DS' Naps Are Falling Apart - Help!

patchen30

It used to be that I'd rock DS til he was asleep or just drowsy, put him down, he'd roll over and get comfy and be out.  Until Sept. he was taking a 2 hr nap in the AM and 1 hr nap in the PM, then all of a sudden he wanted to drop the 2nd nap.  I solved the issue by waking him after an hour of sleep in the AM...then he started taking an hour AM nap and a 2 hour PM nap. 

Now he's fighting both naps.  Instead of rolling over when I put him down he stands up and screams.  Then he either plays for 15 mins or so and goes to sleep, or he doesn't go to sleep at all. 

I was going back in to try and rock him back to sleep but it got counterproductive b/c he'd then just scream again after I put him back down...plus I didn't want to send the message that him screaming=me coming back.  I honestly just don't think he's that tired, plus he's in a phase of learning he can get his way sometimes if he tries.

Finally, I'm thinking of waking him in the morning per Ferber...for DS I've had success in the past w/ moving his sleep periods around - i.e. if he sleeps a half hour less at night he'd add it onto a nap, etc.

Questions are:  1) Should I switch him to 1 nap?  I'm afraid if I do it too soon he'll get overtired - this has been going on for about 5 days.  2) Am I doing the right thing by not going back in if he doesn't fall asleep (he cries for about 2 min, then is just awake).  3) Any other tips?  I'm afraid of him getting sleep deprived!!

ababymaybe

What does your day look like for wakeup time, bedtime, nap times?

I would probably try one nap and move bedtime earlier. See how he does with one nap after being awake for around 4.5 hours. Then bed 5.66 hours after the nap ends.

patchen30

ababymaybe:

What does your day look like for wakeup time, bedtime, nap times? I would probably try one nap and move bedtime earlier. See how he does with one nap after being awake for around 4.5 hours. Then bed 5.66 hours after the nap ends.

Wake up - between 6-6:30

Nap - between 9-9:30 (often fights it)

Nap - between 1:30-2 (often fights it)

Bath - 6:30

Bed - 7 (has been crying then laying awake for a good half hour before he falls asleep )

ababymaybe

We are in that 21 nap transition too. See how he does with a nap around 11:30, our usual schedule looked like yours and a nap starting between 11:3012 is working well for us.

patchen30

ababymaybe:

We are in that 21 nap transition too. See how he does with a nap around 11:30, our usual schedule looked like yours and a nap starting between 11:3012 is working well for us.

What do you do about lunch?  DS usually has a bottle at 10:30am and lunch at 1pm.  I was thinking of giving half his bottle at 10:30am, lunch at noon, then another half bottle after his PM nap.

Scramblersmom

I believe you answered your own question when you said "I honestly just don't think he's that tired..." I would drop one of the naps and maybe just put him down for a nap after lunch. I really do not think you need to worry about him being sleep deprived. If he is tired he will sleep for a longer time during his naps.

Just as a point of reference, DS wakes up no later than 7:15 am. He will take a very short cat nap in the car on the way to daycare and on the way home in the evening (like 15-20 mins max if at all). While at daycare he takes a nap anywhere from 1.5-3 hours depending on how tired he is but it is usually closer to 2 hours. At night he goes to bed around 9 pm. If I recall they only need about 12-14 hours per day of sleep.