Dropped the nap - what next?

[Spleenie]

Hi Ladies,

Katelyn is now just over 2.5 years old and has totally dropped the nap, today will be day 5.

She's doing really well, seems a lot happier and dropped the nap overnight and on her own. She tends to do this with everything really, one day she's in a nappy the next day she has potty trained herself!

She is waking earlier than she normally would do so I am just wondering if I am on the right track or if I need to tweak things slightly. I would like a later wake up (7 / 7.30am ish) meaning she can have a later bedtime (would be a struggle to get her to bed at 6pm due to working Monday - Friday)

So, lastnight she was in bed and asleep by 6.45 and she woke up at around 6ish this morning, am I right in thinking that she would need more sleep than this? I thought she would have slept longer once she dropped her nap.

What time should I aim for bedtime this evening?

So many questions really regarding this transition so any info or advice is welcomed! 

Thank you for reading! x x x

[Lolly]

My DD dropped her nap early too and didn't get any more sleep in 24 hours than she did with a nap but it was better quality. How much was she getting nap and night combined when she was still napping?

She had just over 11 hours night sleep then? That's not too bad, maybe try getting her in bed and asleep by 6.30 and see if that makes a difference. We have always done a set bedtime of 7 so my DD is normally asleep by 7.30 and she wakes 6.30am ish and has done since she dropped the nap.

Laura

[Spleenie]

Thank you for your reply!

She was having possibly 12 hours sleep prior to dropping the nap.

She ended up having a 25 minute cat nap this afternoon, i woke her at 2.25 and she went to sleep tonight at 7.05.
I guess i presumed she would wake later once she dropped the nap! xxx

[Lolly]

She may settle into a later wake up - it's early days on one nap yet! My DD didn't get the memo about later wake-ups I'm afraid!!

Laura

[Spleenie]

Well, madam woke at 5.30 this morning, she managed to fall asleep again at 6 and then woke at 8.30.

Wondering what to do about bedtime now xxx

[Lolly]

Tricky one - I would probably aim to have her asleep for 7 I think!

Laura

[Spleenie]

Do you think the 5.30 wake up was due to OT? xxx

[Spleenie]

A much better night!

Katelyn fell asleep at roughly 7.10pm and began stirring at 7am! I however didn't get any sleep as i was waiting for an unsettled night - typical 

So, today's question is what time is bedtime tonight?  xxx

[Lolly]

I would stick with the 7 unless she seems really tired by 6/6.30. If you can stick to it you should get the later wake ups.

Laura

[Spleenie]

Thanks for replying Laura 

I can manage a 7pm bedtime, its sometimes so hard when i'm at work but 7pm is manageable 

She woke up in such a lovely mood this morning, saying that I would too if i had 12 hours sleep! x x x

[cuckoochick]

Karine, we've tended to keep C's BT fairly stable since moving to 1 nap at around 7pm. If she's woken earlier for the day she goes straight to sleep. If she had a later WU it might be nearer to half 7 by the time she drops off. If you find K starts to tack on say 13hrs which is pretty much what C does consistently then you could just shoot for BT 11hrs after WU but if she's not and she's happy then I'd try to do a consistent BT and then an EBT if OT does creep in! C handles OT really well though so that makes things a bit easier here.

As I said to you on Fb, enjoy the early BTs!

[Spleenie]

Thank you for your support with this one, i can feel the PND raising it's ugly little head at the mo, probably the "out of control" feeling.

I will try for the 7pm bedtime and see how she gets on, if she wakes earlier than 7am I will then aim for an earlier bedtime - sounds like a plan!

Thanks again ladies x x x

[Spleenie]

Good morning,

Couldn't get Katelyn to bed on time, she fell asleep at 7.15pm and woke around 6.10am. She was very tearful at bedtime so was passed it and OT.

I am guessing an early bedtime tonight, how early do you think?

I have this fear that if i put her to bed really early then she will wake mega early! xxx

[Lolly]

I would see how she is today really. She had an ok night - 11 hours so hopefully she will be ok. I personally have never done a bedtime earlier than 6.30 because my kids don't really sleep longer than 12 hours max.

Laura

[cuckoochick]

I agree with Laura. I think you are going to drive yourself crazy tweaking bedtimes everyday so if K is fine then I'd put her to bed as close to 7pm as possible. I'm thinking of you here as well as K, sweetie! . I'd try and stick to a consistent time for a few days and then if she is clearly OT do an EBT for a catch-up.

However, you know her best and if she's really struggling then I'd put her to bed early but as Laura said, I wouldn't do earlier than 6:30.

Hugs hun