Sleep patterns

India has always slept a lot. When she was a baby she used to sleep most of the daylight hours, too. More recently she has shifted her falling asleep time to later and later. I have been having trouble to stay awake as late as she. It was not uncommon for me to fall asleep a couple times and wake up immediate because India was still in full swing. Sometimes I was not able to stay awake no matter what. (Minna's comment: I did stay awake, so it's not as if she was abandoned).

A few weeks ago we agreed that they wake India up at the creche from her afternoon nap after one hour, and not let her sleep for as long as she wanted. That did not have the desired effect. She didn't go to sleep any earlier than normal, and it was just harder to get her up in the mornings.

Last week India started having uncontrollable crying fits. She started crying after any random minor incident and would go on for a long time. She did that at creche as well as at home. Everyone was concerned.

This Monday, Julie, who runs the creche, suggested that we leave the afternoon nap completely out. I was concerned since several weeks ago India did not have her afternoon nap and fell asleep before 7 PM. Every time she woke up again before 10 PM and went on until 2 AM.

We decided to give Julie's idea a chance and try it a for a week. As result, India has come home from the creche, played a little, gone for a swim in the pool, had dinner and fallen promptly and easily a sleep every day soon after 7 PM so far. She has woken up a couple of times a night for a drink or wee, but has continued sleeping again without any problems.

At 8 AM, we still have to wake her up from a deep sleep, but she has been fine all day. She has not had these crying fits at all. In fact, she is proud of herself being such a big girl that she stays awake when most of the others sleep. She is now 3 years and 3 months old.