try the nap first quite honestly rather than changing bedtimes but thats just me.

I think you are going through the transition from 2 to 1 naps. There is a sticky on here about the adjustment so you may want to read through that as well for any further information.

[apayne]

Thank You! 

I think we are transitioning too.  It is too bad that day light savings had to get in the middle and throw a little more of a challenge.  It is nice to have someone to chat with about this so I don't feel so alone.   

[RyansMum]

No probs!! I know how it feels when they can't sleep and you just don't know what to do.

Hope she sleeps for you today.