Hi
Ds is 8 months old and until the new year was sleeping 7.30-7.30 then having 2 x 1hr or so naps a day! He was ill on and off for over 3 weeks with ear infections, the last one i had to wake him at 5am to give him antibiotics - groan! Since about a week ago he has been so much better much more himself, much more chatty and active but now waking early and not sleeping well during the day. He wakes anywhere between 5.30 and 6.30 (not bad for some of you out there i know but unusual for him!) and then can sleep for anywhere between 1 hour and 3 hours during the day - i have always let him lead the daytime sleeps really, but as long as he was getting roughly a couple of hours things were ok. Waking early is leaving him tired in the mornings so I am pretty sure he can do with more sleep but due to activities we do, it is just not possible to do the same thing everyday, i.e a short morning sleep and then longer afternoon one, so I do wonder if he is a bit messed around and not sure what to do. I try to get him to nap around 9.30/10.00 for around and hour, then again at 1.30/2 for roughly the same time when at home. Also, when I see he is tired, I put him to bed but then he messes around for ages, and i usually have to go and 'rescue' him a couple of times before he finally drops off - this can take ages sometimes!
Guess what I am asking is what can I expect at this age? Is one longer daytime sleep at lunch better now rather than a morning and afternoon one? Routine generally 7am - Bottle, 8-8.30am - Breakfast, 9.30/10 - sleep, 11/11.30am - Snack, 12.30ish - Lunch, 1.30/2 - sleep, 3.30ish - Milk, 5.30ish - Dinner, 6.30 - bath, 7.00 - Milk and bed.
We have taken the decision to leave him in the mornings, going in once to tell him that it is sleepytime, then when it is time for milk we go in and make a bit show of opening the blinds in his room and in the rest of the house and saying 'now it's daytime'.
Any suggestions anyone? Sorry now i've read this back i've realised its really long!