My almost 16 month old has been on one nap for the last 1-2 months now and I keep waiting for it to become a deliciously long nap. The best we ever get is 1 hr. 20 min, but most often he does an hour. He usually wakes up crying hard and is inconsolable for 30 min or so and then happy and fine the rest of the day. He is an independent sleeper going down easily for naps and bedtime. Ive tried playing with his A time, wake-to-sleep (1x we got 2 hrs out of him but the other times no help), and early bed times. One time last week, during his inconsolable crying after waking from his nap after 1 hr, I laid down with him on the couch and he fell asleep almost immediately and slept almost another hour on my chest. This convinced me that he probably really does need the longer nap and to try WIWO. That was a disaster - he got so hysterical - and after 45 min. I gave up and got him up. Another day I tried staying with him with a hand on his back to help him back to sleep, but he never made it back to sleep that way either. Today he was again awake after an hour and then did the same fall asleep another hour trick laying with me on the sofa. So I really dont know what to do. How can I get this kid some more sleep...but in his bed? I definately dont want the sofa thing to become a pattern. Here was his schedule today:
6 awake
12:30 nap, 1 hr in bed
1:30 up crying then fell asleep again with me on the sofa
2:30 awake
7:30 in bed
its more usual though that he is up at 6:30 with nap at 12:00-1:00.
What else can I try?
