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Behaviour/development

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Surely it's not time to drop the nap altogether (19mo)?

3 replies

ChickenLickenSticken · 05/07/2013 07:25

DD is nearly 19 months and after being a dreadful napper when she was tiny now has a fab 1.5-2.5hr nap at lunchtime every day. Some days she seems like she needs a short morning nap too - ie 30-45 mins.

The naps aren't the problem, it's bedtime. She is taking such a long time to drop off. Goes down happily in her cot but lays there chatting and babbling for ages. She generally only cries out if she's thrown her teddy overboard or if she's wedged her foot in the bars if the cot but just will not go to sleep. I spy on her through the crack of the door and she prances around... If I tell her firmly to lay down she does so really quickly like ages been caught out!

Last night she was down at 6:45 and I went in 3 times between then and 8:45 to tell her to lay down or untangle her foot.

She wakes between 6:10-7:25 every day, so I'm not convinced she's getting enough sleep.

Is her lunchtime nap affecting bedtime? Or is there another way I can help her drop off better? We have a nice routine (bath, story and milk, though only dropped the last and bedtime breastfeed about 3 weeks ago). We moved 2 months ago and her new room is quite bright but she's been getting worse rather than getting used to it (we're decorating what will be her room and that will have a blackout blind!!).

Any tips?!?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
CreatureRetorts · 05/07/2013 08:10

There's a sleep regression around now. Dropping her nap may well work briefly then when the regression is over, she'll just end up exhausted and it'll get a bit messy. Her behaviour might go to pot and be blamed on toddler tantrums when she's just overtired Grin

We're just coming out the other side (dd is 19 months) - I had to cuddle her for a bit then sit with her until she slept. Also have to made sure we had double blackout blinds so her room is dark enough!

ChickenLickenSticken · 05/07/2013 18:06

Thanks that's interesting! I think she's having a growth spurt too as along a sudden the biggish 12-18m cloths are getting small! And she's eating tons.

Roll on the decorated room and black out blinds as I think this will help.

Tonight I'm going to stand at her door as she doesn't prance about so much when she can see me even if only my arm is visible whilst I do some ipadding plus I would hope the fun in the sun today has worn her out!

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sarahloula · 05/07/2013 20:13

My dd stopped napping at 18 months, goes to bed at 6, wakes up between 6 and 7 the next morning.

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