‼️HELP‼️

[Gooseandme]

My sons 18 months and we co sleep. Selfishly when me and his father separated I brought him in with me when he was poorly and he just never left.
anyway, we're struggling with sleep. He liked his morning nap but his afternoon nap he would cry all evening until bedtime. People kept telling me he needs to cut a nap, and I'm trying but I'm at my wits end. He constantly wakes up throughout the evening. Goes down absolutely fine at 7. And used to sleep in the bed whilst I was watching tv in the lounge. But now he wakes as soon as I move. I'm so stressed and tired. Sometimes he wakes at 10 and doesn't sleep until 2/3am. And that's with me doing EVERYTHING. I've even tried the cry it out method but I can't do it. It breaks my heart hearing him cry.

I just want some advice on whether he's ready to drop to 1 nap or 2. When he has his 1 nap he sleeps for a good 2 hours.

sincerely

one sleep deprived first time mum.

Hey! Just wanted to say you aren’t selfish for having him in your bed. If it’s meant both of you have had some rest (and cuddles and closeness!) over the months then it’s been best for everyone!
Sounds like something isn’t working now though. Obviously every baby is different but my 14 month old dropped her second nap around 12 months old. She has a lunch time nap for 1 1/2- 2 hours and then bed by 7/8 ish and (she definitely doesn’t sleep through, I co sleep too and BF when she wakes which is often only for 10 mins at a time) but she will stay in bed for 11-12 hours ish. So she gets around 13 ish hours a day.
What I’m trying to say is how many hours sleep does your little one get a day? They need around 12-14 in 24 hours. I found 2 naps a day was too much and my DD daughter needed some long wake windows so dropped to one nap and it seems to work (ish!)! It might be worth a try x

Definitely ready. Most kids go to one nap soon after their 1st birthday. It’s usually a really deep sleep and a good chunk of time so you can either nap with him or roll out and have some time without him.

Yep drop to one nap, you will have to trial with what time they go down and for how long for as every child is different.

I believe my little one used to go down around 11:30-12pm (just after they have lunch for like an hour or two)

Definitely sounds like he needs to drop to one nap. Or at least limit his daytime sleep. I had a very similar story, mine was waking up all night and it was because he had too much daytime sleep. We also co sleep, you aren't selfish that's crazy! You are a loving mum trying to do what's best for you both x