2yr Old - Nap of 1hr 20min, on the dot!

[EZ-EMom]

DS is now a lively 2 yr old.  He has been on one nap per day for the last six months.  His day usually looks like this:

6:30: Wake
1:00 - 3:00/3:15:  Nap
7:45:  Bed

For the last week, however, he's been falling asleep for his nap straight away but waking exactly 1 hour and 20 minutes after falling asleep.  He wakes up sobbing and screaming and can't seem to calm down.  I've done WIWO, and he settles as soon as I'm in the room, closes his eyes and snuggles back into bed.  But when I walk out he's back to screaming.  I've done WIWO five days running and after about 20-30 minutes of it, I'll just get him up from his nap, get his snack and he's off and running, quite happy to be up.  His nights are still good.

I would think a shorter nap might be the answer, but (a) he's always been on the high end of sleep, and (b) he wakes up sobbing, which, to me, means he's still tired.

Thoughts?  Thanks!!

[MummyToBen]

Have you tried putting him down half an hour earlier for his nap?  When DS wakes screaming it is usually OT, and so bringing the nap forward and letting him sleep for longer (if he will) might help him catch up.  Otherwise an earlier night for a few days?

xx

[anna*]

Agree with Claire. My LO is a bit older but 1pm nap is a bit too late for him from a 6.30am start. I'd try nap at 12.30 and see if that helps.

[EZ-EMom]

Hi, Ladies --

I tried a 12:30 nap for four days, and each day, he would play in his crib until between 1 and 1:10, then fall asleep and wake between 2:20 and 2:30.  So, for the last three days, I've gone back to putting him down at 1.  He falls instantly asleep, then wakes at 2:20, except for today.  Today, he woke at 2:02 and has been alternating between whining, crying hard and dozing for 45 minutes.  I really don't know what to do.  WI/WO just makes things even worse.  He got so angry with me yesterday doing wi/wo that he started to gag from crying and screaming so hard. 

I'm don't know what to do. 

[anna*]

Could you try a 12noon nap, just for a day or two?

[deb]

I'd try going in at an hour fifteen and trying to get him straight back to sleep before he has a chance to wake fully. Might get him thru the transition between sleep cycles.

Also, if this is new, might be teething or working on an ear infection or other illness.

[Julianne1984]

Hey, my DS is 22.5mo, and 1hr20m naps is OT for us. Funny how it's always 1h20m on the dot!! Is there any AP you can do to get him back to sleep? Does he go to nursery/babysitter? If so how does he sleep there? X

[Sarah72]

We always have 1hr 20 naps when ds is in his pushchair and can't move between sleep cycles because he isn't comfy. I am therefore thinking that yours are a temporary thing caused my some discomfort such as teeth or ears. I agree that he will be still tired when he wakes up but I would just accept this length nap for the time being and get on with the afternoon.    More difficult to do in practice though. I so love the days I am busy and don't get the chance to think about nap lengths and A times etc