Is this developmental?

[ZebraZeebra]

Just because I can't seem to help him - never really seen him like this.

DS is 20 months, has slept brilliantly from about 13 months and dropped his last nap about a month ago. If he does have a nap he won't go to sleep until about 10pm and wakes up really early, even if the nap is in the morning. If he doesn't nap he goes to bed at 5.30-6pm and sleeps for 13 hours straight and actually ends up with less sleep overall if he does nap. So I'm comfortable with the no nap.

This week he's been waking loads in the evening and through the night, and getting up for the day between 4.30am-5am. We co-sleep and he's just flailing around, tossing and turning, sitting up then keeling over, obviously wants to be asleep, keeps drifting off then jerking awake, moaning and getting upset that he's awake. I've tried swapping the sleeping bag for covers, putting the bag back on, checking the room temp, cuddling him but he just rolls away and changes his sleep position about a billion times, rubbing his back - this had some success last night.

I basically don't know how to handle it - I'm worried he's in pain or over-tired but I also wondered if was a developmental phase keeping him awake? He's not talking much yet but has had an explosion in movement skills this week - last week at the swimming pool he actually just took off doggy paddling up the pool when previously he would cling to me. He's very happy in the day, not cranky or showing signs of hyper-active tired.

[notaflamingclue]

I would be looking at his bedtime. 5.30 seems extremely early, nap or no nap. In your shoes I'd be trying to stretch him out til 6.30 at the earliest - even if tht means reintroducing a midday nap.

[ZebraZeebra]

That's a very good idea! Funnily enough that thought crossed my mind this morning after another bad night. Thanks for suggesting it :)

[notaflamingclue]

Hope it goes well