21 month sleep regression?

[SarahDay1990]

Hi all
My LO is 21mo and has always been an average sleeper. Usually sleeps 11 hours at night. But the past week she is taking ages to fall asleep (normally crashes around 8ish) and then waking up at 5am. This time is unheard of for her and by 7am she is so tired. She’s not a naturally early riser and is tired waking at 5am. Nothing in her life has changed she naps 12.30-2.30 or 12.45-2.45 and has a dummy to sleep. Is this a regression?

Could be that she's not tired enough? Try cutting the nap down to 1.5?

She’s always been a baby that needs a lot of sleep and I think at that age 2 hours is pretty standard?

Mine had both dropped their naps by that age, DD1 of her own accord and we stopped DD2’s naps at 20 months as she was waking 5am. After a few days of dropping the nap she started sleeping 7-7 (and still does at 5).

My 12month old stopped her naps herself, some days she might have a 20 min nap, on the odd occasion she might have max of an hour but she sleeps 8pm-7:30am ish. We have always been relaxed and just let her take the reins when it comes to sleeping (to an extent).
Maybe try cut the nap a little

@SarahDay1990 there isn't really a standard when it comes to sleep!

When she’s at nursery she’ll only manage 1-1.5 hours but still takes ages to settle/wakes early? She is babbling a lot so wondered if it was some kind of sleep regression? She’s just miserable because she’s so tired!

Yeah the odd day of dropping/shortening the nap had no impact here either, it was only the consisted dropping of the nap (it maybe took a week of no nap at all) that made any difference. Once she was sleeping a consistent 7-7 with no nap she was far happier.

Any sign of back teeth?

Molars cut around the 2nd birthday and they are by far the worst to cut, it could be that.

Also, I assume you have blackout blinds? Do they fit well or bleed light around the edges? It could be early morning light waking her.

I don’t think she’s cutting back molars - there’s no other signs of teething....yes she has stuck on black out blinds for the room - it’s pitch black in there! I wonder if perhaps cutting the nap and then an earlier bedtime? I’ve heard earlier bedtimes can lead to later wakes?

When she takes ages to settle, what is she doing? And what do you do in responce, until she's asleep?

Just rolling around chattering - no crying! I just leave her to it...

Could it be bladder or nappy related? If bladder aware, she might need a wee. If not, it might be that by early morning her nappy is very full and uncomfortable?

Have you tried bringing into your bed st 5am and cuddling for a bit instead of getting up. I appreciate she might not go back to sleep, but at least she'd be resting.

I could've written your original post🤦‍♀️my DS is exactly the same. I read that it could be a sleep regression, not tired enough, not stimulated enough, scared of something, teeth. So many possibilities! I've tried to stimulate him more after his nap so he's more tired and that sometimes works but not always. I think I'll have to cut his nap right back but I know he'll be knackered by 5pm for dinner.

I never knew you needed so much knowledge to get a baby to sleep!!! I thought babies just slept! It could be her nappy as she often does a poo at night - but doesn’t wake up to tell us which is annoying. She’s just shattered but I wonder if I need to recalibrate the day a bit and cut the name and give earlier bed time?

DS is 22 months and still naps for 2 hours in the day/12 hours at night so I wouldn't immediately jump at cutting the nap