Bed Times

SummerBeans

We pick our son up from DC anywhere between 4:30-5pm. We used to start the bed time routine around 7:30pm most nights, as he would start to get cranky right about that time and that was a good time for all of us. We would get a few hours of playtime in each night which was nice.

The last few weeks he has been getting crankier earlier each day! Last night bathtime started just after 6pm... Is this normal? Is daycare just tiring him out? I know he is not hungry because he is cranky even after nursing.

LoCarb

It's normal,especially since he is so young. In the infant phase, my girls went through 6 wk phases of 'something or other'. He may be staying awake longer during the day (as he gets older) at DC and becoming tired more at night.

EastCoastBride

Big picture, if you know at what time he starts to get cranky, start your routine earlier than that so that he's going to bed when he starts to show signs of being tired.  That might actually help his overall sleep - I know it did w/ DS when he was a baby!

Now, that did mean that for the longest time, he was going to bed by 6 or 6:30.  

Even now, at 3, he's still usually in bed by 7. 

QueSrah

By 6 or 8 months, DD's bedtime (as in - in the crib, us leaving the room) started moving back from 7:30 to 7:15 and then 7 and then eventually 6:50 or so by the time she was one.  We would start bathtime around 6:30 back then.  It's totally normal for babies to settle into earlier bedtimes.  What time does he get up for the day?

skyejo

This sounds pretty normal to me.  We didn't have a set bedtime for DD the first year or so.  We put her to bed when she showed signs of being tired because every day was different.  If she played all day and took short naps she would crash early, but if she slept a bunch she would stay up later. Her beditme varied from 7pm to 8pm. Now at 17 months she stays up until 9pm. 

SummerBeans

Thanks everyone. He had been getting up around 6-6:15 (we had to wake him many days), but today it was 5am....

I figure this is just a phase. It is just frustrating because sometimes the quality time is minimal on week days! I feel so bad

CrazyToast

My question is what time does your child wake up in the morning?  My DD is allowed to sleep in, because she doesn't go to DC, but is home with DH.  The overall total sleep is so important, especially at such a young age.  I do remember feeling like I never got to see my DD when she was about that age - she'd sleep a ton!

SummerBeans

We do have a very structured bedtime. I guess I just have to get used to the idea that it will basically start when we get in the door each night!

We do book, bath, lotion, bottle and he usally sleeps through the night. He actually seems to know what is coming next.... He gets about 11 hours of sleep most nights. I need to talk to daycare about naps. He does not always get a decent afternoon nap

KathrynMD

Sounds pretty normal to me.  I would bet your LO is dropping a nap and going to down to just 2 naps instead of 3 or if he's already down to 2, I'll bet his afternoon nap is getting shorter.

I would work on shortening your bedtime/bath routine and see if you can get it down to 20 minutes or so. 

ksyknelvr73

We still have to let DS get a quick nap in each afternoon. My DH usually picks him up around 4:00 and immediately puts him down for a nap, he usually only sleeps about 45ish minutes or so and then he is great the rest of the evening. Is that an option for you guys? DS's bedtime is 8:00, if that helps.