Going to bed earlier

TJ1979 · May 2013

E seems to be a bit of a night owl. We try and try to move her bedtime up, because by the time I get her down, it's time for me to get ready for bed, so I don't have any time to do the dishes, pack lunches for the next day, or, God forbid, have a glass of wine and maybe watch a little TV. Is it even possible to move up a bedtime?

Every time I try to put E down earlier, when I start to nurse her she is just too busy to nurse. She wants to pop off and look around at everything, or squirms and tries to get down and play. If I go into a dark quiet room (like her nursery) she will just fidget and play with whatever she can get her hands on... usually my hair or clothes or nose. We do a whole bedtime routine with a bath and a book and a boob, but if she isn't ready, there just is no hope.

Is there a trick? Or do I just need to go off of her cues and keep letting her run the show? Getting her up earlier isn't an option, as she already wakes up for the day around 5:30 am. All I want is 15-30 minutes to sit down and rest before bed each night. Do I have any hope? TIA.

Cwhitaker27 · May 2013

I think it's totally possible. I guess my first question for you is, what time does she usually have her last nap of the day prior to going to bed? That could definitely impact her wanting to stay up later. Also, I'm on mobile. How old is E again?

mdiblasi10 · May 2013

I was going to ask the same as Cwhitaker. What time is her last nap, how many hours does she nap during the day and what time does she go to bed? She wakes up early too!

TJ1979 · May 2013

E is 9 and a half months (insert shocked face!)

Here is our schedule:

Wake up 5:30 - 6:00
Nap after 9:00 bottle for ~ 1 hour
Nap after 12:00 bottle for ~ 45 minutes
Nap around 4 for ~ 1 hour
Start bedtime routine around 8, nurse to sleep at 8:30. In her crib by 9.

So about 9 hours overnight, plus around 3 hours of naps = 12 hours per day. That's also part of why I want her to go to bed earlier so she can get a little more sleep. But she doesn't show signs of not getting enough sleep, she is happy all the time, not fussy, doesn't fall asleep in the car all the time, etc.

CallMeAl · May 2013

Ok, after reading your schedule, my advice is to consolidate her into a two nap kid. DD did it around 8 months, and I think 9 months is probably on track for most kids to go from 3 naps to 2. If it were me, I would try and keep her up longer after noon bottle and get a longer nap from about 2 to 4. When kids nap after 4 PM, it tends to mess up bedtime, in my experience.

Good luck!

BabyKsMommy · May 2013

Yah I would def say move to 2 naps. My son was at one nap around 11 months so I think that will help you get E down earlier.

TJ1979 · May 2013

CallMeAl:
Ok, after reading your schedule, my advice is to consolidate her into a two nap kid. DD did it around 8 months, and I think 9 months is probably on track for most kids to go from 3 naps to 2. If it were me, I would try and keep her up longer after noon bottle and get a longer nap from about 2 to 4. When kids nap after 4 PM, it tends to mess up bedtime, in my experience.Good luck!nbsp;

So she is in day care. They don't do scheduled naps, they go off of baby's cues. How do I get her to consolidate?

Cwhitaker27 · May 2013

CallMeAl:
Ok, after reading your schedule, my advice is to consolidate her into a two nap kid. DD did it around 8 months, and I think 9 months is probably on track for most kids to go from 3 naps to 2. If it were me, I would try and keep her up longer after noon bottle and get a longer nap from about 2 to 4. When kids nap after 4 PM, it tends to mess up bedtime, in my experience.Good luck!nbsp;

I agree with this. The 4 o'clock nap is most likely the culprit but unfortunately DS doesn't go to daycare so I don't have any input on how to change things up. Maybe you can tell your daycare provider your dilemma to see if they can try to eliminate/ move up that 4 o'clock nap.

mdiblasi10 · May 2013

Cwhitaker27:
CallMeAl:
Ok, after reading your schedule, my advice is to consolidate her into a two nap kid. DD did it around 8 months, and I think 9 months is probably on track for most kids to go from 3 naps to 2. If it were me, I would try and keep her up longer after noon bottle and get a longer nap from about 2 to 4. When kids nap after 4 PM, it tends to mess up bedtime, in my experience.Good luck!nbsp;
I agree with this. The 4 o'clock nap is most likely the culprit but unfortunately DS doesn't go to daycare so I don't have any input on how to change things up. Maybe you can tell your daycare provider your dilemma to see if they can try to eliminate/ move up that 4 o'clock nap.

TJ - My daycare does the same - follows baby's cues. They did ask me if late afternoon naps interfered with Grayson's nighttime sleep, and fortunately when he does take one later on occasion, it hasn't caused a problem. I am sure you could tell them and they can try and help with her nap time schedule. I have noticed lately that they try to put G down for three naps, but they are getting shorter and shorter and a lot of days he only takes two naps. His total nap hours tend to be around 1 1/2 to 2 hours as well. Good luck! I definitely appreciate the hour I have to cleanup, prepare meals for the next day, lounge, etc. so I understand.

CallMeAl · May 2013

Cwhitaker27:
CallMeAl:
Ok, after reading your schedule, my advice is to consolidate her into a two nap kid. DD did it around 8 months, and I think 9 months is probably on track for most kids to go from 3 naps to 2. If it were me, I would try and keep her up longer after noon bottle and get a longer nap from about 2 to 4. When kids nap after 4 PM, it tends to mess up bedtime, in my experience.Good luck!nbsp;

I agree with this. The 4 o'clock nap is most likely the culprit but unfortunately DS doesn't go to daycare so I don't have any input on how to change things up. Maybe you can tell your daycare provider your dilemma to see if they can try to eliminate/ move up that 4 o'clock nap.

I would let daycare know that you are having bed time issues and ask if they could work with you to eliminate or move up the afternoon nap. I've had similar convos with my daycare about naps, and they have always been willing to work with me. I hope it works!

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