Some reassurance please?

[PurplePidjin]

DS is 17 months. Bedtime used to be 7, which to me is a reasonable time, but he made it pretty clear a few months ago that he needed to be in bed earlier so we moved it to 6. He immediately started sleeping deeper, waking less and being happier during the day. His napping also improved (from 20 minutes to 40+)

Now, I follow his lead - which often leads to him being in bed and asleep by around 5:15. The last 2 nights he's been in his cot at 5, shouted for a few seconds then chatted/moaned himself to sleep in under 15 minutes. He then sleeps till about midnight when he needs a nappy change (has never tolerated a dirty or overly-wet nappy, we're in cloth but I've tried disposables with no discernible effect) and on through till 7am.

It just feels so early! He naps for 1.5-2 (occasionally up to 3) hours during the day from around 11:30. So my actual "working" day with him is 9 hours long with 2 hours for lunch - that's a lot better than my t+c's when I was in paid employment

So, wise people, please reassure me. He was a fairly poor sleeper up until 10 months when I night weaned him (bf, self-weaned at 15m) and things have gradually improved since then until we're at this point. But, really, 5pm bedtime?!?!

Hi PurplePidjin, I think we've chatted before on the bf pages

So, if I've understood correctly, he sleeps for 14 hours at night and has a 2-3 hour nap during the day? Wow!

Joking aside though, that sounds like a lot of sleep - would it be worth asking your gp or health visitor? Does he eat well? Some nutrient deficiencies (Iron especially) can cause lethargy.

Yeah, probably, I crop up there occasionally :)

He eats loads - today was 1.5 weetabix, a banana and a piece of toast for breakfast; a soft boiled egg, a slice of toast and half a fruit pot for lunch; 4 fish goujon things (about equivalent to 2 fish fingers) with a handful of chips as finger food, then broad beans, cauli and broccoli fork mashed with cheese (I was actually expecting this to be two portions but he kept opening his mouth for more!) then the other half of the fruit pot, a yoghurt and a digestive biscuit. He has rice cakes and breadsticks available between meals too.

When he's awake, he's lively and happy and very very active, even if it's just pottering around his toys at home - he only cries if physically hurt eg by another child/falling over and then it's fine after a quick cuddle; tantrums are only ever when he's tired when it's as if the entire world has crashed in on him if you even hint at the No word. When he's not tired, he's very easygoing and easily redirected from stuff he shouldn't have/do.

I have an appointment for me next week, so will mention it then if I get time. I think it's just the shock - after having the worst sleeper of all the mums I know I now suddenly have what everyone else is used to iyswim?