Long naps causing (dispicably) early rising?

I'm sure you are all tired of me posting about my early risers. We seemed to enjoy a hiatus of sorts from our 5am wake up calls. The hiatus is O-V-E-R. The boys are back to waking up at 4:30-5:30am...for the day. We leave them in their cribs to see if they will go back to sleep, but have no such luck.

The boys have been taking 3 to 3.25 hour naps since switching to 1 nap about 4 months ago. They go to bed at 7:30 and wake up at 5:30 (when we're lucky).

Techically, they are getting 13 hours of total sleep. If I start waking them up from their nap after 2 hours of sleep, will I get that hour back in their night sleep?

Appreciate any insight you may have on the situation.

 

I'm afraid the only way to find out is to try it....

What time do they go down for their naps? Would it be possible to shift the whole schedule later? You would lose the lovely 7:30 bedtime, but it might be worth it if they'd sleep a bit later in the morning.

 

The problem with shifting the whole schedule later is their early waking time. When they were actually sleeping in until 6am making it to a noon naptime was a stretch, but doable. When they wake up at 4:30am it's near impossible to make it that long, let alone push it back.

I woke them up after 2 hours today and put them to bed right at 7:30 (our 7:30 bedtime was actually more like ten to 8 most nights).

I tried going the 'two-naps-when-they-wake-early' route, but they would have NONE of it after becoming one-nap big boys.

 

I have been wondering the same thing...but for a different reason. When the girls were taking two one and a half hour naps, they would wake at about 6am (in bed at 7:30 and usually asleep by 8). Ever since we switched to one nap, their nap length has been all over the place. Most days it is 1 1/2-2 hours (Lindsey napped for 3 hours yesterday and today). We have been putting them down between 8-8:30, and they sleep until 7-7:30. So, I have been wondering if it is the shorter nap or the later bedtime????

Sorry, not much help...maybe you could shorten the nap just a little, push bedtime back just a little, and let it work itself out over several day? And just when you get it down....daylight savings will be here to screw it all up!

 

You can certainly try! But I have one stinker that likes to wake up before dawn. Yesterday we were on the go and he only got a 30 min nap all day. He was still up at 5am this morning. *ugh*

Mine also take about 3 hour naps (most of the time), they go down for the night at 7:30. Gabe is up 4:30-5am and Nate is usually up closer to 6:30.

It just doesn't seem to matter with mine. He is just an early riser...lucky me.

 

My guess is probably not, and then they will just be more cranky when they wake. When they wake in the morning, are they crying or just awake. If they aren't crying, I would not go in. If they are crying, I would go in like it was the middle of the night, give a hug/kiss and tell them that it is still nighttime. My boys, at that age, slept 12-13 hours at night and took a 2-4 hour nap during the afternoon.

 

Siri, sorry you are dealing with this!! I'm mad about 6:00 a.m. - so I guess I better get over myself huh?! :huh:

I would limit the naps, it's a great place to start!

 

I also say give it a shot and maybe push back the bedtime just a bit. Mine have been on one nap for a while and we just recently pushed their 7:00 bedtime to 7:30. After a few weeks, they now sleep 1/2 hour later in the AM as well. Good luck!

 

Maybe push back their bedtime to 8 ish and shorten nap by about 30 min. In a way you are lucky, around here we barely get 2 hr naps.

 

Siri, I just came to tell you that yesterday they were up WAY early and this morning Martin started to wake up at 5:45 and then I went in like it was the middle of the night and covered him up (he was totally uncovered) and cozied him with 2 layers. I did the same for Ali......they slept till 7;30!!!!!! :banana: and they are SOOO HAPPY!! We aren't having meltdowns this a.m.!!! Even if it's for ONE day, I'm so happy!!

I thought I would pass that along. Not sure where you live, but if they are getting cold in the a.m. they might be waking up!!

 

Maybe try napping from 1 to 3 and no longer while bedtime is around 7=8

 

QUOTE(~* dfaut *~ @ Oct 15 2007, 07:37 AM) [snapback]450907[/snapback]
Siri, I just came to tell you that yesterday they were up WAY early and this morning Martin started to wake up at 5:45 and then I went in like it was the middle of the night and covered him up (he was totally uncovered) and cozied him with 2 layers. I did the same for Ali......they slept till 7;30!!!!!! :banana: and they are SOOO HAPPY!! We aren't having meltdowns this a.m.!!! Even if it's for ONE day, I'm so happy!!

I



Hmmm, I like this theory b/c just today as I went in to get Nick (seperate bedrooms) from nap I couldn't believe how cold his room was. We're in Seattle, where the weather is relatively mild year-round, but his room has two exterior walls, so it's chillier.

Yay for you, Diane...I truly understand what a huge deal that is! :a_smil09:

We haven't actually started using blankets yet (is that strange at 19m?). I was planning to make them some for Xmas (just like their little taggies, but crib-size).

Anyhow, an update for what has occurred:

*First attempt: "put them to bed earlier, it'll make them sleep later"...moved bedtime from 8 to 7:30...they woke up 30 min. earlier (thanks a lot, Weissbluth )
*Second attmpt: "shorten their nap, it will be replaced by additional night sleep"...shortened nap from 3 hours to 2 hours...we had a few random nights (one-week trial) where one of the two would sleep until 6am, but not later than 6:30. One glorious night where BOTH slept until 6am (yes, this is considered a gift)
*Third attempt: "make bedtime later, they'll sleep later"....went back to the 8:00 bedtime tonight. We'll see what happens.
*FOURTH ATTEMPT?: I think I may also follow Diane's suggestion and throw a light blanket on them to see if that helps.