Still struggling with EW :(

[MayaandEvasmommy]

DD is 19 months and since last March has been waking at 5am or earlier (((.  We tried allsorts and never seem to get more than 10 hours at night ,unless Ot then drops to 9.  We have been sticking consistently to one set nap at 12pm for a few months now with bedtime pushed out til 7.30pm.  Naps tend to be no longer than 1.5hrs. Earlier bedtimes don't work as we just get 4-4.30 wake ups, so I started to think she is just LSN.

On holiday at Christmas we managed to get longer naps which enabled us to go with a later Bt but still only got 10 hours at night. Then about 3 weeks ago over night she started sleeping until 6am . We stuck with the same time re: naps and Bt and although we got 2 Ew towards the end of week she managed to reset herself and catch up, so for the majority I was 6am which I am so happy with.  Then it changed over night back again to 5am, she was still doing 1.5 nap although the last 2 days she has done 2hrs! So now I am at a loss what to do, not sure if she is just in an OT cycle and to let her nap longer, cap nap, bring BT forward or Please help I was enjoying my extra hour xxx

[cath~]

Her sleep sounds similar to my DDs.

Maybe she was a bit ill or having a GS or was more active for a few weeks giving you those longer nights?  However, since the shorter nights seem to be the "norm" for her, my suggestion would be to try capping her nap for a few days and see if her nights lengthen.  Perhaps try capping at 1hr15 (or even 1hr) and see what happens.  You may have to stick with it for a few days to see a change.

If they don't change, then maybe try something else like W2S (although I've never been brave enough!) or a gro clock/lights on a timer.  Actually you could try the gro clock/lights on a timer in combination with capping her nap slightly, to see if it helps.

I've always found that a small reduction in my DDs' day sleep (by capping their nap) resulted in their nights lengthening by more that the amount I'd taken off their nap, so they got more sleep overall.

ETA LOTS of physical exercise also helps a lot.  Best nights ever (longest, and STTN) for DD2 have been after she's been outside doing a lot of walking the day before.

[MayaandEvasmommy]

Thanks.  Still not going great.  I wont totally rule out capping nap, however she never seemed to tag on to her night sleep.  On holiday she was sleeping 3-3.5 hours in day but still managed 10 hours at night and apart from these last few days she mostly naps for 1.5 but mostly 1hr 20.  I have bought bedtime earlier to 7pm and she is still sleeping til 5am so she is getting an extra 30 mins.  Last night was a disaster couldn't get her to bed until 7.45 and she was up at 4.30  .

She does get lots o physical activity, she doesn't sit still lol, we also do a music and activity class on a Thursday morning where she literally dances for an hour, ironically the morning after is always an early morning.  Yesterday she was lying around all morning and think she would have dropped a morning nap in too if I had let her.  I think she will always be an early to bed early to riser .  FX the clock change at the end of month might shift something.  Boy I would love just to make 6am x

[cath~]

((hugs))

Last night was a disaster couldn't get her to bed until 7.45 and she was up at 4.30  .

sounds like could be OT then...  Or DYT teeth could be affecting things?

Some LOs just do prefer shorter nights and longer naps..  If WU is too early then yeah the clock change should help things, but you'd have later BT too, of course - would that be OK for you?  If so, then you might just have to go for a routine "shift" like that.  I.e. accept 10hr nights and do something like 8pm-6am (so what you're getting now, before the clock change).  Then you can always do EBT quite easily on days when she's tired.

There's a big development leap too around 18-19 months which can make sleep go a bit wonky and they can seem to want/need less for a while.  Just too much on their minds to stay asleep!

WDYT about trying a gro clock/lights on a timer?  It worked really well for my DD1 when we started at 19 mos.
Gro-Clock / Lights on a timer: What, Why, When and How

[MayaandEvasmommy]

Totally gone wonky over here  .  We are now getting 1hr 20 mins nap and barely 9 hours at night.  I have temporarily bought BT earlier by 30 mins to see if it helps but she is waking between 3 and 4 and wont go back off .  I think we may have hit the 18 month regression.  How do you deal with night wakings? she lies back down but wants me to have contact, hand holding, hand on back etc not sure how to tackle without causing more disruption in the long run x

[MayaandEvasmommy]

Help!!!! 1 hour naps and 8 hours sleep  , 4am wake ups.  How do I fix this? #feelingdesperate

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

(((Hugs)))...just at work but I will pop on tonight with ideas xx

[Haribo2012]

Hugs it does sound a bit developmental and OT. We had a phase of this and really ended up just riding it out.
What time are you offering the nap?

[~Jen~]

Lots of hugs...  this sounds VERY similar to my DD.  We are going through the same thing at the moment - in fact I could have written the same exact post as you.  She is always up by 5/5:30am and we've had our fair share of 4:30am as well.  We've set naps at 12 and BT at 7 for a couple of weeks but it hasn't helped very much so far. I've thought about capping nap but now I'm not so sure. She gave us better nights over Christmas as well and then it was back to the same when we came home. I'm exhausted actually our entire house is exhausted because she wakes everyone up. Do you go to her right away? I leave to leave her most mornings until 6am.  Hang in there - I keep telling myself it can't go on forever!!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Hugs it does sound a bit developmental and OT. We had a phase of this and really ended up just riding it out.
What time are you offering the nap?

I agree...prime time for the 18 month sleep regression and also around half birthdays there can be development leaps. Personally during these times I did go back to a bit of apop while we rode it out and it never became an entrenched habit, just some gradual withdrawal mixed with wi/wo to get back on track afterwards.

[MayaandEvasmommy]

Thanks everyone, nice to know im not alone .  Yesterday we had a lovely 2 hour nap and I decided on a much earlier Bt as I do believe she is chronically OT.  BT was at 6.30 and she slept til 4.30, and I cant believe I was actually happy it was 4.30 as at least it was 10 hours! What has happened to me lol.  Anyway I still am I firm believer that she can only do 10 hours, so its knowing how to get to an 8pm BT without OT setting in.  Our clocks go forward on Saturday night, and as it is half term I think I am going to bite the bullet and roll with a much later BT even though I know we will get in a mess but hubby is off so at least I wont be on my own tackling it, then hopefully I can reset her body clock after a while? Who knows? 

Thoughts always welcome xx

[Haribo2012]

You could always pop a little cat nap in of 20 mins around 4pm if your doing 8pm BT x

[MayaandEvasmommy]

Well another disaster .. Nap of 1 hour 15 mins, BT 7pm and wake at 4.30! She did stir at 2.30am but went straight back off but at 4.30 she is up and awake for the day.  Surely even if she was LSN, this is still low?

[~Jen~]

Something that helped us the other day was when DD did a 10mins little cat nap in the buggy around 10:45am. She was a bit groggy when I woke her but not terrible.  Then I put her down just 15mins after her ususal 12 naptime and she went back down without a problem. IT seemed to take the edge off she slept well for a good 2hrs.  Then I still put her down for usual BT just slightly later at 7:10.  She slept till almost 6! That is the latest we've had in months.  Maybe could help to catch her up a bit? 

[MayaandEvasmommy]

 She woke yesterday as normal at 4.10!!!!!

Now I am to going to rant a little! Since forever hubby and I have disagreed on lo sleep needs.  He thinks if she has no nap, goes to bed late she will sleep in. I don't disagree things need to change but the idea of keeping her up late , I need a bit of downtime before I go to bed. Well yesterday she woke at 4.10 had a 2.5 hour nap ( mil was in charge yesterday, me and my eldest had a girly day).  Anyway dad was then in charge on the evening and put her down at 9pm.  We always take it in turns on a weekend to have a lie in, he offered to do this morning and she slept until 6.30!!!!! I know it could be a fluke but I HATE HIM BEING RIGHT!!!!! Still only 9.5 hours though.