2-1 transition then reverting back to 2 and early wakings! :(

[bensmuma]

So I know the 2-1 one hard. We've been working on it for a month or two now, some 2 nap days some 2. The 2 nap dats have been one long am nap and a short (30min) cat nap in the pm. She was waking between 7-8 so getting to noon before nap was no problem. Some days she'd sleep 2hrs some days less, then she'd be in bed between 630 and 7. Recently the early wakings began (6-63-). And with that of course came an earlier nap and subsequent catnap if at all (so her A time on some days has been 6+hrs.

My question is how do we break this cycle? She is 16mos (14.5 corrected). Here's our typical day (depending on 1 or 2 naps)

0615 Wake
1015 Nap
1215 Wake Lunch
1600 catnap
1630 Wake
1915 Bed

Thanks!

[sianie]

Hi there....

I guess if I were you I would be thinking about sticking to the 1 nap & riding out the OT. You do get to a point with the 2:1 transition where you have to make the break from the cycle you are in. Your LO is old enough to be able to handle the longer A-times without too much difficulty (although some OT is inevitable until they adjust). I'd almost be tempted to push on through & maybe do a nap at around 11am-ish, let her sleep as long as she wants (if she short naps then do an early BT). It can take around a week for LO's to adjust to 1 nap & also for the nap lengths to start to lengthen & then you can push the nap later until it gets to around lunchtime.

What do you think?

[bensmuma]

Sounds like a plan! What time would you do bedtime when she naps less than 2hrs and around 2hrs if down by 11? She's pretty easy going and is tolerable through ot. I think this is where we went wrong with ds1. He was 2 naps it seemed like forever!

Thank you!

[sianie]

Most LO's your DD's age can handle around 5hrs A-time so if she manages a 2hr or more nap then I would aim for around 5hrs A-time to BT, if she does less then I would aim for around 4/4.5hrs A-time depending on the length of the nap.

[bensmuma]

Ok so right now she's been asleep for 2 hours, down at 11! So bed by 6? Feels counterproductive to the early wakings but I know you'll say otherwise  . I can't imagine doing bedtime at 5ish!!

[sianie]

Depends what time she wakes up, I would let her sleep as long as she needs.

Of course play things by ear...the 5hr A-time is just a guideline & also you want to be careful of her getting OT whilst she gets used to the 1 nap. Even with early BT's if she doesn't wake any later in the AM, at least she's had a longer nights sleep.