Toddler always cries in middle of naps

[hrp2020]

My 18 mo son has always had strange naps. He cries after 30 mins, then if he goes back to sleep wakes again after another 30 mins crying and then it's either game over or he manages to do a little bit more. What I don't understand is why. He has just had an hours nap just now and is now standing up in his cot crying as still tired. He connects sleeps cycles at night time easily and he gets himself to sleep for naps and bedtime so I don't underhanded why he has always had nap issues. Any ideas?

Me and DH use to make our little one sit on the naughty step and count her toes and it would tire her out, it sounds a long shot but 7 children down and expecting so it's worked thus far

Children always find connecting daytime sleep cycles harder than night time sleep cycles. This is because the biological pressure to sleep is much greater at night and so the urge to be awake in the daytime has to be overcome.

I'd give a little extra help to link sleep cycles, if it's needed. A hand on chest and done shushing might do it.

@EdithNeedsemoshsupport

Me and DH use to make our little one sit on the naughty step and count her toes and it would tire her out, it sounds a long shot but 7 children down and expecting so it's worked thus far

I don't understand this?

I didn't quite get that either. The problem isn't that he isn't tired he just wakes in between sleep cycles really upset.

@FATEdestiny unfortunately when I go in he gets more upset and more awake. Resettling has never really worked with him for some reason.

Poor boy did three 30 minutes yesterday, screaming in between each and was so upset at the end of the nap as still so tired. Took ages to calm him down.

If he usually does this after thirty minutes could you start waking him after 20, just before he starts screaming? Not properly wake him up just rouse him slightly then let him fall back asleep? We had to do this with my ds when he had bad nightmares - he would always wake just after midnight screaming so I started waking him just before midnight and it seemed to break the habit. Might not be helpful as your little boy is so young though.