Too long a nap?

[spambolina]

Hi my DD who is nearly 6 months old and who has been a terrible sleeper in general is starting to sleep for 2-3 hours at the most crucial time of the day i.e. it runs into the 6-7pm slot which ideally should be her bedtime!! She will then be wide awake until 10-11pm and that might sound promising on the sleeping thru front, but she doesn't, and will need another feed at anytime between 1 and 4am! Last night she had a feed at 1 and then wouldn't go back down until 3am. She also has a 30 min nap in the morning. This doesn't happen everyday but since starting to wean. My dilema is should I wake her up from her long nap, it feels so uncomfortable and wrong doing this but am willing to hear from anyone else who has had similar experience in the search for a night where we all sleep thru undisturbed (we have only had 4 of these since birth).

Bumping for you.

My rule has always been no naps after 4pm. It's cruel but it does mean you get more sleep. It sounds to me as if she's starting her night early, having a break and then part two.

Definately wake her I'd say if you want her to go to bed at 7pm. Think by 6 mo my ds only had nap 30 min 930 is and couple hrs at lunch. IME if you let them sleep too late they won't be tired enough at bed time. If she is v tired and you don't think she'll last you could let her have a short nap of 10 - 30 min.

Thanks Spice monster and Kateecass. Spice, how do you stop them from sleeping after 4pm? Tell me your secret tricks?!

I just used to play with my DS when he was that age, give him a bath, lots of different things to do. It was known as helltime though - the bit between 5pm and 7pm but it gets better.

I reckon after a few days, she'll get the hang of it

She used to go down at 6.30-7 then Christmas happened and our so called routine went out the window and have been trying to get the early sleep time sorted since then!! Think I have been enjoying the fact that she's finally managing a longer sleep than 30mins and that I can actually do more than just get myself a hot drink go to the loo, and bingo she's awake again. Helltime here we come!
Thanks

I wouldn't wake her, I would get her nap earlier in the day. DS on two naps would regularly nap until 5pm and then go down at 7pm no problem. If you stop them sleeping when they're tired it leads to over-tiredness and makes bedtime worse usually.