12 month old - Early Morning Wake-ups

[Alexhas1]

Hi, my LO has just gone 12 months. We live in Abu Dhabi and went home o the UK for a month at Christmas - he cut his two top molars while we were home and was in a cot in our room rather than his own, so his sleep was all to pot. But from the first night we got back to Abu Dhabi he slept solid for 13/14 hours (6.30pm-8am), but is gradually getting shorter and shorter, so this morning he woke at 4.55am (went to bed at 6.30pm) - back to EMW like he used to before we went to the UK.

He generally stays awake 4 hours before his first nap, 5 hours max and naps for about an hour on a morning and an hour on an afternoon, then we do bath at 6pm and he's in bed by 6.30pm. The odd time he just has one nap.

What can I try to get him to sleep longer on a morning? He cries as soon as he wakes and I can't leave him long as he would wake my 2.5 year old.

Anyone had a similar situation and can share any success stories/ideas?

Thanks!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Prior to your trip had he been ew for long? Tbh with two 1 hr naps and bedtime at 6:30 a wake up of 5 am still puts him at 12.5 hrs total sleep, which if he is low/average could be possibly all he needs. Personally I would try to push that morning A out and do one nap combined with the 6:30 bedtime (or earlier depending on nap length) and then go from there shifting the day ahead to push the morning wake up.

[Martini~]

Could you also post your routine?
Normally with 5h A time you could easily go for one nap and 12h day.

Do you remember his previous routine which worked? So prior EMW?

[Alexhas1]

He's been an EM walker for as long as I can remember :/

So if he wakes like he has this morning at 4.50, what time should I try to do his one nap of the day?

Thanks in advance!!

[Alexhas1]

Routine is a bit like this:

5ish - wake
5.30 - milk
6.30 - breakfast
Between 9-10 - 1 hour nap
11.30 - lunch
1.30-2.30 - nap
4.30 - dinner
6pm - bath
6.30 - bottle and bed

Xx

[Martini~]

I would go for pushing the nap 20-30min every couple of days. The nap can be the same length first days when you push, than maybe it will lenghten and that get short once again when she gets used to it. And that's the moment I would push again. You may also risk and just try to push as much as your LO can once but cold turkey changes are not good way to proceed with touchy kiddos.

WDYT?

[Alexhas1]

Yeah will give it a try. I planned on doing that today but my eldest started nursery and youngest fell asleep in the car in the way to drop her off. That was at 8.15. Then he had his second nap when we picked her back up again at 12. So this is another issue - keeping him awake in the car! Nothing is ever easy!