22 month old dropping his 1 nap?!

[mom2william]

Hi,
I am in some desperate need of advice on my 22 month old.  Ever since the beginning of December, he has been skipping his one nap.  I transitioned him to 1 nap fairly easily when he was around 14-15months old.  For some reason, in the beginning of December, he really had issues with separation anxiety at nap and bedtime.  He was always fine before that and would lay down when we left and go to sleep.  I have finally gotten him over most of the separation anxiety, I believe, but he is still refusing his one nap!  I feel he is too young to cut his one nap out.  He is still in his crib so I make him stay in his room for the duration of a "nap", about 1.45, but he won't sleep!  I put him to bed at 6:00pm when he doesn't nap.  Here is our schedule:

7:00am- Wakeup (can vary by 15 or so minutes)
11:30am- Lunch
12:15pm -Go pick up my 4 year old from preschool and we're home around 12:45.  This is 3 days a week.
1:00-1:15pm- Naptime
If no nap, bedtime is 6:00pm.  If he naps, it's 8:00pm.  
I am so confused.  A lot of times he poops after I've put him in his crib so I have to change that.  Should I try a later naptime??  I've been trying to just call it "rest time" and not put pressure on him to sleep and see if that helps.  I've been putting a few books in his crib as well in hopes he'll drop off.  I am so frustrated and have no clue as to what to do to help him nap!
Any advice?  TIA, Suzanne

[EloysH]

We went through the same thing at his age. I am pleased to report that our LO has gone back to napping about 5 days a week.  Keep persisting with putting him down, he may need a little later nap time, but from your routine, it's already a late nap so prob not.  You could try earlier nap time, that actually worked for us for a while, I was missing his window and he was too wound up to sleep at times.   

 I think our no napping was maninly teething related, the two year molars become lumps on his gums at that time, I think he was just too uncomfortable to sleep.  The other tell tale sign was that he was having lots of frustration tanturms, they are mostly teething related for us.   

We now do

6:30am wake
1:30pm nap  - 2 hours
8 - 8:30pm bed

[mom2william]

Thanks for your input, Eloise!  It's been 5 days and he's not napped and I am praying today doesn't make day 6!   As I said, this has been going on since the beginning of Dec.  It's upsetting because we can't do anything at night because he's so zonked from not napping.  It's hard to explain to people that your LO has to go to sleep at 6:00pm. 

I'll just keep with it.  He was up at 6:15am this morning and it is now 2:00pm and still not asleep.  Sigh.  Wish there was something I could do.

[EloysH]

so annoying that we can't do anything except give them the opportunity to sleep. If it helps I have seen alot of stories on here turn out that they go back to napping, maybe not everyday, but much more often.  Ooh 6 days,..  I hope he's not getting OT, then it all becomes a mess.

 We have just had a run of 3 no nap days, I spoke too soon about our napping record!  At least he plays in the cot for an hour, so I can still lie down and rest 

[mom2william]

I know, I do give him the opportunity to sleep but he chooses not to.  He is very tired, too!    He's practically falling asleep on me but as soon as I put him in the crib, he's resisting sleeping.  I feel he's gotten into a bad habit now and it's not getting broken.  Yup, 6 days and counting without a nap so he's way OT unfortunately.  But what else can I do? 
Glad to know I'm not the only one with one this little not napping.  I would be more OK with it if he was 2 or 2 1/2 but this is hard! 

[EloysH]

hmmm all I can think of is to try an earlier nap?

[amh6491]

Hi!  We have a very similar schedule to yours for our 22 month old also (he has a 4 year old brother as well).  It seems to work better for me if I push his nap back, sometimes by as little as 15 minutes makes a difference.  Also, I notice that when they need to use the bathroom or are gassy it is really hard for them to sleep.  Maybe something warm to drink, milk or hot chocolate would get the intestines moving?  I would also try, when you get home from picking up your other child, to either play outside and really run them around or play inside as hard as possible.  Sometimes that exercise can get the last bit of resistant energy out and also take care of any potty problems that might either cause him to wake up early or not be able to fall asleep.  We had big time separation anxietiy issues with our 4 year old - if that persists take a look at "Helping Your Child Overcome Separation Anxiety or School Refusal" by Andrew Eisen.  That helped me a lot.  I feel your pain!  Good luck!!

[mom2william]

amh6491, Thank you, I will try to get more of his energy out and see if that might help!  We've not been outside too much as it's been cold here but today and tomorrow I believe are supposed to be in the 50's so that may be a bit warmer.  The potty issue is something I think would definitely help.  If he'd go before I put him in the crib then I wouldn't have to go back in there and he'd be settled with that aspect at least!   
I may try an earlier nap but that is difficult with preschool so I'll just keep on keeping on!