15 months and nap is getting shorter and shorter

[jingmommy]

I read through recent thread and couldn't find similar case.  So I decide to post a new topic here hoping to get some ideas.
DD will turn 16 months this weekend.  She's been on one nap (2hrs~2.5hrs) for almost 3 months and suddenly her nap started getting shorter last week from 2hrs to 1.5hrs and now is less than an hour.  Her normal day is like this.
WU 7:30AM~8am
Nap 1pm~3:30pm
BT 8:30pm
Since she started short napped last week, I have adjusted the BT to 7pm  to save her from OT.  Initially EBT worked fine, but this week she can't pass the 1st hour mark.  It must be OT then.  The night sleep is still intact and she still wakes around 7:30am~8am.  However, her nap keeps getting shorter and shorter and I can foresee that  NW and EW are waiting us ahead if I can't solve the short nap problem.  I'm not sure if this is a super early sleep regression which is normally around 18 months, right?  Or is this simply teething?  We only have 2 top molars and 2 top canines to go.  Any ideas is appreciated.

[Lolly]

I wonder if she needs more A time before her nap? If she is currently getting 5/5.5 hors A  time maybe she needs 5.5 hours consistently or even 6 hours before her nap.

I would try pushing the first A time out, see how long she naps for - if it's at least 1.5 hours make bedtime the normal time for you, if it's a short nap do the early bedtime.

What do you think?

Laura

[jingmommy]

Tks Laura.  That sounds reasonable.  I'll give it a try tomorrow.  If the first A is extended to 6hrs and she could nap 2-2.5hrs, should I still keep the 2nd A time for 5hrs?  Then the BT will be late too and either the night will be short or the WU time will be late.  I can't find the EASY with 6hr A time in the FAQ.  Can anyone share your example with me?  Tks!!

[Lolly]

There really isn't an EASY for toddlers as such I'm afraid! There are common amounts of time for activity and sleep, most toddlers on 1 nap are doing a 13 hour day/ 11 hour night. Some need more A time, some less so you need to tweak to what fits your DD.

At this age my DD was waking about 6.30 having a nap around 12 for 1.5 hours and then asleep by 7.30.

If the bedtime is getting too late then you will need to wake her at the same time consistently in the morning and/or keep the nap capped to 1.5 hours depending on her sleep needs.

Have a look at this link to see the amounts of sleep the average toddler needs - but remember some will need more and some need less
Typical Amounts of Day and Night Sleep

Laura

[jingmommy]

Sigh...I tried to extend DD's A time during the weekends but only achieve 2hr nap for one day
Saturday A time = 5h45mins, got 1h20mins nap
Sunday A time=6hrs, got 2hrs nap (I had to wake her up!!)
Monday (today) A time=6hrs, got 40mins nap

I'm lost....