10 mth old suddenly going crazy at nap time

[starkadder]

:-( He's 10 months today. He was always a terrible daytime napper (always refused to sleep in his cot - we used to pace the streets instead) but for the last 6 weeks or so has been great - no crying at all, or just a whine for a minute or two, and then napped for 45mins-1/5 hrs, twice a day.

He's been ill last week and now suddenly absolutely refuses again to nap in his cot. Also, he's just learned to pull himself up on the furniture so now he pulls himself up by the bars of his cot and stands there howling or weeping piteously. It's awful.

Bedtime is fine - we put him in his cot awake, he settles with no fuss and he sleeps through from about 8pm to about 8am. Touch wood.

I just don't know what to do about the haps. We put him down this morning and he screamed and cried for an hour - I went in every 10 mins and tried to shush him, sing to him, etc etc but he was even more upset by me being in there and not taking him out. In the end we've taken him out and DH has taken him out in the pram, even though it's snowing outside.

What are we supposed to do??? Please help...I don't know if we're doing the wrong thing by giving up and taking him out in the pram - I really don't want us to have to get back into doing that every day, twice a day for his naps. But I also can't bear leaving him to cry. We did do CC when he was 6.5 mths but at bed time, and he NEVER cried as long as he has today.

Starkadder - Sorry I don't have an answer but we have the same problem with a five month old who was teething this week and now loathes naptime. I too have been pacing the snowy streets this morning and am frankly terrified about the week ahead. Hope someone comes along soon with some reassurance/ideas - it's horrible, isn't it, when you know they need to sleep but they're screaming like never before.

Could he just be becoming more aware of the things he misses out on when he is asleep? It could be a case of increased nosiness and wanting to get his own way.
Could you try varying nap time a bit? Maybe half an hour later than usual? Develop a nap time routine just like a bed time routine - although without bath, obviously?
IME, they go through funny phases and then they settle down again. It is horrble though while it lasts, so my sympathies.

Here is another thought: at 10 months, maybe he is at the point where 2 naps a day is too much, but he is still to tired to get away with one, very awkward transition. Sorry, do not have an answer to that one, other than that it will pass.
With all sleep problems it helped me to remind myself, that by the time he is 16 I will prob have problems getting him OUT of bed..

Good luck!

He could be trying to drop his morning nap. DS did at 11 months.
I agree with Mummyfor3 - try making his morning nap later and see if that works.
It's hard when they are between needing 1 and 2 naps as by the time the afternoon nap rolls round they are knackered! However DS always fell asleep really quickly then as he was so tired.
If it's any consolation, he's 15months now and sleeps better than ever. Regularly has 12 hours at night and 2-3 hour naps when at home (less at nursery) so he's actually sleeping more during the day now than when he had 2 naps.

Thanks everyone :-) We went out for the day and feel a bit more human now, plus he fell asleep on the way home so we have achieved 2 naps today, even if 2 not very good ones. Thinking about it, I think you might be right that he is moving towards a one nap thing. But also one nap not enough just yet as he is knackered by 11.30. Gah. I will try thinking about when he's 16 too :-) Also he is sleeping so well at night that I guess I can't complain - and maybe that also is meaning that he needs less sleep in the day time.
Thanks again so much for your replies.

just reading the thread and i have just been stressing about my 5 month old twins and their naps are a nightmare however i read in jo frosts book that the recomended guidelines from the national sleep foundation is that between 3-11 months baby should be sleeping between 9-12 hours a night and have 1-4 naps a day for 30 mins to 2 hrs for a total of 12-15 hours this made me feel at bit better as in total they are getting that much sleep just a thought hope it helps

thanks KJTwins :-) today we tried waiting and putting him down for his nap much later - and he went to sleep without a peep. Hurrah! But only for an hour and a half. But he DID sleep 12 hrs again last night so in total sounds OK - thanks so much for the advice.

Starkadder, my 10mth old is doing exactly the same - he's suddenly started sleeping better at night, but is all over the place with daytime naps and I'm assuming it's because he's in between that 1 to 2 nap stage. No advice I'm afraid but sympathies as it's horrible!

Thanks monthlymayhem - am glad to know I am not alone! I am now sure (as sure as I can be...) that it is that in-between stage as again today he did not go for his nap till 2pm - was tired but OK before that and then OK again in the afternoon. Also, now I think about it, he used to always be v sleepy at bedtime, and the last couple of weeks has been wide awake at bedtime (although did settle down to sleep without a problem.) So I think he must have been getting more daytime sleep than was absolutely necessary.

My DD had just a 1 hour sleep this afternoon at 1.30pm (and that was after swimming which we thought would tire him out!).

I read somewhere that a sign of a baby being ready to cut down a nap is often when they start to wake up earlier in the morning than their normal wake up time. Our LO has woken up an hour earlier than normal the last two mornings, so think he's getting to the one nap stage now even though it seems a bit early at 10.5 mths!

What was weird about our situation though was that he was waking up LATER than normal. Also only 10 mths so I was surprised but I do think it is the era of the 1 nap!