Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

The "old dog" is my 20 mth old DD and I truly love her with all my heart but she has no bedtime schedule. The past three weeks she has been going to bed at 11pm!!!

She wakes between 8 and 9, naps between 1 and 3 or 2 and 4 and goes to bed between 10 and 11. All wrong...right?

Any advice?

TIA

Message edited 10/18/2007 2:01:21 PM.

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

It doesn't sound that bad, what do you want to change? earlier bedtime?

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

When you find out please let me know. My 2yr won't nap in the early part of the day anymore. He tends to fall asleep when I go pick ds up from school at 3:30pm and then he sleeps until 5pm and then he's up until 11-11:30. Atleast that's how this wk has been

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

not wrong at all. just put her to bed earlier and maybe let her nap a 1/2 hour less in the afternoon!

Try it and give it 5 days. I bet after 5 days she'll be in the routine.

GL!!!

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

I dont think thats bad either. Does it work for you?

My DD (5 months old) goes down at 9:30...sometimes 10,sometimes later, (each nite differs but never earlier) but I have for wake her in the am to go to daycare. It works for me....she sleeps when Im getting ready in the am.

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Yes...earlier bedtime...I have Zero time to myself and also need to work in the evenings so if she could be in bed by 9 it would be great..and she doesnt just chill out in the evenings...she is racing around the house like a maniac, whining and wanting me to sit and BF here although she doesnt even BF when it comes down to it....I know she is just looking for my attention but after taking care of her all day and working I have nothing left after 9pm at night.

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Do you have a good bedtime routine established? Try to start thing rolling earlier to get her prepared for bed. Try winding down the whole house earlier.

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

You could wake her up earlier like 7am so she naps earlier and is tired for bed earlier.

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

I have tried waking her earlier as I know that is a problem but she cries and wants to stay in bed then she is grumpy all morning if I insist....

Her bedtime routine is probably bad too as she eats dinner, has a bath, plays a little, gets a story read etc and thats it....she wont go in her crib so she basically stays downstairs with us until she falls asleep. I have tried taking her to her room to wind her down that way but she just tears the room apart and after an hour or so I give up!

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Julia was never on a schedule and would go to bed around that same time 11pm, and would wake at 9-9:30. She is going to bed earlier now that shes older and does more, but she still wakes up late in the AM, I'm not complaining one bit--lol

I really wouldn't worry!

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

If you wake her earlier and can take her outside or keep her busy she'll get used to waking up that early adn shift her schedule earlier. Funny because I want Ryan to go to sleep a little later. He goes to bed at 6:30 It is nice for having evenings to get things done and relax, though

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Can we switch? I have a DD who can't manage to stay up past 7pm and is up at 5:30 am

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Posted by CkGm

Can we switch? I have a DD who can't manage to stay up past 7pm and is up at 5:30 am

Re: Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

Thanks Ladies....glad to know some of you are in the same boat and when I see that some of your little ones are awake to see the sunrise it makes me kind of glad to have a night owl...although it would be nice to have a conversation with DH sometime this century or god forbid have a glass of wine and chill out!!!

Thanks