22 month old suddenly waking an hour after going to bed

[NewMum0305]

Any ideas what it might be?

Generally good sleeper, has slept through since about 11 months, has one nap a day (1.5 to 2 hours). Went through a brief period of nap refusal recently ( I think due to a change of routine over Christmas as she goes to nursery). She now goes down for naps fine again but for several days now, has woken up 45 minutes to an hour after going to sleep and is really hard to resettle. She’s fine when we’re with her and for a few minutes after and then is up and crying. Don’t think it’s teething and not sure what to try! x

Anyone?

Anything changing in or near the house at that time? Lights/TV going off, heating or boiler off or on? Neighbours getting home and slamming a door?

No, nothing - heating stays on til 10, neighbours kids are in bed by then (and their rooms don’t share a wall). I cannot think of anything that’s disturbing her. Also, normally if something does wake her, she can either self-settle or is quite easy to settle - taking hours to go back down is very unusual for her.

It’s almost like she’s lost the ability to link her first sleep cycle.

Once we finally get her down, she sleeps through so at a bit of a loss.

Thank you for responding x

I would just keep everything as much the same as possible, and when you go into her to be as boring as you can. Lights off, no chatting, just calmly laying her back down and waiting with her until she drops back off. Then there is no need for her to get distressed, or any real incentive for her to keep waking other than habit. Most likely it will settle by itself in a couple of weeks.

Many thanks, reverted back to normal (so far) after a week - now wondering if it was teeth after all as she complained about her ear hurting and was poking about her mouth towards the end of the week. Alas, a helpful reminder that everything’s a phase (good and bad) X