Night waking in 14 month old

QUESTION

I'm having problems with my 14month old baby girl at night....for the past 3-4 weeks she's been waking up at 2-3am crying and we cannot calm her down unless we show her videos on our iPads or cellphones to distract her....this lasts for about an hour or more until she is eventually too tired to watch and then falls asleep again. I don't believe it's night terrors as she is fully awake in her cot when I go to her room.Could it just be nightmares as she is developing an active imagination? For the past 3-4 weeks she has also been sleeping much later...between 9pm-10pm. She doesn't seem tired before then. She used to sleep at 7pm.She has 2 naps a day for about an hour but not all days.Please could you give me advice on how to prevent her early-morning cries

ANSWER

Start by establishing a firm day-sleep routine – one midday sleep from 12 to 2 and then bedtime at 7pm latest. Start the bedtime routine earlier to give her time to get drowsy. I would also deworm her and give her an iron and magnesium supplement, particularly if she is a fussy eater.  Have a night light in her room or leave the passage light on. Keep her in her cot at this age. When she wakes, do not offer anything other than a little cuddle – no iPad, and nothing to eat. Be consistent and loving.