Are the books always right??

[SS1987]

I know every child is different and some sleep more some sleep less but according to the books my 15 month old DD should be having a 2 hour nap and sleeping 11-12 hours at night. I’ve always tried to stick to this as a first time mum who had no idea what I was doing 🙄 but starting to think this isn’t the case... for my little one at least. A 2 hour nap between 11.30-1.30 results in 7pm bedtime being impossible and a 7pm bedtime results in an early morning wake up call! Just wondering what others around that age were doing sleep wise or if these 14/15 hour sleeps a day babies exist? Thanks

Theres no law that says babies have to go to bed at 7pm. Think we were more like 8pm at that age

The books are almost always wrong

DD did not agree with them about sleep either.

my son has never slept for as long as he 'should'

My DD was a shit sleeper and trying to stick to what the books said she should be having gave me post natal anxiety. My hv told me to ignore the books and if when she was awake she was happy then she was fine.
I became obsessed. She also stopped napping altogether at 22 months.

Try 'The Gentle Sleep Book' by Sarah Ockwell-SMith which is much more realistic

As I recall, the 'should' tables are largely entirely made up by the sleep trainers

When I was pregnant I read Gina Ford. I 'thought' I was ready and prepared and I would follow the routines. Baby came along and everything I thought I was going to do has gone out the window.

My hubby made me realise that our baby will tell us when she is tired and hungry. We are baby led with everything. Literally go with the flow and deal with what she is telling us.

The books are good for general tips. I now understand that if she sleeps too long in the day she will be up all night feeding, but thats about all I am taking from it.

She sleeps in the bright lights and noise downstairs, and in the pitch black and quietness upstairs.

Have zero expectations. That way you won't get stressed if the nap is longer or shorter than the book says, or baby hasnt eaten as much as the book says. Etc.

Go with your gut!

I'd love to leave some of these 'experts' alone with DD for a few days. Unfortunately I wouldn't do that to DD.

Also remember that the experts don't love your child, you do. So unless you're doing something dangerous or stupid, your instincts are probably better than their advice.

I know every child is different and some sleep more some sleep less but according to the books my 15 month old DD should be having a 2 hour nap and sleeping 11-12 hours at night.

Dc2 is 16 months. She doesn't sleep anywhere near to 11-12 hours at night. She won't sleep in the car or the pushchair, only in her cot and only when it suits her. Some days she doesn't nap at all (those are bad days). According to my dm, I was exactly the same and only started sleeping "normally" when I became a teenager.

I’m sure they do exist, but my now 20 month old sleeps maybe 1-1.5 hours during the day (was maybe closer to 1.5-2 hours at 15 months). Then he goes to bed at maybe 8-9pm and wakes around 6-7am, so that would have been max 12 hours at 15 months. I would say that was probably pretty standard for both of mine.

Mine has never needed that amount of sleep recommended. We cut her naps to an hour as otherwise she’s awake half the night! Bedtime is 7.30ish (sleep more like 8pm) & before the bloody clock change, wake up was 6ish (and usually she disturbs a bit in the night as well but she’s half asleep when I have to put her back to bed). With the clocks, she now wakes up at 5am 😭

But 7.30/8pm-6am plus an hour nap is just her thing. She’s perfectly happy on it, not tired at all .. I’m blooming knackered though 😂

Thanks everyone! Nice to know my little one isn’t the only one. @Bol87 I’m thinking that’s going to be my plan, hour nap maximum. She seems fine if she’s woken after 45 minutes some days, bit grumpy by bedtime but nothing major. These experts have got a lot to answer for!

Can’t stand Gina ford

Gentle sleep book was excellent as it doesn’t give unrealistic expectations

Most of what is written in books about parenting is just somebody's opinion, or experience - which bear in mind is limited to however many specific children they have cared for, and doesn't include your actual child.