14 month hasn't gone down for any naps during the day for 2 weeks...

[jaedagal]

I really need help here and I have no clue what to do... For 2 weeks, my lo has fought his naps and there's nothing I can do to get him down for one. I tried sleep training shh pat and wi/wo, but for his naps he just thinks it's a big game. He'll roll over and start to laugh and babble away for and the moment I leave a huge wail, but when i come back in he just starts laughing and smiling etc. I could do this for 3 hours straight and it just not working. I've ended up the last couple days just rocking him and have him sleeping in my arms (I know really bad) just so he can get a little sleep. I know he's over tired and I know he's not ready for no naps during the day. Aggghhhhh


Quick info:
* He's a spirited/grumpy baby
* Before this happened he cut himself down to one nap a day when he was 11.5 months old. Just one day he kicked his pm and just wouldn't take it any longer. So, we did the 2-1 nap switch.
* he usually took his nap at 11/11:30am and would sleep anywhere from 2-3 hours (sometimes 1.5 hours) and go to bed around 7:30pm
*Around 3 weeks ago my lo started teething  -- he's currently getting 3 molars and a canine tooth and well, as we all know teething can effect sleep. He started waking at nights etc, but I got that under control and he's sleeping the night (once in a while a night waking).
* We've always had a *hard* time with his night sleep, but after months and months and months of training (no joke) finally he'll sleep the night. He's a kid that fights sleep like the plague.

So, I've been trying to tweak his schedule. Keeping him up longer then trying for a nap, making him go to bed earlier. I do have a hard time wearing him down and gets hyper so easily. But, I do know he's tired when nap time comes around because he's constantly giving me big yawns and gets fussy. I've given him teething pain stuff -- so, i know it's not pain causing the no naps. For the past week I've been putting hi to bed at 6/6:30 because he's overtired.

[Layla]

What time does he wake in the morning?

[jaedagal]

Before he dropped all naps it was 8 am and now with the dropped naps it's 7/7:30 am.

Edit: I forgot to mention he's a bad teether and he actually woke up 5 times yesterday night. Could teething be causing the no naps? I am giving him things to easy the pain etc... If it is the cause how long can this last and how the heck do I get him back on track?

Thanks!

[Layla]

Teething certainly can cause sleep disturbances. Personally I've never had a skipped nap when teething but I've had plenty of short naps and early morning wake ups.

Also on top of teething perhaps there is too much intervention from you. You say the minute you walk into the room, he is laughing, etc.. . and when you leave he starts crying. I would be doing the wi/wo method and when you leave the room, stay outside the room and start counting to 10/15/20 and then go back to quickly reassure him and then leave again.

Maybe someone else can come along and let you know whats worked for them... but I've never had no naps at such an early age. I can see why you'd want to rock him just to get him to sleep....

[jaedagal]

I can see what you're saying about not rushing in. I do try to wait the alloted time, but maybe I'm not waiting long enough or maybe I should leave quicker.

Still no naps and I really don't know what to do. He sleeps 11.5 hours a night and then nothing during the nothing. I know he still needs the naps, but he just won't go down. Uggghh Anyone else have a young child who takes no naps?!

[jaedagal]

Ohh quick up-date (hope I'm not jinxing this) He finally went down for a nap at 11:45am!!! My mom suggested blacking out his room. I did that today (he always slept fine with natural day light in his room before so, I didn't even consider that) and gave him lots of fresh air in the back yard (which I normally do, but due to bad weather here for a week I haven't been able to).

Yay!