Bedtime Sleep…or lack of!
My 9 MO has 2 naps per day each being 1.5 hours. The gap between her last nap and bedtime is 3 hours 30 mins- 3 hours 45 mins. For around 6 weeks now she FIGHTS bedtime. Screams as soon as we place her in the crib and walk out! Bedtime is taking hours each night and feels really traumatic for me and her!
For daytime naps she is completely fine and settles well even though we do the exact same thing by placing her in the crib and walking out, although the wake windows are slightly shorter. 2 hour wake window for the first and 2 hours 45 mins - 3 hours for the second. She uses a dummy for naps and bedtime. What can I do to help this!? Really struggling here 🤦🏼♀️ @Nicola
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This is without knowing too much else, but I would definitely add some time before 1 (even though it’s not an issue) so you don’t have to give her as much time awake before bedtime. Hope that helps! Also check that you aren’t giving in and helping her at bedtime… that she does indeed end up falling asleep independently.
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Hi! Have you tried placing her down earlier at bedtime to rule our overtiredness? Going from 2 hours before nap 1, to then 3hr45 before bed is a big jump. I realise that’s to help get a 12 hour day, but I would re gig them a little. I suspect she easily accepts nap 1 if bedtime is taking a while so she is naturally more tired in the morning. I would try adding some time before nap 1, and cutting back the time a little before bed. Make sure she doesn’t get drowsy before bed either and you aren’t doing too much (or any) cuddles/rocking in the dark before placing her down. I suspect if she is very tired and you do that, she starts to drift, and then placing her down upsets her. So just make sure she is awake before going down. 2hr + 3hr + 3hr45 is 8hr45, so I feel she is overall tired at bedtime yes, BUT overall not getting enough wake time. Try aim for 9-9.5 hours total. Eg: 2hr45 before nap 1, 3 hour before nap 2, and 3hr15 before bedtime. Start there and add time slowly.