Back to 2 naps a day?

[bagelmonkey]

DD is almost 16 months. Never been a great sleeper and we've had various battles over naps, getting to sleep etc. She's always been an early waker. She only ever naps for around 1-1 1/2 hours and sleeps 7-5 at night now.
About a month ago I dropped her morning nap because she was only sleeping for about 30 mins. I hoped it might encourage her to sleep later than 5am. It didn't. She's been a bit unwell the last 2 weeks, so her morning tiredness has been more noticeable than it was before, but she really hasn't ever been ready to be up for the day when she wakes at 5. So I'm wondering, should I just try to go back to 2 naps? Before she got sick she was going off quite easily with no protest if we stayed in the room until she was asleep, but now she's very clingy & cries as she's taken upstairs. She just seems to be constantly tired and cranky, but I don't know if that's just being unwell too.
Thanks for any advice.

My DS was doing the same, waking at 5.45am and some days was back asleep again by 9.30am. He started off having a short sleep in the morning and then a long sleep in the afternoon but now (he's 18 months) it seems to have morphed into one long sleep sometimes in the morning and sometimes after lunch depending on how tired he is and he's gradually started sleeping later in the morning as well ? nearly 7.00am the last two days .

I would put her down in the morning if she's tired and then try again in the afternoon if you think she's flagging. If she sleeps she sleeps, if not at least you've given her the opportunity.

She's probably in a transitional phase, not helped by being ill, and will soon find her own sleep pattern again.

Also my DD went through a clingy/separation anxiety phase at that age and would scream when I put her to bed at night and I ended up sitting with her for a while but again that passed. It's hard though, when you don't know if it's a phase or when it'll end.

Good luck!