16mth old chronically overtired.

[malibu_nikkus]

My little lady loves routine.  We recently went away and were out and about so she went from having one 2.5hr day nap to having two shorter 45min naps. she tended to make up for it by sleeping in an hour longer in the morning.  She went to sleep peacefully at night. Since getting home she's is tired and miserable, wakes at 5.30am and after her 1.5hr day nap beside herself. I try and resettle with no such luck. How did I get my little one well rested again? When we returned, I went back to the same routine she used to love, but now she doesn't. I've noticed verbally she is having a major developmental step, not sure if this would be affecting things.
Her routine before going away:

6amish - wake
1pm - nap.  Wake by 3.30 if not already awake.
7pm bed (7.30 if she napped till 3.30).

Since getting back
5.30 - wakes sooo upset
By about 11am cuddly and tired
12.30/1pm - naps for 1.5hrs maximum, wakes distraught.
6.30ish bed. Goes to sleep at night without a problem.  She tends to chill out in her cot for about 30mins before drifting off to sleep.

[jessmum46]

Have you tried an early nap when she is showing those tired signs?  Sometimes an early uncapped nap just resets things, at least that's what I found.  It is a rough age though and we had awful sleep at 16 months with both of ours when the language explosion hit.  Good news is if you hang in there it gets better!  The other thing I'd consider besides a developmental sleep regression/18m regression/whatever you want to call it is teeth - prime age for canines/first year molars if she doesn't have them already.  Have you tried any pain relievers to see if they make a difference?

[malibu_nikkus]

Last night she was struggling to get to sleep.  I gave her Paracetamol and she went to sleep very quickly.  By the time she went to sleep it was about 8.30pm.  She then woke at 6.15am happy. Is she needing less sleep?
Or just coincidence?
Her day yesterday:
5.30am - wake
12.30 - bed, played around jumping and playing (which is very unusual for her. She usually goes straight to sleep).  I got her up, had a drink and put her back to bed closer to one.  She went to sleep quickly.

8.30- adjusted bed time (was in bed before 7.30pm but was crying and unsettled.  Usually a sign of pain for her.  She usually drifts off to sleep peacefully). Went to sleep peacefully with paracetamol on her system. Woke once in night and grizzled but self settled fine.

6am- woke happily.  Yay!

[jessmum46]

That's a short night.....how long did she nap for?  It's possible it was an OT crash night rather than needing less sleep, we've definitely had some super-happy wake ups after those

[malibu_nikkus]

She's gone back to napping from 1-3.30pm and needing to be woken today.

[jessmum46]

Fingers crossed for a better night x

[malibu_nikkus]

I put her to bed about 7.30.she was unsettled and didn't go to sleep until about 9.  She then woke about 6am distraught. I don't know what to do.

[jessmum46]

Would she not resettle?

[malibu_nikkus]

Nope.

[jessmum46]

Oh dear, (((hugs))).  Ok as I see it you have a few options.  At this age it's possible to get a two nap day in for lots of LOs, so why not try a short CN of 15-20 mins say 3-3.5h after WU and then put down for a 'main' nap 2-2.5h later.  May just help get her more rested?  Or try the earlier nap and leave it uncapped.  Or pull in some earlier bedtimes.  Do you have a set bedtime?  If she's tired I would stick to normal BT even after a long nap as she may well need it.  What about the pain relief?  She had a good night the last time you tried it, have you kept going or was that a one off?