So what did we do right last week?

[clazzat]

Last week, for the first time in his life, x napped 1h45-2h every day and slept 11.5-12h overnight. He managed 6 days of this. Before that, naps were at best 1h30 and generally between 1h and 1h15. Nights were 10.5-11h with multiple nws. We have had a couple of reasonable spells before and every time it has been the case that there has just been a little deterioration - so the night gets slightly shorter, or the nap - and then it just gets worse and worse until we are right back where we started. This week, the naps have stayed good (touch wood!) but the nights are deteriorating again - so it started with him needing us to tuck him in again at 10/11 o'clock (which is fine, we just do that on the way to bed), then a couple of nights later it was 11 and 2, then it was 11 and 2 and waking up at 5.55 (his light is set to come on at 6) and so on. This morning he woke at 5.45 after 3 nws.

The routine that worked, and we are trying to keep, was:
Wu 6.10/6.15
Nap 12.15-2/2.15
Bed 6.30

I truly do not believe that his a times or sleep needs have changed in the last 3-4 days, so I don't understand what has changed. The only thing that I can think of is that we have put him down for has nap at 12.30ish rather than 12.15 - could that possibly make that much difference? He has been waking from it about 2.15.

[*Becky*]

Bumping you up Clare....not sure tbh. We often find the same here.
IMO keeping the BT nearer to 6.30pm makes sense  - as long as he has not done a very short nap i.e. less than an hour it is beneficial to push BT out a little so hopefully to get a later wake up which will help with your day.
Will see what others think x

[Erin M]

I find we have to do naptime at a fairly consistent time to get a decent nap, if that helps.  We generally do a 12:45 nap, but he'll be ready earlier if the night is broken (and our nights are unsettled if we get to bed too late) so there is some tweaking involved.  Not sure if that really helps you though.  We generally have a shorter first A time and a longer second, but that's always what he's preferred.

[Nauvoo]

perhaps the 6 days of great sleep was a growth spurt?  or teething?
DD has a spurt of days like this (exactly like this) and then sleep deteriorates again.  I can never predict when it'll happen either, I thought it was teething but who knows?
Is he usually a 10.5-11 hr night sleeper?  DD seems so be an 11 hr a night sleeper and therefore we find ourselves going back and forth a lot.  What would happen if you put him to bed later?  extended the last A time?

[*Kara*]

Could be that the nap needs to be pulled back to where it was... in general, a nap less than 2 hrs can be OT when on one nap

Or, it could have been a blip that you got great nights and naps.  We tend to have a good spell, then it all goes to pot for a few weeks, then back to good etc...

[clazzat]

Thanks, guys. I suspect that it was a growth spurt - he has gone from being on the 15th centile before Christmas to the 50th now! The naps have stayed pretty good (kara - I don't think that sub-2h is ot, as he has never done 2h naps. I always thought that with the girls who were great nappers, but I rejoice at 1h45 with x!), and the nights are not awful so I am trying to let well alone. I'm certainly feeling much more chipper than I have done in a long time, so I guess I am getting more sleep, lol!

[*Kara*]

Ah yes, should have mentioned that less than 2 hrs can just be par for the course for some who are just short nappers

Either way, glad he seems back on track!  And wow, that's a good spurt!

[clazzat]

Having just taken 1h45 to get him to sleep, I suspect that we are in for a bit of a rough time - ew tomorrow no doubt and probably cr@ppy nap too. If you can spare some vibes that it doesn't hit the fan too badly I would be grateful!

[Erin M]

~~~~vibes~~~~~~~ for some good sleep!

[*Becky*]

vibes xx