How to get out an UT/OT loop? Update-think we've cracked it! (for now anyway)

[ZacsMumme]

Yeah holiday routines can be interesting. Glad you had fun though.
Let me know how it all goes re routine x

[Scottishmummy]

Thanks.  I've kept a record of DS's sleep for a while, chatted with my mum, nursery & some friends & still don't have a clear idea of "best" routine but do know 3 things for definite

1) pushing DS to stay awake when he's ready to sleep does no good- it gives us short naps, EW and a generally tired boy
2) DS is inconsistent about when he's tired & it seems to vary depending on previous day's sleep, activities, stimulation levels & developmental stages
3) 2 naps are not good- major bedtime refusal & loss of 1-2 hrs night sleep for the sake of a 15-30min cn.

I think he also has some background tiredness still from the holiday and going to one nap so I'm experimenting with just following his cues for nap and bed (he still has quite clear tired cues - finding his comforter, lying down on floor) and see if that helps him catch up on sleep & hopefully then fall into more of a routine ...and accepting that he's early to bed, early to rise & 5.30 wake ups are here for a while but enjoying my evenings from the 6/6.30 BT.

[ZacsMumme]

That sounds good, like you know him really well anything over 10.5 hrs is considered a full nights sleep so yes if you pd at 6 religiously then it's not unheard of that they're up ready to start the day at 5 YK?

Hopefully things will settle soon, it's that you need to push through with 1 nap now x

[Scottishmummy]

That sounds good, like you know him really well anything over 10.5 hrs is considered a full nights sleep so yes if you pd at 6 religiously then it's not unheard of that they're up ready to start the day at 5 YK?

Hopefully things will settle soon, it's that you need to push through with 1 nap now x

That makes sense.  We're aiming to get a more consistent 5.30am-6.30pm day with 1nap for now (with set BT 6.30, no earlier unless he's slept really badly in the day or totally past himself & later if he can manage it) then will try to move it all 30mins later.

[Scottishmummy]

I will jinx it by posting this but I think we might have found a routine that is working for us...
My mum & DS's nursery weren't convinced he was completely ready for 1 nap so we agreed this compromise:

Wu: 5.30-6 (but getting to be 6 more often than 5.30 now)
9.30- WD & quiet time in cot.  If DS falls asleep, give him 20 mins maximum & must be awake & up by 10
Nap: 1pm if he slept at 9.30
        12 if he didn't (after an early lunch)
        DS usually sleeps 1.5-2hrs
BT 7pm (set, regardless of number of naps or nap length)

Following this routine DS has been doing alternate 1 & 2 nap days, is not getting too tired & the EWs are becoming less frequent.  I think EBT was throwing us off & contributing to EW but now the 2 nap days seem to be counteracting the tiredness from 1 nap the day before so we can stick with a 7pm BT everyday.

I'm hoping that he'll start moving to more 1 nap days himself as he's ready for them.

Thanks for your advice & support, hopefully we're sorted now...or at least until the next blip 

[ZacsMumme]

Well done!