Well a few weeks on from my OP and she's been awake since 4.55 this morning
The later bed time worked for nearly a week and she was waking up around 6.30ish. I thought we had cracked it but we are back to square one.
In the last couple of weeks bed times have become party time. She's happy to go to bed or down for a nap and doesn't get upset. We have bottle and book before I put her down and she settles but then it's like she can't relax. She's rolling all over and then is sitting up, throwing things everywhere and running up and down the cot. This could go on for an hour before she finally settles. Same at bed time. The problem is I can see she is tired and ready to sleep when I take her up so it's not like she is under tired. Some night she hasn't been falling asleep till 7.30/7.45 but she's still waking at 5/5.30ish.
I have removed everything from the cot to try help. She only has 3 small soft teddies and a pillow. The pillow seems to be the worst culprit as she's always throwing it around. She doesn't use it at all. Removing these doesn't seem to have helped.
She's also been getting very hot but then I was worried she was cold in the morning so waking early. I've removed her waterproof sheet, and she's been in less clothing. This morning though her room is as warm as last night so she can't be waking due to being cold?!
Yesterday she was at nursery and only managed 35 mins nap. So I'm not convinced less sleep is working out for her.
Her room is totally blacked out. Although she's near the door so I might try turn her cot so the light from the door frame doesn't effect her (I'll try anything).
When she wakes she isn't upset. She just starts looking around, sucking her thumb and then chatting. Then she gets more worked up as the time passes. Until around an hour after waking she starts crying because she can't settle or is bored.
So this morning has gone like this:
4.55 - woke and chatted a little for an hour
5.50 - she got upset - I went in to change her nappy. Told her it was still bed time. She's yawning away and rested on me for a cuddle so I know she's still tired. I put her back down and there were no tears. She tried to relax and put her thumb in.
6 - she threw her comforter out the cot and got upset - I went through and she happily took it off me and settles again.
It's now 6.30 and she's calmly in her cot, relaxed. I'll get up with her soon now.
So what's my next step? I've been wondering if it's teething or growing and I know we have to expect these things sometimes but it's been going on for so long now.
Also what do I do with nap time today? Stick with 12/12.30?
Thanks ladies. Looking forward to hearing your suggestions.
Xx