18 month sleep regression

[PetalMettle]

Ds has never been a great sleeper but he was done to 1 or 2 wake ups overnight, however it's all gone wrong now which either means get ups every 1-2 hours or long ones - one of 1hr40 the other night. He's then napping for 2 hours plus in the day. Should I limit his nap time? Any other tips?
He's breastfed so I'm doing all the wakeups and I'm shattered

[FATEdestiny]

Have you tried more daytime sleep?

I certainly wouldn't be limiting daytime sleep. While 2h daytime naps is on the lower side of normal, it is still in the range of normal. It would also be reasonable at 18 months to be having two 2 hour naps (9-11am and 2-4pm) or one 3-4 hour lunchtime nap.

How do you settle baby to sleep? At this age breastfeeding is about far more than milk. He probably wants your comfort in the night, rather than feeding. Do you have an alternate way for him to feel comforted?

[munchkinmable]

We've just gone through this, it did settle down after a few weeks and now she' back to her usual crap sleeping rather than it being super-crap

[PetalMettle]

Thanks. I'm so tired I just saw this thread title and thought "ooh I'll check for tips"!
He's never been much of a one for daytime napping. At home he'll only really do it on me. He always feeds to sleep.
He's had a cold so could be comfort.
Thanks also for the reassurance it should be temporary!

[Rubyslippers7780]

Same here!! Except refusing to nap at all during the day so an absolute mess by 5pm... blaming teeth and growth and development and whatever else...but it's a phase and in years to come this will all be a distant memory....

[munchkinmable]

I'd struggle to get mine to nap for more than a few hours, definitely wouldn't get two naps out of her unless she was ill. I also find that if the Nap is too long it is allowed to go on beyond 2:30 (with bedtime routine starting at 6:50, then she's a nightmare at night

[Nan0second]

30mins nap here at 19 months. Any longer and she won't go to bed and wakes up at 5am.
She's not over tired with this though - not grouchy etc so it's worth trying reducing it to see how that affects things?

[Nan0second]

Also I would consider gentle night weaning (look at jay Gordon) as it does really help!

[PetalMettle]

Thanks everyone. Sorry to hear it's the same for you Ruby!
Will consider nap length.
I've considered NIGHT weaning but thought maybe when he understands a bit better. Also can't see my husband helping - he's having major strops about disturbed sleep as it is