14 mo resisting daytime sleep - help!!

[mrsbarryscott]

my dd is nearly 14 mo and is a really good night sleeper, she goes down about 6.30 - 7 and ususally wakes between 6.30 -7.

the last few weeks i've been having major difficulties getting her to sleep during the day, i've never been able to put her in her cot to sleep during the day so i usually take her for a quick walk and she drops off in her buggy. the last few weeks, i've been walking and walking and walking but no sleeping, if she has gone to sleep it's for 10/20 mins tops. she seems happy enough but come 4pm she's absolutley worn out and i don't want to put her to sleep then as it will ruin her good night time sleeps.

this is my first baby so i really don't know how much sleep she should be having during the day or if she just doesn't need to sleep during the day anymore.

any advice would be very welcome. thankyou.
x

Every baby's different so being led by your daughter will be the best thing you can do. Try experimenting with different bedtimes/waking times and see what works best. Maybe waking earlier so she's tired enough for a nap by the afternoon. Or you may find that an early bedtime (5.30-6ish - or whatever works) works out ok and she still sleeps all night long. Just try things out and see what works. These dropping naps transition periods are really stressful, I've found, but they do settle down eventually. Both my older girls used to go through a phase of napping every third day...almost like they weren't tired enough on day 1 and 2 but were knackered by day 3. eventually they dropped their daytime naps - my oldest was about 2 and my youngest was only 15 months.

My DS (23 months) has always been a fairly good day time napper and would either have a nap in the car/ buggy or cot. Although he did go through a phase when he would just refuse to go to sleep during the day. This lasted for about a month at about 18 months and i really had to perserve and just put him down in his cot. For a few weeks I had to leave him to cry it out with me going in every 10 - 20 mins to cuddle and sooth and then leave again. It was really hard work but got him back into his normal routine and now he has a 2.5 - 3 hour nap from midday every lunchtime with out fail and practically walks upstairs himself he is so knackered. Hope this helps.