12 month old suddenly won't go to bed

[Kcoffecakebubs]

Hi, just looking for some help or advice. 12 month old DS has never been the best sleeper, but the last few months has at least been put down around 7.30pm and slept for a few hours before waking up. We can usually then settle him and get another few hours in the cot before he wakes and then will only settle in our bed. Wakes up around 7am.

The last week he just doesn't want to go to sleep! Bedtime has been 9.30pm on average, and straight into our bed as he just won't go in his cot. No idea why or what to do! He's just not interested in bedtime!

His nap schedule has been pretty consistent for a couple of months, so don't think it's that.

Any ideas? Or is it just a sleep regression we need to ride out?!

How many naps is he having? My DD dropped down to 1 nap at that age. He could be having too much daytime sleep therefore not tired at night. We switched to 1 long nap from 11-1 or sometimes 1:30 and she went to bed much better! She’s 18 months now and now naps from 12-1:30ish so getting shorter as she’s getting older.

He's been on one nap for a couple of months already, 90mins on average, sometimes 2 hours, about 5 hours after he wakes up (as it's anywhere between 6-8). So usually maybe 12-13.30

I would cut the nap back and see how that goes. Maybe an hour.

My DD went through something like this.

12 month sleep regression, teething and development all impact.

You will get there.

My DD now 20 months sleeps through 7.30pm to 7.30am. One hour nap at 12/12.30.

But it was an up and down path to get there!

Thanks @yorkintherain81, I'll try that. Currently he hasn't fallen asleep for his nap yet today. So I'm not hopeful for tonight now! Either he'll have a late nap and late bedtime, or no nap and be over tired! Yay!

Sleeping through 7.30-7.30, that's the dream!

I’m having the same problem with my 1 year old. She has suddenly started refusing her nap (which had been a lovely 2 hr break) & a nightmare to settle at bedtime & her bedtime has been more like 9pm most nights which is just too late. I’ve heard others with the similar problem at the moment so we’re not alone - probably caused by lack of stimulation during lockdown I’m guessing x

Had similar and personally think it's the regression. Also could be over tiredness as 1:30-7pm is a long time. Could you try pushing nap to later , 12;30 at earliest so wakes at 2/2:30? Either way I wouldn't cut down the nap, they need more than an hour daytime sleep in my humble opinion

Might need some sleep training for the night time too as waking up even once disturbs their sleep.

I'm hoping it's a regression. Thanks @Mummysarah12, it's good to know it's happening tom others too. Today he woke up at 8am, and was just not tired all day (and he wasn't over tired either), then crashed at 17.30 in his dinner! Had a 45 min nap and then went to bed at 9pm again. He's got his immunisations tomorrow too, so can't see it being a better day tomorrow! Thing is, if he's not tired I can't make him sleep, it's just so strange how it n happened overnight. He was ways perfectly fine being awake 1.30pm to 7.30pm, not an issue.

I know sleep training probably should happen, but no idea where to start, and turns out I'm really more of a baby led type of mom!

Sounds very familiar @Kcoffecakebubs. My LO has been waking later at around 8am which I suspect is why I’m having trouble with the nap. The last couple of days I’ve taken her for a walk in the pram at her usual nap time as she has been such a nightmare to sleep in the cot & I’m fed up with naps late in the afternoon! I think if I started waking her early then she may start napping earlier & then bedtime earlier but it is hard
Having the motivation during lockdown to sort it out!

I personally don’t agree a with sleep training. My LO doesn’t self settle, I have to cuddle to sleep. I just hope that she will grow out of it at some point & in the meantime I get to enjoy the cuddles (when she’s not fighting sleep of course!)

@Mummysarah12 I think our little ones seem like they have the same ideas at the moment! Last night bedtime was 9pm (like you doesn't self settle, so cuddles to sleep). Cot till midnight, then in with us. But he didn't wake up till 08.45! So I guess it's swings and roundabouts when we get a lie in!! 🤣

I know exactly what you mean though about not having the motivation right now, my husband is furloughed too, so we all get a lie in- and then I'm not missing the nap break the same way I would be if I was home alone all day.