15 month old and naps

[Summerdays2014]

Hi everyone. Apologies for another thread (I feel like I've been posting all the time about various problems) but I could use your help again. I have got to get naps sorted! I posted this in chat thinking I might get some different views, but haven't had much response.

My son will be 15 months in a couple of days. He seems to be tired by 9-9.30am (wakes at 6) but fights going to sleep. He is then totally miserable until lunch at 11 - 11.30ish. What often happens is he falls asleep in the car on our way to a morning activity but I wake him when I get there so he has about 15 minutes. He will then fight like crazy about going down after lunch (suspect he is not really tired after his cat nap) so I give up and then he either falls asleep at 3ish or is a mess by bedtime. I always make sure he is awake by 3.30. Some days we have done a single nap for one to two hours early morning and he has been ok ish awake from 12 to 7pm bedtime, so maybe I should try and do that every day? It's always changing isn't it?!? He does a 2 hour nap at nursery from 12. Big bonus is that he is sleeping from 7-6ish at the moment (touch wood) and I don't want to mess that up.

My other problem is that I can't get him to sleep in the cot for his naps. I gave up trying about 5 months ago as it was just too stressful and now I feel stuck. Tried the other day and he just screamed and screamed. He does sleep in his cot at night and self settles. My husband puts him down every night as he won't do it for me. He just cries. I don't know what to do! I wonder if I can get him down at night (tried again again the other night but full on crying so husband took over as I was so upset) he would go down for naps? Although my husband has been off work this week and tried to put him down for a nap, but that resulted in crying as well.

Sorry this has been long and rambling... just trying to get my thoughts straight I guess. Also extra sensitive at the moment as my son is going through an 'only want daddy' phase. Thanks for reading.

[Liskee]

I'm currently trying to get my 9 month old DS2 to sleep in his cot for naps and night time sleep. By this stage DS1 was a pro at both and would sleep nowhere but cot but this one is a different story! We're taking it very slowly. Naps are feed/rock to sleep with white noise playing. So far I get one-two sleep cycles per nap and we stick to strict nap times to get him used to it. We're getting there.

Perhaps you need to be really strict with the lunchtime nap only routine? I know it's hard to keep them awake in the car but singing songs, talking, distracting him with whats out the window might work. Then for a while do your usual rock him, snuggle him to sleep at that time before progressing to laying him in his cot once he's asleep to putting him down awake once he's gotten used to the cot and being in it during the day.

It's really hard to get it right but I think the best thing is consistent routine in both nursery and at home (i.e. The lunchtime nap). Then all you're working on is how he takes it.

[Liskee]

Oh and I know the Daddy, Daddy phase all to well. DS1 has been on it since about year old. He's now 2.4 and only just accepting me as an alternative happily. It's upsetting at times I know, but it's not personal and your DS doesn't hate you. I like to think I'm just being taken for granted as it's accepted I'm always there whereas Daddy comes and goes.

[Summerdays2014]

Thanks LisKee. I think you're right - routine is key (I've always loved having a structure to follow!)

[FATEdestiny]

I'd follow nurseries lead, at 15 months he could be on 1-nap days. So like nursery, just power through the morning. Keep hom going. Actively keep him awake if he might falls asleep.

Then 11.30am dinner and 12pm nap.

[Summerdays2014]

Thank you fate. That's what I want to do, it's just hard to keep him awake and he gets so grumpy. Do you think he will quickly get used to his new nap time? Or will he be tired and grumpy forever?!?

[NapQueen]

Would he nap in his buggy? Either on a walk or in a darkened room and pushed back and forth?

[FATEdestiny]

Are nursery telling you he is tired and grumpy with them when he has a single 12pm nap?

[Summerdays2014]

No, nursery say he happy and smiley all day. Puts himself to self, sleeps on his own without being held for 1.5 to 2 hours. Goodness knows how they do it!

[Summerdays2014]

Napqueen-he won't nap in the buggy. Only on me or in the car.

[FATEdestiny]

At nursery he really will have 'power through the tiredness' mornings. It's about keeping him active, busy, lots of changing and engaging activities so he doesn't have time to realise he's tired or grumpy

It will be hard work on you until he gets used to it

Regarding where he naps, if nursery can get him in a cot then again, I'd follow their lead. Make it non negotiable. Stay with him, pat shush and whatnot.