OMG first total nap refusal ever!!! how early for bed??

[huntersmummyinoz]

dont know if anyone will be able to get back to me in time for today... but how early do you do bedtime on nap refusal days??

this is hunter's first total nap refusal ever. he has had moments previously where it has taken him a while to settle but usually worst case scenario is 30/40mins and that's a really bad day.

today, he woke 7am (normally somewhere between 6.30/7am), put him down for nap at usual time 12.45. he normally sleeps 2 to 3 hrs, the last 2 weeks i have been waking him up after 2.5hrs, so it's not like he doesnt normally sleep well here.

i highly suspect teeth, he is cutting his second 2yo molar and i forgot to give him pain meds before nap. he was singing the alphabet in his cot for about 40mins before it turned into a cry. after a few attempts to resettle i gave him nurofin but i'm guessing he was too worked up by then to sleep anyway, after 2hrs from first being put to bed i gave up.

long story short, his bedtime is normally 7.30pm, how early should i go since he has had no nap??

also, how long do you attempt to get the nap before giving up?? i just kept trying and trying today as he normally always finally sleeps and finally gave up after 2hrs

gosh i hope this isnt the start of something....

[*Natasha*]

Generally with no nap day you want to aim for a bedtime 12hrs after wakeup so i say 7pm bedtime.

[huntersmummyinoz]

thanks natasha, that's exactly what i did as i noticed sherry's thread after i posted and took your advice from over there. he surprisingly held it together quite well and was just having a mini melt down as he was getting into his pjs but could have been much worse. went straight to sleep thankfully. i did make sure activity was pretty low key all afternoon tho, glad i went to the library yesterday and happened to buy a new puzzle on the weekend!

[becky1969]

don't worry, I'm sure it's going to be a rare event.  He's still awful young.  But it *is* a common problem once they go to 1 nap -- if they miss it for some reason there's no way to make it up!

As for how long to keep trying, I usually only try for an hour or so just to keep us both from getting frustrated.  You can also try watching a video together on the couch later in the afternoon.  Sometimes that will get you a little 30 min catnap and keeps the evening from going too toddler-insane. 

[huntersmummyinoz]

thanks becky, time to stock up on kiddie movies i think!

he didnt do too bad, 12hr night with a short nw at midnight (normally does 10.5/11), was rubbing his jaw so gave nurofin. certainly wont be forgetting pain meds before nap today!! weird tho as he's never been a 'happy teether' so i'm surprised he was happy chatting/singing in his cot for that long. he also started creche at the gym yesterday for just 30 mins but surely he would have been more clingy, SA behaviour and calling for me if that was the prob. we are also in the midst of reflux med weaning, but again, he would have been cranky rather than singing if that was the reason.

we'll see what today brings i guess.

[huntersmummyinoz]

pain meds 30 mins before nap, straight to sleep and still napping 2hrs later, phew