I have no clue where to go from here.

[peeta]

Please help!  I have no idea what is going on in our sleep world.  DD is an textbook/angel toddler who has never really had many problems sleeping (anytime I’ve had a problem I’ve been able to look here, read some posts and voila problem solved!!)

DD is 17 mths old.  Here is her daily schedule.

Wake 7:15 am
Milk 7:45 am
Breakfast 8:00 am
Snack 9:15 am {Depending on the size of breakfast at day care (nothing on weekends)}
Nap 9:30 -10:30 (45 min of sleep, one hr max)
Lunch 11:45
Milk 1:15
Nap 1:30-4:00 (sleep around 2 – 2 ½ hours-closer to 2)
Snack upon waking
Dinner 5:45
Bed 7:30-7:45

I know she sleeps a lot-but she’s a sleeper.  Her day care provider and I both agree that she is not ready for one nap (she gets over tired). 

Anyway, the problem is this:
Once DD has been asleep for ½ hr to 45 min she wakes up crying (almost beside herself).  The first few times we thought she was sick so we picked her up, cuddled her, read stories, got water (all sorts of bad things)…since then (approx two weeks ago) we’ve tried put down.  DD will lay down and stop crying no problem, she’ll even fall asleep, but as soon as she realizes we’re not there she’s crying again.  This is happening 1-5 times an evening between 7:45-10:00.  We’ve ruled out pain, teething etc… It is almost as if she’s scared.  She goes right back to sleep no problem, but she continues to wake up.  We have no idea what to do. 

I need help!!!

[momofclaire]

Hi Peeta,
Could she be having a bit of separation anxiety? 
Does she wake after 10:00?
Does she go to sleep in the evening and for naps without a prop?
Hang in there, we'll get this figured out
Myia

[peeta]

She has a soother (only for nap times) but she either uses it or doesn't as she wishes.  Normally we lie her down say "night night" and walk out-it's the same for both naps and evenings (longer wind down at night).  She does not wake after 10:00 unless there is a reason (usually ear infection)-but it's been three months since her last ear infection and this only started two 1/2 weeks ago.  I'm lost, and out of ideas.

[Layla]

If she is clingier during the day then it could be SA, in which case you might want to try Gradual Withdrawal or Wi/Wo.

I would actually say though that it has more to do with the 2-1 nap switch. I agree that some babies need more sleep than others (dd2 has always been a BIG night sleeper - used to do 12+hours) but then came a time when things were "off" and I had to reduce her daytime sleep to get sleeping more soundly at night.

I would try to cut the morning nap down even further to 30mins and have her take the afternoon nap at 1-3pm & bedtime at 7.30pm & eventually cut the morning nap altogether. The av total sleep for a toddler is 13hrs and she's doing 15hrs at the moment... so again, she might still be needing more sleep than the av but maybe not THAT much more.

hth
Layla

[peeta]

Thanks, I`ll keep that in the back of my head.  We think it`s a comfort thing right now as she`s out the second one of us comes in.  Although she may be ready for one nap-with the heat and being outside almost everyday, the heat might b waering her out.

[momofclaire]

I think she probably is ready for one nap.  You may be shocked at how well she does. 
It does sound like a bit of SA if she goes right to sleep when you walk into the room.  Gradual withdraw or wi/wo, as Layla said, might help that.