20 month old's sleep gotten weird last two weeks......

noahchristopher

For the past two weeks, our son's sleep has been disturbed I guess you could say.

He's normally a great sleeper, and has been for quite some time now.  He had a tough month around 15-16 mos when we switched to one nap, but his sleep has been great since.

Past two weeks both his naps and night sleep have shortened a lot.  Between the two, he's getting about an hour and a half less sleep overall in 24 hours. And his wake up time in the morning is getting earlier and earlier too.  It's was between 6:45am-7am, and today it was 5:55am!  Yuck!  He's mostly been happy with some meltdowns here and there, but not too bad.

He's teething like crazy, but up til now teeth haven't really been much of an issue.  Right now he's getting his bottom two canine teeth.

The other thing is that it's taking him 30-35 mins to fall asleep for bedtime.  He isn't crying, but just awake looking around.  He's actually quiet, but just wide awake.  We have a video monitor.  He used to fall asleep in 15mins or so for bedtime.

So, I'm wondering if it's teething, developmental stuff going on in his head, or does he just need that much less sleep and I need to tweek his routine (like later nap and later bed time).

I feel like he's overtired, but I always lean in that direction.

Anyone have the same thing happen or similar????

Duffgurl

I am guessing teething because I am going through the same thing. My LO has been having very very rough sleeping with this teething this time. Hopefully it will pass and soon.

FabulousMrs.P

Teeth...the canines can be really nasty...we're getting them right now and my normally great sleeper is not sleeping the way she usually does. Additionally, she is getting a diaper rash...she has never had one before. And the nose has started running like it does with the other teeth.

I bet once those canines come through he will go back to his normal sleep patterns.

 

 

bluejetta

Yes. DD's sleep also shortened (and we already had an early to bed and early to rise little girl) in last 2 months. It seemed to coincide with daylight savings and turning 19 months. She used to be out in 5 mins and now spends up to 30 mins happily babbling at bedtime (nap is still out like a light) and she wakes a bit earlier -- though I'd be glad for 6am since we get 5:30 or even 5.

I'm chalking it up to development - she has so many words and is learning like crazy I think she just needs the wind down time. Some days she is definitely overtired but other days not. She tends to make up the sleep after a few days with a really long nap or later morning but she's still happy. I just keep her routine and haven't adjusted bedtime later in hopes that she might shift it earlier again.  She has also always been a bit on the lighter side of sleep and since it is has now been almost 2 months of this I can't say it is just a fluke so we'll see. 

melissa0726

Ahhh, glad to hear I'm not the only one!  DD's sleep has been awful for about two weeks now.  She's sleeping much less in a 24 hour period, night wakings, and having trouble settling for a nap. 

I haven't seen any sign of teeth, so I've been guessing developmental.  I think she's working on some new words, so waiting to see if we have a language explosion upon us.  

noahchristopher

Thank you for all the helpful insights ladies!  At least I know I'm not the only one!It's so hard to tell if it's just a phase, or a need for a tweek in routine, like longer awake times, or later nap, later bedtime, which I guess is longer awake times.

He had a good nap yesterday, an hour and 45 mins and last night he slept from 7:05pm until 6:15am so a good night too.  But today his nap was only an hour.  He woke up fussing which he never does.  I went in and he clung to me and hugged me hard.  I  held him for a few mins and said shhhhhhh.  Iaid him back down and he stayed laying down quiet and content but didn't go back to sleep.

I'm thinking I will try early bedtime and early nap for a few more days. If nothing changes, I'll assume he needs a later nap and bed time I guess.  Thanks again for all the help.