Need help with naps

[AfonsoandDinisMum]

Hi everyone.

My DS is 22 MO and we are having a little problem with his naps.

He has always been a god napper but had problems with night time sleep, but these past two weeks, we have been experiencing the opposite problem...  ( we can never win... )

His days looks something like this:
Wakes for the day around 8:30, Nap time from 12:45/1 - 1:45/2 (some days if lucky until 2:30), and bedtime around 9:30 p.m.

I know that this bedtime is a little late, but until that time he his happily playing, and most days, even at that hour, he simply don't want to go to bed, and makes a scene when I take him away from his play.

The curious thing is that, some time ago he was getting to bed even later (around 10:00 p.m) and was sleeping better at night and nap time.

I don't know how to increase his nap time sleep because he always wakes up happy after just that one hour, but I'm concerned that this isn't enough sleep for him... 

What can I do? Can someone help me?

Thanks and Hugs to all

Sónia

[deckchariot]

I'm wondering if he needs more time before his nap - and that's why he's only napping for an hour and waking happy....that sounds like undertired to me.  It looks like he's just having a bit over 4 hrs of A time in the am.  Many bubs his age are doing 5 hrs.  Have you tried to stretch his morning A time?

hth
michelle

[AfonsoandDinisMum]

Hi Michelle.

The problem with stretching his morning A time is that, in his daycare, the nap time beggins at that hour, and it isn't possible to change that.
What they say to me is that we he goes to bed to take his nap, he falls asleep immediately, but after that he only sleep for an hour or a little more, but after wakes up happy and playful.

Do you think that he is sleeping enough (combining nap and night time sleep)? How much sleep in 24 hours should he get?

hth
Sónia

[deckchariot]

At 2 yrs, most bubs are getting 11.5 hrs at night and 1.5 during the day.  He's not far short of that...has he often been on the low end of sleep needs?  If so, then I'd say he's fine with what he's getting - it looks like 11 at night and 1 in the day.  If anything about him is indicating that he's not getting enough sleep (crabby, or hyper, clingy, etc.), and you can't push the nap later, then I'd say wake him up earlier in the am, keep nap at the same time, and bring bedtime earlier.  My hunch is that he's getting enough sleep, he just needs less than average.

hth
michelle

[AfonsoandDinisMum]

Hi Michelle.

Thanks for your help. Yes, he has always been on the low end of the sleep needs. I feel more reassured now with your answer, that he is getting enough sleep. If I see that he becomes more crabby or clingy, then I will do what you suggested.

Thanks and hth

Sónia

[deckchariot]

sometimes I just need to know I'm on the right track too   glad I could help!  btw - he's sooooooo CUTE!!!