So, for the longest time DD would scream bloody murder at bedtime and wouldn't fall asleep til she tired herself out at 10 or 11 (we were trying to soothe the entire time)...well, we figured out that she was hungry so she gets a supplemental bottle of formula in the evening now. So, now we can get her asleep at around 7...
But, she wakes up around 7:45/8 and thinks it is time to play, as if she was taking a nap! So, she'll fuss if we try to get her to sleep and just wants to play & laugh. She eventually falls asleep again at 9:30 or 10, but this is just exhausting - for both of us and she is always cranky during the day because I'm pretty sure she is sleep deprived as she is a bad napper too.
Any ideas about how to get her to go back to sleep? I wish it was winter so her room would be darker when she wakes up.
Re: DD thinks 8PM is play time...help please
The only manifastation of the 4 month wakeful for my DS was a later bed-time. He used to go to bed VERY consistently at 7:30 PM...when he turned 4 months, he suddenly had a much later bedtime (anywhere between 9 and 11!!). Tonight was actually the first night he went down at a semi-normal time...7:45...but woke at 8:45...had a boob...fell RIGHT back asleep and has been sleeping since then.
For our DS 8pm is playtime. He has a last chance to tire himself out before going up to his room to nurse and go to bed. He's usually out by 9-9:30. He sleeps till 6-6:30, so he's getting 9 hours at night. Our pedi said this is just fine. Plus he takes a few 30-45 minute naps and one longer one during the day. All in all I know he's getting the sleep he needs, it just doesn't fit people's typical expectations of a baby that sleeps for 12 hours.
Maybe your DD just has a later sleep cycle, why not try a later bedtime. She may nap better during the day.