Post Vacation Sleep Issues!

[newmama12]

We just got back from vacation and my almost 23 month old is waking at 5:15-5:30am! Prior to vacay, he woke 6/6:30. He is also waking crying, which he has NEVER done. He's always woken, happy, and played in his bed till I got him. However, he does have a nasty cold, so that could be a factor in the crying and possibly in the EW. I just don't know how to get back on track with his 'regular' schedule when he's waking so dang early!

Pre-vacation schedule:
6:15 wake
12:30-2 nap
7:00-7:15 bt

Post vacation (past 2 days) schedule:
5:20 wake
12-1 nap (he napped horribly due to his cold)
6:45 BT

For what it's worth....my 5 year old dd is also waking an hour early.   I don't know if they're both still on eastern time or just OT or what, but it's only and hour difference from us, so I don't really understand why they're having issues.

Even when he's been sick in the past, he's usually kept the same WU time. So, I don't get it. What can I do to work on fixing this?! TIA!

[<Catherine>]

I'd say they are OT, probably from the holiday and also with your DS having a cold. I suspect the change in routine etc will have had an impact too.

Can you bring BT forward at all? Or will he nap any longer for a few days to catch up?

[newmama12]

Catherine, I can definitely bring BT forward, especially, if the nap is horrible. Yesterday, it was barely and hour and that was on/off waking up due to his stuffy nose. Tonight, I will still bring it up unless he, miraculously, does a 3 hour nap or something. Should I bring it to 6:15ish? We put dd in bed at about 7:15 last night for the same reasons, but she was still up at 5:30 this morning. Argh!

I do think OT (from vacay and cold) definitely has a lot to do with it. He didn't cry when he woke up on vacation. Just the past few mornings at home. He also wasn't sick on vacay. I think he's feeling pretty nasty (despite sleeping all night). Heck, we're all OT!!

[<Catherine>]

Heck, we're all OT!!

Tell me about it....same in my house, although we get awful night terrors here OT is the most horrid of all evils. And I've just booked our first family holiday for a couple of weeks time, I was already dreading what it'll do to us sleepwise.... 

Should I bring it to 6:15ish?

Definitely, if not even earlier. Not only is he starting his day MUCH earlier than usual, but he is missing out on sleep at nap time. Perhaps watch for cues but aim for 6pm latest - what do you think?