My 21 month old daughter used to sleep 8pm to 7am and nap from 1:30 to 3ish everyday. She missed her nap once (we had a birthday party to go to and she slept on the way home in the car). Now she refused to take her nap. She still goes to bed exhausted at 8pm but wakes up several times a night and for long stretches (today from 4:30 am to 5am, then 5:15 until 6am). I am wondering if there is a way to teach her to nap again? I am thinking she needs more than 8 hours of sleep a day. I've been putting her in her crib at nap time for a few weeks now and she napped only twice. I held her twice and she slept on me for 2 hours, so I know she is tired. But I would rather her put herself to sleep in her crib. I am wondering if after 3 weeks of trying to get her to nap, I should give up? Any suggestions would be welcomed.
I think she's not sleeping well at night because she's overtired. Put her down for her nap at the regular time, and let her fuss it out!
It may take a few days, but I bet she'll figure it out. And once she's napping well again, that night sleep will smooth itself out as well.
Hi C., I think 21 months should still be taking a nap. Since you are a SAHM why don't you tell her that you need a nap and rest together. I am an older mom and I had 3 in 2.5 years. This worked for me. As you can see she does need more sleep and the lack of it is causing her sleep prolems. You will most likely get a lot of advice, use what is best for you. My best, Grandma Mary
Hi C.,
Sounds like your baby is overtired. A 1 year old needs much more than 8 hours of sleep - that's an adult sleep necessity. At her age, 12-13 hours of sleep is normal. If she is going to bed exhausted at 8pm, I would put her in earlier, and I would continue putting her in the crib at naptime. If driving around would make her fall asleep, I would even do that if you are home with her during the day. This is too young to be sleeping only 8 hours total. She might be able to give up the nap if she was sleeping 12 hours straight at night, but this doesn't seem to be the case. Sounds like she's discovered that there are more interesting things to do during the day than nap.
Good luck
Don't give up. She needs the down time even if she doesn't sleep. Just leave her in there for the usual a mount of time.
Hi C.
First I don't think all babies need the same amount of sleep. I also don't think that because they sleep one day they should be sleeping every day. In fact one of mine slept 2 hours in 24 by then and ever since. MD always said nothing was wrong and he succeeded well. One of mine slept 5 hours in 24 and still is. The other two-- one sleeps about 12 hours in 24 still and the other sleeps normally 7-10 hours.
None of them were nappers because what little sleep they got especially by 2, I wanted to be at night. The sleeper of the bunch I put to bed between 6:30 and 7 and he woke about then also the next morning. That was also my first. Seemed simple.
Can you put her to bed earlier on days she doesn't sleep?
We had what I called quiet time instead of nap time. I sat down and read books. Sometimes I read 5 or 6, and sometimes the sleeper would fall asleep as I read slower. I never had one that you could say it is nap time and they would go lay down and go to sleep. All the rest would listen to those books and then be ready to play again. At first I think I put children's songs and rhymes on, especially at that young age. Sing song rhymes are good for them to remember, learn know. Reading is good it enhances their idea that reading is fun.
God bless
K. SAHM married 38 years adult children ---37 entrepreneur and coach, 32 lawyer married with our grandson, and twins 18 in college after homeschooling. one is an artist and taking a BFA program, the other is at another school taking journalism, hoping to go to the mission field.
C.,
Studies show the less they sleep, they sleep worse. She is overtired. You are going to have to just put her in her crib and let her fuss until she gets back into her nap routine. It probably makes no sense but when my kids would miss a nap I would think they would be exhausted and sleep better but it never worked. The days when we sat in the house on a rainy day I would think we would have a rough night because we didn't get any fresh air or much activity and they would sleep the best. So as much as it doesn't add up the more sleep they get the get and the earlier they go to bed the better they sleep. Good luck!!
My son is 2.5 and still does better with a nap. We had a lot of trouble with him when we went on vacation in the summer and ended up driving him around for an hour or more most days. We read stories and he goes in the crib at naptime but sometimes it takes a long time and a lot of fussing. But he now knows that he will not be getting up for an hour even if he refuses to sleep. Most of the time he is good about napping but every once and a while it is a real fight and is always takes a while to readjust after getting off his regular routine. So don't give up.
