When is bedtime when you have an EW?

[~Jen~]

Hi,
Just wanted to see what the thought was around bedtimes and EWs.  My LO was up at 6:20am this morning. I know not technically an "EW" but our usual wake up time is 7am so it is earlier than usual.  I was able to get a good nap day out of him (1.5hrs and 2hrs) and his last nap ended at 3:45pm.  He takes the avg 20mins to fall asleep at bedtime.  What time should I be putting him down for bed? He usually does an avg A time of 3hrs during the day.  I usually put him in his cot at 7pm but realize tonight that was way too late as he is now OT and refusing to fall asleep.  Should i have tried for 12hr day? That would have meant putting him in his cot at 6pm?  I don't think he would have fell asleep that early with such a good afternoon nap and an A time of only 2hrs.  Does the 12hr day overrule the end of the day A times?

  Thank you!

[huntersmummyinoz]

if it's a one off ew, then yes do an early bedtime. 30 - 60 mins earlier depending on your bub. (i used to just do 30 mins earlier as otherwise we got ew again, other bubs just wake up at normal time)

if his last nap ended at 3.45 and he normally handles 3hrs A time, then a 630/6.45 bedtime would probably work. (so look at the last A time needed rather than the 12 hr day in this case)

i also used to sometimes drag out bath routine slightly longer than usual (so longer bath, longer baby massage, take my time putting his pjs on, etc etc) to sneak in an extra 15mins without him getting too OT. if i let him play the extra 15 mins he would fall apart but doing it this way he didnt mind.

HTH

[~Jen~]

Thanks so much for this.  We are having a similar day today as yesterday so I will try the 6:30/6:45 bedtime tonight and see how we get on.  Will let you know. Good to know that you follow the A times rather than chasing the 12hr day.  Thank you! 

[Mama2boys]

if his last nap ended at 3.45 and he normally handles 3hrs A time, then a 630/6.45 bedtime would probably work. (so look at the last A time needed rather than the 12 hr day in this case)

with DS as well its not about what time he woke up in the am but abt A time...so have to give him his clear A time...

[huntersmummyinoz]

good luck jen. if you start finding it is happening regularly tho he may need a routine tweak to fix the ew instead. let us know how it goes.

[~Jen~]

Thank you Mukta and huntersmummyinoz!  I changed my approach last night and followed A times to figure out the right bedtime following last nap of the day.  I woke him at 4pm and he was in his cot at 6:50pm for bedtime.  He was easily asleep by 7:10pm.  Slept nearly 12hrs straight  - I woke him at our usual wake up time 7am this morning. 

I realize he was probably going to sleep a bit OT the past few nights and that might have been why he was waking earlier than usual.  It is amazing the difference it makes if you get the A time right.  Hopefully we'll have another good day today.   Thank you so much for your help      

[huntersmummyinoz]

no worries hun, hope the good sleep keeps up for you