16 month old screaming before nap and napping too little

[dani2806]

My little boy has been very difficult for naps in the past few weeks. After a 2 wk holiday last month I got him used to go in his baby carrier and he would fall asleep there then I would put him in his cot and he would sleep fine for 1 or 2 h.
We came back 3 weeks ago and we 've been trying to put him to sleep in a easier way but he doesn't seem to understand it or doesn't seem to know how to go to sleep. Bedtime is fine and very easy by the way, he has a bath, a bottle and knows it's time for bed.
For the past few days he's been fighting the baby carrier as well and will eventually sleep in it but it takes time. We put him back in his cot but he wakes after 30-40m.
His routine is:

Wake 6:30-7
Bottle
8- breakfast
12 - 12:30 lunch
1:00-1:30 - try for nap
mid-afetrnoon - snack
6:00 - dinner
7:30 bath, bottle and bed at 8.

I wonder if his nap is too late but I guess he would fight it if it was earlier as well. I'm tired of having to put him in a sling before naps (I'm pregnant, due tomorrow , crazy!) and I know I wont be able to sustain that soon. Today he fell asleep in the sling at 2pm after much fighting, was put in his cot, woke after 20m, dad put him back in sling and slept until 4pm in it.
Any advice? I really need help.

[Layla]

I would stop the baby carrier to be honest & try for naps from now on in the cot. If he used to be able to sleep on his own in the past prior to the holiday then wi/wo might be the better option for you. Here is the link to the wi/wo method

I also agree in that the nap is probably too late and he would be overtired & fighting it even more. If he wakes around 6.30am then try for a nap around 12pm (for his age 5-5.5hrs is probably the most you want to stretch him). So do your windown routine about 20mins before the start of the nap and then lay him down in the cot. If he's up and crying start the wi/wo method until he falls asleep. If you see that it is too late into the nap (say 1hr later) then forget about the nap and do an earlier bedtime. It might take time but he will pick up on that he needs to sleep in his cot and not on you. I also think that 8pm is too late of bedtime if he's waking up at 6.30-7pm. The av is about 11hrs at night with a 2 hr nap so if there is no nap then put him down no later than 6.30-7pm. If he does nap then put him down about 5-5.5hrs from the time he wakes from nap.

hth & let me know how you go or if you have any more q's
Layla

[dani2806]

Thank you. Your advice makes sense, I just hope he'll be able to stop the habit of sleeping on me... I didn't receive the link for the wi/wo method but will look for it in the site.

Thanks
Daniela

[Layla]

Oops

here's that link https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=63896.0

I am certain that is he has been able to do it before AND the fact that he goes down on his own.. he would be able to do it again. YOu just have to be consistent & stick to it!

Post back with your progress