Need help with my 17m old, please! :)

chulee76 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 07:07 PM

I haven't had to visit here in a while because was Ethan was doing great sleeping...

Ethan goes to bed around 6:15pm and used to sleep until about 6:15-6:30am. He takes one nap a day around 11:45 and it's only for about 75 minutes. My problem is that he still wants to go to bed around 6:15 but he's been waking up consistently at 5:15ish for the last month. Ethan used to be an early riser and having him CIO until 6 worked for several months. But, this time, it's not working! I've tried pushing his bedtime to around 6:45/7pm for a few days and he was waking up at the same time except more crabby. He hasn't been napping real well either. Sometimes it's only 30 minutes, sometimes 60. I guess I'm just at a loss what to do.... especially with daylight savings approaching.

I thought I read somewhere that toddlers this age should be sleeping around 11 1/4 hours at night and taking a 2-2 1/2 hour nap a day. Should I try pushing his bedtime back to 7 pm and not plan on getting him until 6 am? With dayllight savings approaching, should I try and aim for 8 pm?

Thanks!!!

Kristen02 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-05-2005, 08:44 PM

The 11 hours of nightsleep is within the normal range. If you would like to start giving Ethan a later bedtime, that *may* help him sleep in later, but he will probably need up to a week to adjust and start sleeping later. I would recommend 7pm, as opposed to 8pm, since 7pm will be an easier adjustment for him. Is there anything happening at 5:15am that could be waking him up that he is more aware of now? (For example, dad getting ready for work, or something of that nature.)

He may also need a later naptime in order to take a longer nap. My son was taking short naps until I moved him to a 2-2:30pm naptime- he's up between 7-8am, and his naptime is consistently between 2-2:30pm. When he was younger, I had to avoid him being overtired to make sure to get longer naps. Now that he's a toddler, too short of an awake time seems to have a much larger affect on him. Maybe Ethan would benefit from a 12:15pm-ish naptime?

I don't know if any of this advice helped. I'll be watching for a follow up post

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CincyJen · #3 (**permalink**) 10-18-2005, 12:03 PM

I agree with moving the naptime later. Megan has to nap around 12:30p at daycare, and she only naps 1 -1 1/2 hours. When she's at home, I give her a nap anywhere from 2:30p-4p, and she usually sleeps 3 hours!