Is there any way...

MrsRichardson915

to move a nap earlier? Here is my dilemma. DD wakes up every day around 7. Usually the latest she sleeps is 7:30. She has been taking only one nap since about 14 months. She used to take that nap between 1 to 2, and she would sleep about 2 and 1/2 to 3 hours most days. Well, lately she has been fighting her nap like crazy, and some days I get her up, let her play some more, and put her back down...sometimes as late as four! Then she will sleep until 6 or 6:30, and go to bed for the night at 8:30. I don't have any problem getting her to go to bed at night, so I don't think the late nap is really hurting her, but it is pushing our dinnertime to 7, and I am having a really hard time getting anything done during the day!!!! Also, I'm not really into the idea of getting her up any earlier than 7.

Anyone have any ideas/suggestions/similar experience?

Dani123

What do you mean when you say fighting the nap? Like she doesnt want to go in her room even? or like she just la-te-dah's in bed? 

DD#1 wakes up at 830am and I tell her we have to go lay down around 1-2pm, sometimes she goes right out, sometimes she'll lay around till 3ish before she falls asleep.  There is a time or 2 when its not happening and Ill just go get her out but its rare....

I dont think its abnormal that she doesnt fall asleep right away... mine doesnt either... But by 2pm she is DEF ready!!....Maybe start at 1230-1, this way if you have to get her up, youll be putting her back dwn around 230 -3, not 4.  OR just wait till 2 and only put her down once.

neverblushed

Move it up gradually, 10 minutes each day?

Another idea is to stop letting her get up and play more, then start her nap again at a later time.  Put her in bed at the normal time, have her stay in bed for at least an hour, even if she doesn't fall asleep.  At the end of the hour "nap" is over and she gets up.  Adjust bedtime to a slightly earlier time (1/2 hour earlier?) because she'll be tired in the evening, but otherwise keep everything the same.

My kids went through periods when they were less sleepy and more wakeful, increasing in frequency from about age 2 until they dropped nap entirely closer to 4.  The days when she is unwilling to konk out at the normal time may be something similar.  Having her "rest" instead of taking a really late nap might maintain your schedule a bit better.

 

MrsRichardson915

She tries to avoid at first, like she suddenly has the urge to clean up every toy she played with that morning...or she HAS to push her doll stroller around the living room one more time lol. Then she is quiet the first 10-15 minutes and then she just yells, talks, etc for a very long time. She has been in there today for about two hours and still going strong.

I definitely don't think she should fall right to sleep, even though she used to. But no matter what time I start her, she just isn't falling asleep until that four o'clock time. Even if I get her back up and put her back down at 3, she is wide awake until 4 or so. If I try to put her down any earlier than 1:30 or 2, she will definitely fight going into the crib. She will cling to me, arch her back, do whatever she can to avoid going in there.

Dani123

Awww yea I agree with NB....Id leave her for an hour, even 2 I think it fine..As long as shes just talking and hanging out and not 'crying'.  Nap time doesnt have to be SLEEP time as long as its rest time...Those days she doesnt sleep she'll just be super ready at bed time, maybe even a half hour earlier. (this is what happens to us)

Your sched will stay the same....Id just pick a time and stick to that, dont take her out unless obv. shes screaming or something.

MrsRichardson915

Thanks ladies, that sounds like a plan...she just fell asleep fifteen minutes ago of course!