Almost 2, not napping, fighting bedtime

[JaspersMum]

I know this is probably a common problem around this age but I wondered if anyone had any advice to give - perhaps there is something little I could change about DS's day?

A few weeks back our routine looked like this:

Wake 7am
Nap 1-3/3.30pm
Bed 8pm

Then suddenly we started getting early wakings around 6-6.30am and NWs a few times a night - he'd be either whining or talking to himself.  I figured it must be teeth and perhaps a dropping in sleep needs.

He then got sick, slept in my bed for a few nights and when we tried to get back to our routine (about 5 days ago), he started crying at sleep times and not wanting to be left alone.

The last few days he's either done no nap, or between 1 hour to 1.5 hours and nights have been a little better with sleep around 11 hours again.  The early wakings have been getting better too - the last few mornings its been 6.40am.  Yesterday he didn't nap and I had him asleep by 6.45pm (with meds) and he woke this morning at 6.40am.

My main question is, should I be extending his morning A time?  I put him down for the nap after 6 hours but he's not sleeping . . . unless he's had a busy morning.  On those less active mornings, should I try pushing to 6.5 hrs?  Do kids eventually do a short nap mid afternoon before dropping it altogether?  Perhaps I should try:

Wake 6.30am
Nap 1 or 1.30pm - 2.30
Bed 7.30pm

I should mention I think he's teething his top two molars - the last two.

[*Becky*]

I should mention I think he's teething his top two molars - the last two.

tbh Rachel I think this is the main problem. Some of it could be developmental as it seems common for these 2 year olds on the boards at the moment but the napping problems and the not settling really do sound like teeth.
I would be wary of pushing the nap back to 7 hours but I will be interested to see what others think.
Do meds make any difference with the settling?
From what I can see the nap strike is quite common with some lo's at this age but they most do tend to go back to it once they are over the teeth, OT or whatever the problem is.
When we have had these type of nap issues I tend to make sure we have very active, busy mornings as this does seem to help DS.
bx

[~*Nicole*~]

Aside from the fact that I agree with pp. that it is most likely teeth causing the trouble and he'll get back on track. I would also point out that if he sleeps 1 to 3:30 that's a pretty long nap and he may not need that long anymore. If you cap at 2 hours you may find you get a slightly longer night.

So I would first try meds before nap and see if that helps. Second I would actually try an earlier nap as teething tends to lead to needing more sleep or OT issues. If that doesn't work, THEN I'd try to push the nap later.

[JaspersMum]

I've only medicated once and that was last night, after the no nap and I had him in bed at 6.40pm and he was asleep within five minutes but I was in the room with him, sitting on a chair on the other side of the room.  I think I'll have to try medicating for naps too and maybe I will try an earlier nap, perhaps at the 5.5 hour mark.  He's got to be tired because the last two mornings we've been out and about in the car and I've had to prod him to keep him awake!

Nicole he hasn't done a two hour plus nap since he got sick, and I'm quite happy for the nap to be 1-1.5 hours.  We had a few days like that and then he'd do an 11 hour night which was great but we still get the screaming and holding me hostage in the room - I don't know if its him playing with me or if he really needs me cause he's in pain.  He seems to have grown so much in the past week, his language has exploded and we've had so many more tantrums due to not getting his own way.  He won't even let me open a fruit bar for him, he's got to do it himself!

Tonight has been a disaster because we had a wedding so when we left at 9.30 he threw a fit, was hysterical the whole way home and didn't fall asleep, with me in the room, until 10.30pm!  So he'd been awake for practically 16 hours with no sleep!

[~*Nicole*~]

Sounds OT and teething related. When DD was having those issues after vacation she was the same way. Not wanting me to leave her room, carrying on about everything. The developmental leaps might have something to do with it, too. I bet once you get a good routine going again, he's caught up on sleep and things calm down, he'll be easier to handle. It took me being a bit more stern about bedtime to get DD going to bed well again.

[JaspersMum]

Yesterday was another bad day.  After falling asleep just after 10.30pm Sat night he woke about 8.20am on Sunday morning.  I was so exhausted I couldn't bare to fight with him at naptime, so I just didn't force the nap, and of course, he didn't sleep, which meant he was a nightmare by 5pm.  Hubby ended up sitting with him in his room and he was asleep within seconds by about 7.10am (with meds).  

He has now done a 12 hour night so I am sooo confused as to what time to try for a nap.  I am scared if I put him down too early, he won't sleep.  I will see what happens.

Thanks for your support ladies.

* I just wanted to add that he napped today!  I put him in his room, on the floor with his quilt and teddy bears and books and said to have a 'rest'.  He talked and mucked around in there for a whole hour before falling asleep!  Didn't cry or scream once.  He fell asleep at the 7 hour mark and its now been 1.5 hours and he's still asleep.  Am hoping things are slowly getting better . .

[*Becky*]

good
Keep us posted x

[JaspersMum]

Another horrible few nights of screaming!  

He slept for 1.5 hours yesterday, woke at 3.40pm.  Put him to bed at 8pm and it took him til 9pm to fall asleep (kept talking, wanting to sleep in his BBB) - DH stayed with him the whole time.  Tbh I don't think he was tired enough . . .

Today he woke just before 7am so a little under 10 hours sleep last night.  He was with my mum who put him down at 12.30pm for a nap - he screamed for a couple of minutes before she took him out and let him watch TV before taking him for a walk where he slept in the pram from 2.50pm til 4.20pm.  Tonight he is in bed at 8pm, screamed for a few minutes and quiet by 8.05pm.  I checked on him at 8.25pm and he wasn't asleep - my presence totally set him off again though - crying, clutching at me, jumping out of the bed . . .

I did forget to medicate tonight (bad mummy) . . I am feeling sick listening to all this screaming, even if it is short-lived.  What is going on with him?  Is it really teeth?  This has been going on for a week now!

[*Becky*]

hmm, it is a tricky one Rachel. The screaming nap resistance for us has always been UT tbh. When he teethes he tends to go down ok but short nap but I think we are in the minority with that. Have you tried meds before the nap?
I think if you know 2 teeth are coming through then it is likely to be that causing the issues - they can take a while for sure!
This might sound crazy but have you tried cutitng back the A time to see if it is more of an OT problem? I know when DS is teething I have to cut back slightly - might be worth a try?