Nap disaster after weaning dummy / paci....will it get better?

[Scoops2624]

Hi fellow BWs!

We finally bit the bullet and have got rid of the dummy. Yeah!!

We are on day 3. Night time seems to be improving. She is taking longer to go to sleep but last night went to bed with not a single tear. Nap time is a different story. We have had a hysterical event each nap time. For the first day she completely refused, second day it did not happen until far too late and today she fell asleep in the car at a good time but we got just 45 mins rather than 1.5 hours plus she woke up even more hysterical.

I know we have done the right thing but just wondered if anyone else has had a similar experience and can share when things settled back down again. It's so horrible seeing her so stressed.

Thanks for your advice.

[Scoops2624]

Oh and should say my LO is 25 months

[anna*]

What time is nap time? Maybe you need to try putting her down a bit earlier? Maybe you need a longer wind down or to stay with her for a little longer to help out during this transition time?

[Scoops2624]

She normally naps at 13:00 with WU time about 07:00. I have stayed with her a bit more but to be honest my presence seems in inflame the situation. I will give it a go putting her down 15-20 mins early and see.

Poor little thing. I feel so awful having left her with a dummy for so long

[anna*]

Why did you decide to wean it?

[Scoops2624]

We have wanted to do it for ages (since 19 months or so) because she started asking for it more and more often. Before then it was never an issue. Then due to sickness, travel and other interruptions we did not make it happen before now. She knows that it's gone as we told her it went to the new babies. Other than nap time I can see progress with the transition.

[Scoops2624]

So early nap time generated a better going to sleep but only 45 mins again. Then we had OT at BT despite putting her to bed 15 mins early (I guess not early enough).

Any suggestions on what to do tomorrow?

[anna*]

I'd give it a few days and see if the nap starts to lengthen out. Deal with one thing at a time, right? Dummy transition first, then routine.

[Scoops2624]

So the weaning seems to be sorted. We have a good night time and no screaming fits at lunch time nap. Thanks.

What I have had though is full-blown nap refusal for the last few days.  She goes to bed without crying but climbs out of bed and comes to the living room. It seems a little early for nap dropping don't you think as she is only 2 years 1.5 months?

[anna*]

To me, climbing out of the cot isn't nap refusal, it's climbing out of the cot because she can. Are you going to transition her to a big girl bed? Yu may need to put a gate up at her bedroom door to keep her in her room. Yes it would be young to drop the nap entirely, although it does sometimes happen.

[Scoops2624]

She is in a big girl bed. We made the transition about 6 weeks ago but I think she just realised she can climb out freely.

Last night she also started refusing to go to bed so I think you are right she is doing it because she can. She went to sleep with me next to her bed. Would you recommend to do this again and do the gradual withdrawl technique? I tried just putting her back in bed with no interaction but this resulted in full blown screaming again.

[anna*]

I'd put a gate up at the door and leave her to it. If she falls asleep on the floor that's OK, you can pick her up later.