Sleep advice for barely 2 yr old

MatteosMama

Let me just preface by saying that when I took my son for his 2 yr well-child checkup, of course none of this was happening so I didn't ask pedi about this ;-)

DS just turned 2 at the beginning of March.  Since 6 months he's had a 9:30ish bedtime & his waking time has varied depending on his age.  We've also kept the same bedtime routine since 6 months & overall I'd say he does pretty well.  For the past 4 weeks however, he's been getting up around 6 in the morning (previously around 8) & is usually pretty cranky/zombie-like; like he hasn't slept long enough.  

I've tried "ignoring" him for nearly an hour to see if he'll go back to sleep, putting him in bed with me to have him go back to sleep, etc., but nothing has worked.  He's also not waking up for any apparent "reason" (like dirty diapers, loud noises, sun coming in his room etc.).  I know to many 9:30-6 is a good chunk of sleep, and I would have no problem with it if he was cheerful upon awakening like he has always been in the past, but when he gets up too soon like this he's irritable for the rest of the day.

 What do I do??!!  Is this just a phase that I wait out?  Should I wait longer to go get him in the morning (he's not crying in there, just shouting for me periodically)?  Is his considerable crankiness a developmental phase & not related to this new sleep pattern?  

 Would love to hear everyone's experience/advice/opinion!  TIA!

MrsWindyCity

I know you said the sun doesn't seem to be a factor, but are you sure? The only reason I ask is that if it's been happening 4 weeks, that's how long ago DST was. 

If not, I would probably just try leaving him there and hope he falls back asleep (especially since he doesn't seem to be upset/crying when he wakes), or try an earlier bedtime so that if he still wakes up that early, he's at least gotten more sleep total. 

k.martell

How long does he nap?

2 year olds need about 12-14 hrs of total sleep (nap + night).  I hnad to start putting DD down later because her naps went from 1 to 2-3 hrs and she was waking before 6a.  She naps around 1:30-2, and then goes for bed between 8:15-8:30p.  Normally she wakes for the day between 7-8a.

gwennec

Sounds like he might be going to bed too late. My daughter is a mess if she goes down after 7pm, we start bath and bedtime routine at 6pm and she is in bed around 6:45pm at the latest. She sleeps till about 6am, was previously sleeping till 7:30/8pm, but even with the blackout curtains and blinds, the sun is definitely a factor in the earlier wakeups.

I would try to put him down earlier at night, he may sleep longer in the morning. 6am is a normal wakeup. And if not, at least he will start getting more sleep overall.

MatteosMama

Hmm...I will have to think about an earlier bedtime.  We've always put him down between 9-10 b/c DH & I are both physicians & nighttime is often the only time we have with DS, but we'll see...

Torani

Is he still in a crib or toddler bed?  DS1 started sleeping about two hours later when we moved him to a "big boy" bed because the mattress was much more comfortable.

q4466w

Everything I have read from doctors who specialize in sleep medicine says that 6-8 p.m. is the best bed time range for this age and that later bed times can cause less sleep overall.  Maybe try 8-8:30 and see if that helps after awhile?  I also have a two year old who is suddenly resisting going to sleep when he used to fall asleep right away.  I think that is mostly developmental.

MrsRon

gwennec:

Sounds like he might be going to bed too late. My daughter is a mess if she goes down after 7pm, we start bath and bedtime routine at 6pm and she is in bed around 6:45pm at the latest. She sleeps till about 6am, was previously sleeping till 7:30/8pm, but even with the blackout curtains and blinds, the sun is definitely a factor in the earlier wakeups.

I would try to put him down earlier at night, he may sleep longer in the morning. 6am is a normal wakeup. And if not, at least he will start getting more sleep overall.

This almost exactly.  DS #1 turned 2 at the end of February, and his bedtime is 7:30.  It is sad that evenings are your only time with him, though, and it would be really sad if you had to give that up.  I don't envy your predicament.