-
Hi Giedre!
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my earlier questions — I really appreciate it.
It’s great to hear that her morning wake-up time has remained consistent and that she continues to sleep well during naps — those are really encouraging signs.
I just have a few more follow-up questions (sorry!) as I’m trying to determine whether the best approach would be to shift her bedtime earlier or to explore a technique called bedtime fading, which can help little ones relearn how to fall asleep more easily at night. When you have time, could you please answer the questions below?
Nap Routine
-
You mentioned her nap starts sometime between 11:00 AM and 12:00 PM. Is there a reason for this variation? Would you be able to offer the nap at a consistent time each day, like exactly 11:00 AM, or is the timing dependent on her wake windows?
-
Who usually puts her down for naps and bedtime? Is it always you, or do you do naps and someone else handles bedtime?
Bedtime Routine Details
From what you shared, I’m guessing her bedtime routine might look something like this:
-
Optional bath
-
Diaper change
-
Pajamas
-
Walk into the bedroom
-
Close the curtains
-
Turn on lullaby (is this instead of a white noise machine? And do you keep the lullaby on all night?)
-
Read a book
-
Sing a lullaby while rocking her
-
Put her down in the crib
Does that sound right?
Also, do you include a feed before bedtime? If so, where does that feed fit into the routine?
Bedtime Timing & Response
-
What time do you start the bedtime routine?
-
What time do you typically lay her down in the crib?
When you first place her in the crib:
-
What does she do?
-
What do you do in response?
For example, do you lay her down, leave the room, and then return if she starts crying, using the settling pyramid until you end up picking her up and rocking her to sleep? Or do you lay her down, she protests, and you then hold, rock, or feed her, repeating this process until she eventually falls asleep around 9:30 PM?
Sleep Associations & Resistance
-
You mentioned she sometimes falls asleep on her own with some help. Could you describe what that “help” looks like?
-
Is 9:30 PM her consistent fall-asleep time, or does it vary? If it varies are you able to record the time that she wakes up from her nap, as well as, the time she falls asleep and stays asleep for the next 3 – 4 nights to try and identify her natural bedtime and wake window?
-
When she resists bedtime, do you feel she’s actually tired but unable to fall asleep, or more wired and not yet ready for sleep? (For example, if you held her immediately after the routine, would she fall asleep quickly — or remain wide-awake?)
1 Nap vs 2 Nap Schedule
-
You mentioned she was previously on a 2-nap schedule and that it pushed bedtime to 10 PM or later. Would you say that dropping to one nap has made her generally happier and easier to settle overall, or are things still just as challenging?
Evening Environment & Sleep Space
-
In the lead-up to bedtime (e.g. after dinner), is the house environment already winding down — dim lights, quiet play? Or are the lights still bright and maybe a screen or TV on in the background?
-
What time does it typically get dark outside?
-
Is her crib in your room or in her own room?
-
Does she sleep in the same sleep space (same room, same crib) for both naps and bedtime?
Sleep Aids & Earlier Bedtime Attempts
-
Just checking — she’s not using a pacifier, right? I remember she didn’t take to one when she was younger, but just wanted to confirm.
-
Lastly, you mentioned you tried an earlier bedtime. Could you let me know what time you tried, and what happened when you did?
Thanks again for taking the time to answer these questions— I know it’s a lot, but your answers will really help me suggest the most effective next step for both of you.
Thanks,
Emma -