XP: Screaming Through Naps

Eitak82 · July 2014

DS (17 months) has always been a rockstar night time sleeper (12 - 12.5 hours straight with no wake ups) and "ehh" when it comes to naps. We did CIO nap training (ferber) and got to a much better place with naps (1 nap per day lasting about 1.5 hours - sometimes longer, sometimes a little less). We recently moved to a new state and he seems to have done fantastic with the transition, in that he seems himself, he loves our new home, etc, but since moving his naps have gone to hell!

He's actually increased the amount of nighttime sleep he gets (he used to be up at 6:45 am on the dot, now he sleeps in till 7:00 or 7:15), but for the past couple of weeks naps have been a terror. I've tried the same time as usual, a little earlier, a little later, and I just seem to get the same result... about 25-35 minutes of standing up in the crib, crying (on and off - but standing the whole time). He has his lovey which he is very attached to, and we've kept the nap time routine the same, so I'm not sure what the deal is. I tried going in yesterday to calm him, but seem to have just prolonged it because as soon as I left he started crying full force again.

He seems to like his crib and actually asks to go in for a nap by waking over and pointing to it, but once I leave its a mess!

Should I start waking him at 6:45 am again? Any tips/things to try?

Thanks in advance!

ashiscute · July 2014

Is he super tired without his nap? 17 mos is really young to give up a nap. But both of my kids sleep less at night and take a good nap. They usually average 10- 10.5 hours of sleep at night and then take a good 2- 2.5 hour nap. Maybe he is getting enough sleep at night that he isn't tired enough for a nap?

Will he nap with you? I would try laying down with him to see if he'll nap that way for a few days and then maybe go back to the crib. There's a lot of things that could be a factor so I'm just throwing some things around. Hopefully something clicks for him!

landrews · July 2014

maybe your LO is going thru the 18-month sleep regression. My daughter did this for exactly 1 month (started when she was 17months). I am very against sleep crutches, but I knew this phase would pass, so we resorted to whatever worked to get her for a small nap (usually a car ride). I did this, in order to keep her nap a part of the daily routine. The "no nap" situation ended just as suddenly as it had started - after exactly a month. She went back to napping like usual.

I know some kids experience sleep regression with nighttime sleep, but that wasn't the case for us, and it sounds you could be dealing with the same. I felt lucky!

pb_bride · July 2014

I do think that your LO is getting all his sleep at nighttime, so even though he's tired during the day, his body isn't capable of actually sleeping (this is all in the Ferber's book). So yes, I'd say try waking him up early again (or go to bed later) so he has enough sleep drive during the day to nap.

I think toddlers this age get 13-14hours of sleep total per day.

For DS, I've found that if he sleeps 11.5 hrs at night, he'll only take a 1.5 hr nap during the day.

However, on days he wakes early (like today) so he gets less sleep, he'll take a longer nap (3 hours today and counting!)

Eitak82 · July 2014

Thank you, ladies! After reading your posts... #1 I just feel better! and #2 I realized that I had NO IDEA about an 18 month sleep regression (gahh!!!). It sounds like that may to blame for some of this, but I am also going to try getting him up at his old time of 6:45 again.

Thank you!

cedenton · July 2014

pb_bride said:

I do think that your LO is getting all his sleep at nighttime, so even though he's tired during the day, his body isn't capable of actually sleeping (this is all in the Ferber's book). So yes, I'd say try waking him up early again (or go to bed later) so he has enough sleep drive during the day to nap.

I think toddlers this age get 13-14hours of sleep total per day.

For DS, I've found that if he sleeps 11.5 hrs at night, he'll only take a 1.5 hr nap during the day.
However, on days he wakes early (like today) so he gets less sleep, he'll take a longer nap (3 hours today and counting!)

I can't say I really agree with the above. sleep troubles are hard because every kid is different. My kid sleeps10-11 hrs at night on a weekday and maybe 2 hours at naptime at daycare. On the weekends, though, he'll sleep 13-14 hrs at night and take a 3 hour nap. He likes to sleep.

I would just keep at it for a while and I bet he'll eventually get back to his routine. That's a lot of change all at once. Have you tried white noise?

=Lee=B · July 2014

I vote for toddler sleep regression. I've worked with many, many children that try to give up naps around 18months who all go back to being solid nappers if they are continued on the usual nap schedule with a bit of creativity on the parents/caregivers behalf. Sometimes as the above poster said it's napping in the car for a few days to keep the habit going, other times it's a parent sitting beside the crib...what ever it takes.

Sleep is crucial for brain development and no matter how much that sleep at night they do need a nap (in the absolute minimum a quiet rest period) to let that little brain recharge. It's so important for the brain to stay rested.

My 16.5 month old easily does 12hrs at night (we have to wake her for daycare, she does 13+ on weekends) and then does a 3-4hr nap every day. Obviously not every child will sleep that much but don't give up try everything you can to keep the habit of napping each day going...the hard work should soon pay off with him returning to taking that nap with less work on your behalf.

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