Hi all. How are you mama's? This is my first post.
I have a 13 month old daughter and her sleep habits change ALL the time. I feel so clueless.
It took us until she was 6 months old to get over the catnapping phase. She was then on 3 naps a day - 2 of about an hour or so each, and then a catnap at the end of the day.
Soon after she started waking around 5am, so I took away her catnap, gave her an earlier bedtime, and things started to settle down.
Her 2 naps got longer, and she was waking around 6:30am. This lasted about 8 weeks.
Then wouldn't you know it, her early wake-ups started to come back around 9 months.
We spent the next THREE alternating between one and two naps, and her bedtime and wake up times were so completely random.
Finally at 12 months things once again settled down. She has a 2 hour nap in the middle of the day, an 8pm bedtime, and wakes around 6:30-7am.
Now, once again we are back to the 5:30am wake-ups! UGH.
Now that is down to one nap I have no idea what to do.
I can leave her alone in her crib til 6:30 when I decide to go get her, and she is fine to play by herself. BUT I can tell she is still tired. It is hard for her to make it to bedtime, and then I often use an earlier bedtime, but then get an early wake up time AGAIN.
If I take her into bed with me she will often fall back asleep, but I know this is not a good habit to get into.
What gives?
How can I get my little girl to stop these early wakings? I am not sure why she keeps cycling back to them?
Hi - my 16 mth old son is the exact same way and has always been. I've given up and just let what happens happen...Other people tell me thier children's wonderful sleep stories and it is just foreign to me. Good luck!!
I.
I would not freek out about it. Our daughter has been doing the same thing. She is down to one nape a day. Some days she will take two. Alot of it depends on her level of activity and if she is teething. Which she is... she is getting her molars now. That certainly effects her sleep habits. Alos, if she is going through a groth spurt her sleep habits change. I would just stay vigilant and hang in there. Try to keep her to a schedule, but don't make yourself crazy about it. She will get into a routine again.
E.
Oh dear, I so wish you young mum's would NOT stress out so and worry about snuggling that precious baby in bed with you.
Where do you think infants slept for the twenty thousand years before central heating and cribs, bassinets, ect?
The time they are small passes so swiftly...you have no idea.
My hubby and I took them all to bed in the mornings for that extra hour or so of sleep...all seven of ours.
None are "marked" none have mental problems (lol) And they all took theirs to snuggle in their turn.
WHY do most of you think it is such a horrible thing?
Now, babies change their sleeping habits constantly for the first few years. Just have to adapt until the teething is over ect. If she is up between five and seven, having a nap, sleeps the night through, you are doing well.
You could try putting her to bed a bit later, half to one hour. Doesnt give you much of an evening, but could buy you that extra hour in the morning.
If she is happy in her crib with a few toys and bottle of juice, try that for a bit, see how it goes.
She could be teething.
Relax, enjoy your baby, stay away from How to raise a kid books. Ask your mum or gram when you have a problem. ( Has the added benefit of making them feel needed and useful)
Best wishes and God bless
Grandmother Lowell
Your baby sounds like a... perfectly normal and pretty well-rested baby. Cognratulations on the fact that your little one sleeps through the night and takes a consistent and long nap. My thirteen month old sleeps through the night but has consistently been a terrible napper.
I agree with the other posters that bringing the baby into bed in the morning is a wonderful opportunity for family bonding and a little bit of extra rest for the parents. Enjoy it while it lasts. My husband and I look forward to our Family Snuggle Time in the mornings.
My 15 month old is exactly the same. I gave up on him keeping anything consistant. I stay consistant, but he doesn't! I think they are going through so much; teething, new skills/discovery, growth spurts, whatever, that things just never stay the same. A friend of mine has a 1 year old and he's the same way, so we figure it's just the way it is and any pattern for a few weeks is a gift in predictability, but that it is due to change at any time. I figure he's getting a total of 12 hours sleep per day, usually, and that's about what he needs. He's our first too, so what do we first-timers know. I think we're learning the meaning of "the only thing contant is change". Good luck and thanks for the post, I'll be checking back for advise too!
Hi I. - I am with 'Grandmother Lowell'!! What's the big deal about bringing your baby (who has slept throught he night alredy - YAY!) into bed with you for an hour or 2 in the morning? If it's a personal choice and it's something you don't want to do, okay. But to say it's a 'bad habit' - I don't think so. I co-slept with my son til he was 8 mos, and am doing the same with my daughter (she is almost 8 mos now and we're working on the transition). Even if your baby sleeps in bed with you, it's not set in stone and bound to stay that way forever. My son, now 3, still climbs into bed with us in the morning - it's great family snuggle time and I'm sure a time will come when he won't want to do this. But again, if this isn't for you, no problem... I just don't want you to think it's 'bad' or 'wrong' if you do it :)
One other thing - the one piece of advice I give to all of my friends having new babies - don't get used to or expect anything from your kids b/c as soon as you do, they will change it up on you! All I mean by that is sleep patterns, eating patterns, etc. You just have to go with the flow... Some babies are amazing, consistent sleepers - NOT mine! So at least with #2, I knew what I was in for. It goes so fast,e njoy it & good luck with whatever you decide!!
