18month waking earlier and earlier - please help

[orangefish]

For the first 14months of her life, She was such a bad sleeper. Woke most hours of the night.

At 14months, I took wheat out of her diet and she became a different little girl she also started sleeping!!!! music to my ears!!!! x

up until just recently, she'd happily have between 2.5 - 3 hours of day time sleep. roughly the same length nap both morning and afternoon.
She'd go to bed around 6.30pm (not sure exactly what time she'd fall asleep as i put her to bed awake) and then get up around 6am.

just recently she's been having the same day time sleep, but waking earlier. between 4.30 - 5.30 I could cry. Thought i'd got somewhere with her sleep! (plus we have a new arrival early next year,so was nice to get her sleeping before hand)

I've tried cutting her daytime naps, but that just makes her cranky and still get up at the same time each morning.. so over all, she has less and less sleep.

Plus the slightly later she goes to bed, the worse the night is and also will get up earlier

Not sure what to do.

She has a good diet now that she's off of the wheat - tests show she has an intolerance to it

she transfered into a big girls bed a few months ago really really well... but doesn't get out of bed unless I go in to get her
Thanks for listening x

 

[SAmummy]

I don't have much advice hun except that I know putting them to bed later always backfires like you mentioned and doesn't actually help them sleep longer the next morning. Sounds like you have a good routine going so maybe this is just a phase ? Try ignoring her when she gets up or lie with her without switching on the lights etc. so she knows it's not really time to play.

 

[orangefish]

oooo I try that ..but she's up, awake and full of beans. But yes, I still keep her in the bedroom until atleast 6ish.

I've spoken to the sleep clinic. They said that now she is 18months, she could probably drop a nap and only have one. It'll probably take time for her to adjust, but we'll get there in a week or so if we're consistant. Now make the nap around 11ish for a couple of hours... and hopefully she'll start sleeping longer in the morning.

I'll try this from monday (she's having her second nap of the day as we speak, haha!)

xx

 

[Ju_bubbs]

I'd love to be able to help, but unfortunately.. my youngest son did the exact same thing.... he is now nearly 7 and I STILL havn't managed to get him to sleep any later than 5am! lol
Hopefully or you its just another phase!

 

[orangefish]

oh my gosh...... she was going until 6ish... occassionally.. and i mean very occasionally she went until 6.30 - 6.45. I thought something was wrong on these mornings

I'll try it, if not just lump it!

Thanks guys xxxxx

 

[Ju_bubbs]

If you find anything that works, please let me know!! lol