I am seeking feedback from anyone who may have better insight into this issue that I am struggling with. Jack has decided for almost a week now that he isnt going to nap unless I rock him until he is sound asleep and even then when I put him in his crib the movement of getting up from the chair to his crib wakes him and he cries until I stand next to his crib and rub his back or press firmly on his back until he is back asleep and if we are lucky he will sleep 30 min to an hour. Prior to this he was taking 2 naps a day, generally for 1 1/2 each time. However it then progressed to 1/2 hour nap in the morning and then 1 hr 45 min in the afternoon, no problems putting him down. We started to let the morning nap disappear b/c he woudl only nap 20-30 min so the past 2 weeks we have been just doing one nap in the afternoon for about 1 hr and 45 min. and it seemed to work. The past week or so Jack has been sick with a c old so he seemed sleepier and I thought maybe he needed to go back to 2 naps a day...anyway, whether I attempt 2 naps or one he fights it. yesterday he napped 30 min in the afternon and that was it for the day. HELP! He cries for over an hour and we finally go in and attempt to rock him to sleep, sometimes it works and other times he is over the whole going to nap thing. He is so upset from crying/screaming. I dont know if I should let him keep crying...it could go on FOREVER, or somehow intervene?
I dont know what happened or what is going on, I feel like I am doing something wrong. I dont know what changed and why he fights it so badly. He sleeps like 11-12 hours at night but I knjow he cannot go on no sleep during the day, his little eyes are so red and tired but he would keep going if we let him. Anyway, I know I am rambling but I feel helpless so if anyone can shed light on this for me I would greatly appreciate it.
Does he have an ear infection? Or if he's really stuffy he might have problems laying down, and just be so tired at night it's not keeping him awake then. Try to elevate the head of his crib, give him some benedryl (talk to his DR, but it's 1 tsp every 4 hrs for my 25 lb 16 month old), and use a humidifier. Good luck!
S.,
It seems the sleep issue has coincided with the cold, that's probably the reason for the change. I would persist with the 1 nap a day in the afternoon. I've found with my son, once he reached a certain age, if I let him nap in the morning he wouldn't nap in the afternoon.
I know your issue is he's not napping at all, I think it's due to the cold. Have you had him checked for an ear infection? Perhaps he's got issues with pressure and pain in his ears.
Try going to one nap, seems about the right age for it. He may have to go down earlier for the one nap...my son started out at noon and would nap two hours. Than he moved to 1pm and naped for two hours, now he's back to noon and sleeps about two hours.
He could be having a hard time breathing, or coughing keeps him up, he jsut wants comfort and he knows if he makes a stink he'll get it. Even if he is sick, unless hes falling asleep (keep it short, 20-30 minutes), stick with one nap, consistancy is key...kids need routine and live by it. If you change his nap schedule day to day, he'll never know if he's having or two naps.
If its really bad and you know he could use a quick nap, put him in the car and go for a ride, that always worked with my son.
Being sick could be throwing his nap schedule (or internal body clock) off. We know they need to sleep more when they are sick, but we also know that when we were sick when we were kids, nothing was better than snuggling with mom. He may be uncomfortable too, physically (example stuffy nose, etc.) which makes it hard to sleep. Letting him cry is probably a good thing, once he is feeling better, but for now maybe you may want to cuddle him more if he is feeling yucky. Just a thought.
