I need some good tips for extending my daughters nap! She is almost 16 mo. old and has been down to one nap for about 3 weeks. This nap is, and has always been, just 1 1/2 hours. If she woke up happy and was okay until bedtime, I would be fine with this amount. But, she wakes up tired and crying and then is cranky until bedtime.
I feel like her body is programmed to sleep 1 1/2 hours. (Sometimes its only an hour). She wakes up and its like she doesn't want to be awake, but she can't fall back asleep. I've tried laying her back down and letting her cry for a few to see if she'll go back to sleep, and she never has. What can I do???
Here is her schedule:
7:30 wake up
8:00 breakfast
8:30- 12 Activity time- I try to stimulate her- play outside, have playdates, go out, no t.v., etc
12:00 lunch
12:30 wind down and lay down for nap. She usually talks for a few minutes and falls asleep
2:00 or earlier-- wakes up screaming
2:00- 5:00 try to keep her happy and entertained. Have a snack. More play
5:00 try to get dinner ready with a screaming child attached to my leg
5:30 dinner
6:00 some play, then bath
7:00 in bed, usually falls asleep within 20 minutes.
She does get a lot of sleep at night- usually 12 hours- so maybe she doesn't need a long nap? But, like I said, she still acts tired and is cranky! Oh, she is also cutting teeth- her molars- and has been for about a month. She also just learned to walk.
I am pregnant again and SOOOO TIRED. If we both dont get longer naps, we'll go crazy! Any ideas PLEASE?
Thanks!