Going with set nap/bedtimes for 18 mo old - what are my expectations?

[aimeeL]

Hee, hee - I'm glad you said that!  Because if you'd said to definitely go for the 2 naps, I'd be feeling bad right now!    I decided to just do one nap since again, I'm starting to wonder if she can self-regulate a bit - i.e., take a super long nap when she really needs it.  Plus, I'm a chicken about going back to something different than what we're used to!   

I'm not too put out, either, but the early morning - for the reasons you mentioned.. just kinda exasperating that she's doing early mornings after good naps and early mornings after bad naps, ykwim?  Where's that perfect window - and why is it so dang small?

Anyways - we'll see how today goes.. and I think if she does another shorter nap and then early morning, I might try 2 naps tomorrow.

[*Becky*]

just kinda exasperating that she's doing early mornings after good naps and early mornings after bad naps, ykwim?

Yes I know and believe me I really do. DS is a terrible at transitions and we have been and are going through all of this. I think you def did the right thing today....if OT sets in and you get short naps and short nights then 2 naps is the way to go but be wary of doing 2 naps just because she woke early. Last night I think the A time was too short after the 3 hour nap tbh and that was why you got an earlier am. If she has done a 3 hour nap then I would def stretch the bedtime.....keep us posted x

[aimeeL]

Yeah - I, too, thought that 4 hrs after her 3 hr nap was short, but I wanted to err on the side of too short rather than too long, ykwim?  Plus - was worried that a later bedtime would just get me the same wakeup time, so might as well get more sleep in..  Anyways - not to worry because we did NOT get a 3 hr nap today. =P  Today was:

6 a.m. - wakeup
12:10 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. - nap

I think I'm going to shoot for a 6:45 p.m. bedtime.  I know that's probably not early enough, but DH comes home tonight after a wk long business trip, and I just don't see getting her down any earlier. 

Unless she does a miraculous 12 hr night tonight, I think I'll do the 2 naps.

I think.

[~*Nicole*~]

Best of luck Aimee.

[katie80]

I think I'm going to shoot for a 6:45 p.m. bedtime.  I know that's probably not early enough,

A day like you had today has happened here several times and I usually shoot for 6:30 pm bed and sometimes end up with 6:45, so I don't think it's all that much off. 

And also wanted to add, don't be afraid to just try a 2 nap day to see if it helps.  Like several other posters, I didn't think my DD would ever go for it after being on one nap for a little while (and there have been a couple days she hasn't), but when she does have a short nap the previous day AND a short night, 2 naps have really been helpful to combat OT.  I really didn't want to 'go back' either, she's almost 20 months old, but it has helped. 

However, I don't think your day today was all that bad if you stick to that and work on the early bedtimes.  So, I guess what I'm saying is that after trying both, you may find one works better than the other for your LO and for you.  I've done both and each option has it's benefits. 

[*Becky*]

I would do 6.30/6.45pm too so same as you! Let us know how you get on and don't worry. Like Katie said, we have had lots of those days too!

[aimeeL]

Ok, ladies - need a specific game plan for today.  I am SOOO frustrated.  L's been up since 5 a.m. - after the 7 p.m. bedtime last night.  ARGHHHHH.  I wish I didn't let it stress me out as much, but it sure does.  Such odd EWs, these are.. I mean, she's absolutely silent about them.  If I were *smarter* , I would just sleep through it!  But it bothers me so much, I sit and stare at the monitor, willing her to go back to sleep.

Anyways - since she's so quiet - it makes me think it's not teeth...  She's got top canines cut through, and bottom ones about to.. I've been giving meds before bedtime, but that's it.  Was half tempted to go in and rock this am, but that so rarely has worked lately.

So it must be OT.  Kinda interesting that OT for her has changed the way it "looks".  It used to always mean struggles at bedtime and then early NWs...

SOOO - what do I do today?  I'll do 2 naps for sure.. one probably at around 10 a.m. and the other at around 1:30-1:45?

Our 2 nap routine used to be:
7 a.m. - wakeup
10:10-10:30 - nap
1:45-3:15 - nap
7:15 - bedtime

Should I do the same thing today?

[~*Nicole*~]

You MAY find that her pm nap should be a tad later OR her am nap a tad shorter as she is older and can probably handle a bit more A time between the two naps than she used to.

Maybe stick to 10:00-10:20 and then 2-3:30??? would that work to keep bedtime at a reasonable time? (or even 10:00-10:30) 10 is 5 hours away from 5am so should be okay)

[katie80]

You MAY find that her pm nap should be a tad later OR her am nap a tad shorter as she is older and can probably handle a bit more A time between the two naps than she used to.

I don't know.  With that first 5 hr A time, I would stick to the 10 - 10:20 and then go for the 1:30 like you said.  I've found that the time between those naps is still around 3 hrs for my LO after that early wake.  I feel like then the PM nap doesn't get too late and bedtime still works well. 

[aimeeL]

Well, I'll give it a shot here in a little bit and see what happens.  I don't *think* she'll resist the am nap... she never has before, even the couple times we've done it since going to 1 nap.. PLUS, she did wake at 5 a.m., the little twerp! 

And just in case - if her nap happens to go long - like say she goes down at 1:45 - should I be waking her up at a certain pt?  This is where I get confused about going back to 2 naps - I understand that it's to hold off the OT and sort of give the LOs some break.. but am I WANTING her to catch up on her sleep during the day??  or does that just encourage the EWs?  How long should I aim for that pm nap to be?  Granted, she will probably wake on her own and this question will be moot.

Sigh.  Thx for the help, ladies.  Will keep you posted. 

[katie80]

or does that just encourage the EWs?  How long should I aim for that pm nap to be? 

I don't think at this point it will encourage the EWs, it never has for us.  It seems they are from a bit of OT, right?  So, I would use bedtime to gauge the nap length.  If you want to do bed at 7, I'd probably wake her at 3 pm.  Or, if 7:30 pm suits you better, I'd let her sleep 1.5 hr til 3:15 pm.  You know her best, so you may just have to see how her disposition is for bedtime.  That may not be much help, sorry!

[~*Nicole*~]

I don't *think* she'll resist the am nap

I meant refuse the pm nap. Ava was notorious for that. Mega-frustrating.

[aimeeL]

No, that helps.. because that means I'm not just trying to let her sleep "forever".  And makes sense as well - as far as the EWs being from OT, and not necessarily out of habit.  Yet.    

So this am went as planned - 10-10:20 a.m. - will aim for 1:30 p.m. and let you know how it goes!

[aimeeL]

Oh - yes, Nicole.. that's a worry, too.  But we'll see..

[katie80]

Will keep fingers crossed for you.  I'd go for 1:30 - 3 pm and then shoot for 7 - 7:30 pm bed, judging on her disposition.