Yes....another post about early waking..but Pls help anyway...

[NicoleW]

Meg has NEVER had early wakings. she's almost 18mos. Until last month, she used to sleep til about 8 or 8:30. bed between 6:30-7. now she's going to bed at  7 and waking at 6:30-6:45am which is FAR too early for me......
this mornign i went in and the first thign she said was "baba" (bottle) so i got her a bottle laid her down and went back to my bed. i'm not feelign well so i was really tired. well, she drank it all and fell back asleep until 8am....so i'm thinking maybe she's hungry? she hasn't been eating lots of dinner or her night bottle?
any suggestions or confirmations? maybe I'll do wake to sleep if this keeps up....


any help is greatly appreciated as i have seemed to bypass the early waking problem until Now...


Nicole:)
Edit: I don't think she is hungry....something else is causing her to wake and if you read further you'll see her night sleep is getting shorter adn shorter:(

[Carmela's Mom]

It does sound like she's waking hungry if she's going back to sleep but IMO at 18 months they no longer need 13-14 hours of sleep a night.  They need 13 total for the day so if she's still waking early in the morning, then I think it's time to either make her bedtime later or accept the fact that she's growing up and doesn't need all that night time sleep anymore. 

[NicoleW]

Hi Carmela's mom,
thanks.
I knew somone would say that and perhaps you're rigth, but but i have a hard time excepting that b/c we went from 17rhs of sleep/day to 13 as soon as we went to one nap! i can't get the nap to lengthen either. it is only 1hr to 1hr 15min and she wakes up tired and cranky everytime adn is tried all afternoon. So, i think she is overtired by bedtime....but if i put her to bed earlier, it means i wake earlier....
all these sleep problems started 6wks ago when we went to one nap, so i'm really convinced they are linked! and it is drving me nuts! i was just about to come on here and post about the stupid nap b/c she just woke up AGAIN at 1hr 15min..which we all KNOW is NOT a long enough nap for a 17 1/2 mo old!sigh......i'm getting so frustrated...and dont' know what to do.
if she woke up happy, i'd think it was fine, but she is cranky evrytime, crying and whining which is not like her either.....
and about the later bedtime-i can't because she is down for her nap between 12 and 1 and up by 2 so she is already dead tired by 6:30-7pm:(

any other suggestions?

[rach]

Hi Nicole

Have you heard of Tracy's wake to sleep method?  What this involves is going in and rousing your little one from their sleep (they probably won't wake fully) an hour earlier than they are waking themselves.  Do something like change their nappy and then explain that its still early, lets go back to sleep.  Settle them back down.  They may be cranky at first, but it will get them out of the early morning wake habit.  The goal is to extend the length of sleep, giving them more energy which in turn will help them through to nap time, making that nap time sleep better quality too.  Do this for 3 nights running and see how you get on, you may have to persist for longer, but you'll see the benefits in the long run.

I hope that this helps!

Rachel xx

[NicoleW]

Hi Rachel, so she wakes at about 6:45 am which isn't even 12hrs...should i go in at 5:45am?

i was wondering if i should just move her a bit to stir her or get her up and change her diaper b/c in Tracy's book it sounds like for atoddler you change their diaper....but doesn't say if that is the for sure protocol for a toddler.....



anyone tried this???
nicole

[ava'smom]

We went through this at about the same age with Ava. Gone were my 8am start times--she was waking at 6 or 6:30. I am sooo not a morning person! But, it was really just a phase--after a few weeks she lengthened her sleep again. Not all the way back to 8am, but a more tolerable 7:30 or so. It happened around the time we were switching to one nap, so that may have had something to do with it. I know that wake-to-sleep works for a lot of people, but I was too scared to try it, and frankly too tired to get up that early.  But it very well may have worked, and is worth a shot I guess. Worst case, you have a REALLY early start one day and then don't do it again! 

It's always something, isn't it?? Now she's back to waking earlier(6;30 or 7), and I'm hoping it's another phase! (Please, God, please!!)

Let us know how it's going.

[Harrisonsmummy]

Hi, I also know what you are going through - but my lo wakes at 5.20am! This too started when we went to one nap - it all went fine for a week or so, then we hit a cold, and downhill from there!! I think they gradually get more sleep deprived over a period, so at the moment with the early wakings I am trying to get in 2 naps again, and an early bedtime if I can to see if we can get our equilibrium back, then push naps again when we are in a better start position......

Justine

[Fiona (Leah & Kians Mom)]

Hmm think it must be the age, dd was an 8.00 am waker with a bedtime of 7.40pm. When we came back from a trip she started at 6.30 am as she wasnt used to the noise outside any more- we were only gone 3 days! Anyway she did this for over a week and is now back to between 7.10 and 7.30am usually. If your lo is wakening hungry what about a snack before bedtime? I give dinner around 5.30 5.45pm and then a snack of yogurt between 6.30/6.45pm. Our lunchtime nap has also gone from 2 hours to 1.5 ( we transitioned at about 13 months), so am thinking they just do need less sleep.
Fiona

[imsmum]

What time is her nap?

[Lan]

I would try wake to sleep for the nap, rather than the night time sleep. Go in around the 1 hour mark.  My son also only slept for 1hr 15 minutes when he first went to 1 nap, but after about a month he went to sleeping 2-3 hours at the nap. It just takes a while for them to get used to the new routine. I think the amount of night time sleep your daughter is getting is fine, 11-12 hours is normal, it's the nap you need to lengthen. Then once she is napping 2 hrs or more you could slowly adjust bedtime to 7.30 pm and that might help her sleep till 7 am.

My son reugalry wakes at 6 am or before so I think you're lucky even now!

[NicoleW]

HI ladies, thanks for your comments....

her nap averages at about 12:30pm...sometimes 12. but when you only sleep an hour, you're up at 1:00 or 1:30 and so she's overtired by bedtime...i've tried putting her down at 6:30 but she was up at 6:30 the next day or earlier and i'm not cut out to start the day before 7 or 7:30.....i wouldnt' mind her 11.5hr nights IF she was taking a 2hr nap....
Lan,  I have been holding onto the hope of her nap lengthening for a while now. everyone told me after 3-4wks it would get longer...but here we are at almost 2 months....and still....NOTHING:(..I agree with you though. i can't really lengthen a 11.5hr night sleep....But her nap has to get longer....i will try the wake to sleep at 1hr...but i'm afraid it will just wake her up and then she'll be up...do you think i could do it earlier...at like 30min or 45min?(this way if she does wake, she'll still be tired enough to go back to sleep?)
thanks ladies.....I'll keep praying her nap gets longer!!

Nicole

[Lan]

Another Mum (I think Meg's Mum??) used the wake to sleep successfully for naps, I think she just justly moved her daughter's blalnket so that she stirred but didn't wake properly.  Ican't remember the details but you could try a search for wake to sleep and naps on this forum. You could try going in at 45 minutes but that's the time they usually transition between phases of sleep so you might wake her up!

[NicoleW]

Okay......i'm getting annoyed and losing my sense of humour.....i'm ready today to do wake to sleep for her nap....
One problem...she wont' GO to SLEEP! its been 40min and she is still totally playing and being amonkey. she doens't even look tired when i go in. (but i know she is).....argh!

patience is a Virtue:) (its also a Word!)


Nicole

[Carmela's Mom]

We are going through the same thing for naps as are a few other Moms....

One of the ladies suggested to me to do a 10 minute cuddle before putting her in.  That helped us for awhile.  You may want to give it a shot.  Today was a bad day for us as well...but I'm hoping the cuddle is still working!

[NicoleW]

carmela's mom..you mean cuddling before hand helps her sleep longer?
i wish! lol....we have cuddled lots before--doesnt' seem to do anything for her.

SO....i tried the wake to sleep today...but do you think this is a rare exception?
she spent 45MIN!! gabbing (at the most, its usually 15min)...i could not get her to go to sleep so when she finally did, i thought....oh, she's only going to sleep an hour anyway! well, i went in at 1hr and she was already stiring...moving about etc...so i hid...lol...close one! few (haha)...
i went back in about 5min later adn just pulled her blanket out from her arm, her eyes rolled open a tiny tiny bit...and she looked so dopey...BUT she was awake withing 5-10minlater~:(..sigh....
i guess i'll try again tomorrow



Nicole

[NicoleW]

Ok, Ladies! i'm getting really depressed and frustrated. i put Meg to bed at 7:30pm last night and after us both being woken up by something outside at 3:30am, 4:30 am...she was awake at 6:40am!! her night sleep is gettign shorter and shorter.
I read something on here the other day that makes me wonder....
on Feb 16-20th we went home for the weekend and stayed with MIL....Meg had to sleep in the same room as us divided by a hanging sheet.....that is when she first started waking before 7am....and it has continued from there. do you think that is the link? she went from 13hrs/night to like 11 or 11.5hrs/night OVER NIGHT.....
we have to go home again in a few weeks for another week....is it gonna make it worse? we never had this trouble before, like at Christmas....
I think i might get up at 5:45am tomorrow morning and do wake to sleep-but i think i'll get her right up and change her diaper like Tracy suggests in her book, and then put her back down. i'm pretty sure, she will still be tired enough to go back to sleep (fingers CROSSED!).
I also will try the wake to sleep again today for naps...I really hope it WORKS!
any thoughts or suggestions?

[NicoleW]

so yesterday i tried again...but i dont' know if i stirred her enough..and i had this gut instinct she was going to sleep a bit longer anyway....and she did- 1hr 30 min (15min longer)......

today, i went in again at 55min....maybe i stirred her too much this time??? she moved around a bit and moved her head to the other side. she was StILL awake at 1hr 15min!
i'm getting so discouraged!!
where do i go from here???

[Harrisonsmummy]

As I said before I am no expert here, but to be honest I think that they will gradually extend the nap themeselves and there really isn't much you can do with it!

The elements that you can control to a greater extent are earlier bedtimes -there is certainly evidence that they are less likely to wake in the night if they aren't overtired when they go to bed (and this may help them to wake later) and then you may get an early wake-up but perhaps this can be manipulated better by gradually adjusting the nap time. With Harri, he is going to bed at 6.30pm now, but at least I can squeeze 10.5hrs into him that way - so we are holding the fort at the moment. He won't nap for more than 1hr 45mins unless I walk him in the pram then I can squeeze 2 hrs out - but once left again he goes back to old timings and that has taken ages to get to from 1 1/4 hr !

I also think it probably takes a week or so of consistency for anything to really take effect. So swapping timings around may take a little time to kick in properly (unless it is AP in which case - one night and everything's gone up in smoke!)
 
While I know it is a nightmare - I dread waking up at 5am - I have just had to adjust myself to it for the time being - so I am not so knackered - and then when I feel a bit better I feel more inclined to be positive with an action plan!!!

Hang in there, your lo will adjust herself, it may not be completely what you need, but as long as she ends up getting her needs fulfilled, hopefully you can get a compromise ( that's what I kid myself with anyway!)

Justine

[NicoleW]

thanks Justine. yeah. i am trying to accept this short nap....its just so hard to have a 6hr stretch in teh morning. only a 1hr break and then another 5-5.5 hr stretch in teh afternoon. i feel all Mommied out!
Oh well, i hope you're right and though it may take longer, i hope her nap will extend. i'm going to ry going in at 1hr again today and do the wake to sleep technique..AGAIN....we'll see:)

Nicole

[Harrisonsmummy]

Nicole, I know what you mean about long days! I have to confess, when Harri gets up early, I bring him into my room, turn the TV on and let him play/watch for a while. Sometimes I even get another 1/2 hr of sleep if he get engrosssed in a programme! At least I don't feel like I am up so early - he seems to enjoy the snuggles too.

With the short naps as well, Harri will sleep in the pram, so I put him down and then often go out at the half way point, keeps him asleep longer, and gets me out of the house for a longer break which sometimes ends up in the park when he wakes - more often than not in the coffee shop. That's how I extend "my" time, plus I make the most of the early bedtimes during this transition!!

Good luck with the wake to sleep (have been contemplating this for early wakes but he has a cold at the moment and this am he woke at 6am - a lie in!!) With luck this may reset his clock.

(When they are teenagers we'll be moaning that they are never awake!)

Justine

[Katet]

Nicole, why did you move Meg to one nap??? was she refusing a nap, or because she "reached a certain age" the reason I say that is Aiden didn't move to 1 nap until he was 21months old &  any time before that was just a nightmare with sleep. when he did move within 3 days he was doing 3 hours... that only lasted 3 months & dropped to 2 hours & now at 2.5yo it is 1.5 hours, with 11 overnight, but when I tried him on 1 nap at 18months, he slept 11 hours & 1.5 hours & on 2 naps he did 11 hours & 3.5 hours of naps... he has virtually never done more than 11 hours overnight, but has been a good napper once he got past 10months

[NicoleW]

HI Katet, well, i tried that even a few wks ago and they were like both 45min or one was an  hour an the other 30min....nothing to make me thing she still needs two. and i have to wait until SO late in the afternoon before she'lll go down that it doesnt' seem worth it.
So, today i put her down at and she was alseep(no longer moving) at 12:57pm. i was going to go in at 1:57pm but she woke at 1:37 (weird!)...i layed her back down and she went right back to sleep. Then i wasnt' sure what to do? so i waited for 25min until she was hopefully in deep sleep again, cause i was afraid she'd wake up again at 30-40min. i stirred her a bit. she slep until 2:30...SO not bad. 1hr 35-40min:) i'm wondering if this is really working or if its all in my head....

what do you think?
Nicole

[NicoleW]

Okay....i have good news....
Meg slept 12.5hrs last night!! she hasn't done that in atleast 2wks:), i'm not sure if its b/c she got a longer nap *2days ina row) and i was able to put her to bed after only 4.5hrs of awake time in the afternoon, but i'm excited!! i'm thinking this might be working.
my dilemma now is when do i put her down for her nap? she woke at 7:45am....even 1pm will only be 5.15hrs....and she seems to do better with 5.5-6hrs....
hmmm
perhaps tomorrow morning i'll make sure she's up by the 12hr mark.
i'll keep you posted!!
Nicole

[cjwagner77]

I thought I would let you know about my daughter.  We transitioned to one nap at 12 months.  She was starting to anyway and we were going to be having over half the week of not getting to nap in the morning until noon anyway.  She did okay during the transition, but her naps were so short.  1 hour to 1.5 hours.  This lasted from 12 months to 18 months.  She is now napping for 2 hours pretty consistently and sometime will sleep 2.5-3 hours.  So apparently some kids can make the transition to one LONGER nap sooner than others.  With us it took 6 months. 

And dd is usually awake by 6:00.  Some days we get lucky and she sleeps longer.  But here is my philosophy that is working for us.  I don't get her out of bed until 7:00.  She can doze for that hour (and if she is awake at 5:00-5:30 like some mornings, 2 hours), talk, read her board books that I leave in her crib.  That is her time, but I do not go in to get her.  The only exception is if she is sick, etc.  It took a couple of months of pushing the time that I went in to get her up, but she doesn't complain at all until after 7 now.  I don't know what I will do when she is potty trianing and needs to get up and go as soon as she gets up.  (Take her to the potty and then tell her to play quietly in her room until 7?)  I am usually up anyway.  I set my alarm for 5:30 so I can get ready and do my devotion before she gets up.  If I don't get those done before she gets up, it is difficult to get them done.