Nap Refusal - Any advice for today if poss

[Truly Blessed]

Support for dropping the nap part 12

I can't believe I forgot to give you this link, it was my life saver and  many others, you will find great extra support there.

So yesterday I went trawling through my posts to review exactly what happened when DS dropped the nap, my that was quite a read!!!  I knew it was hard but  . The fact is I tried pretty much everything, when one things stopped working I moved on. What strikes me about DD right now is how little sleep she is getting with any nap, and I'm not sure she can continue this way Hun. I mean her night was only 9.15 hours, plus 30 mins gives less than 10 hours sleep  . Sam was clocking up 10.5 hours generally so it is typical not to be able to get enough sleep into a LO.

I re-read how for a while I brought Sam's nap as early as possible and capped at 30 mins also. I had completely forgotten this. This worked because he needed at least 7 hours from his nap at this time to settle at BT. Could this be a possibility for DD if you headed out in the car 

We also had horrific screaming and BT tantrums where S would refuse to get in his cot, I was even reading about how he threw himself over the baby gate head first!!! 

x.

[Hayleys]

Hi

Oh bless him, hope he was ok and didn’t hurt himself too much, that must have been so stressful for you!  Thank you for reviewing all of your posts and for the added link!

I’ve just spoken to DH on the phone and he said that so far she is holding up well this morning with the short night.  We both thought your idea of an earlier 30 min nap with a 7 hr A time before bed sounds like a really good thing to try.  So he is going to take her out in the car and aim for her to have a sleep between 12:30 and 1 pm.  It’s hard to predict how long it will take her to fall asleep so fingers crossed it will happen around that time.  We thought we could then aim for bedtime at 8 pm.  This would mean she would have had a 7 hr A time before BT and also a 12 hr day.  Do you think this sounds like a good plan?

x

[Truly Blessed]

Do you think this sounds like a good plan?

Yes, great plan, I'm sure it sounds like I am changing things up on you all the time, but as I said before it really is a transition that is constantly moving, so it's the only thing to do.

I am keeping everything crossed that this is something that will work and stick for some time.x.

[Hayleys]

Hi!

So my DH managed to get the cat nap in from 12.:30- 1 pm in the car. He said that she feel asleep within 10 mins and when he got her out if the car she woke up and asked to walk instead of being carried so she was not in a deep sleep.

Unfortunately the early nap did not make a difference to BT. She has been absolutely fine in mood all day though. A little tired but nothing major. Here was her EASY:

WU 8:15
S 12:30 - 1 pm (in car)
BT 8 pm (not asleep until 10:45)

I'm really nervous about how her night sleep will go now. I'll post back in the morning to update and hoot t get some idea about what to do tomorrow. I feel at a compete loss, is it time for a NND? Thanks so much for your input!! It makes such a difference to feel supported! x

[Buttonbobs]

It might be time for some NNDs, but if you can manage it it's probably worth sticking with a shorter nap for a few days before changing anything again. At this age, it can take a while for changes to have an effect, time to give her body to get used to the earlier nap iyswim.

Just a thought, if you feel she's ready to try some NNDs then it might be worth following your instinct.

[Hayleys]

Hi

Thanks! So she slept all night and woke at 7:40 am. I'm with her all day today so I can try a cat nap in the car again from 12:30 - 1 pm. I'm going to aim for a 8 pm bedtime again. x

x

[Truly Blessed]

So my DH managed to get the cat nap in from 12.:30- 1 pm in the car. He said that she feel asleep within 10 mins and when he got her out if the car she woke up and asked to walk instead of being carried so she was not in a deep sleep.

This is one of the big bonus' that they wake easier and less cranky.

So you're looking at a 14.5 hour day even with an early nap (for yesterday at least) Gosh Hun, that's 9.5 hours sleep only, TBH I agree with Naomi, things could improve at night if she can adjust to an earlier nap, but I would say for sure she will melt down soon if she doesn't start to get more sleep on a daily basis.

Maybe give it a couple of days, then shoot for some no nap days next, see how it goes, what do you think 

x.

[Hayleys]

Hi!

Yes the wake up from the car rise is so much easier!! We went out to a friend's house this morning and I misjudged the time slightly of when to leave and how long it would take for her to fall asleep in the car. Basically it took her under 5 mins to fall asleep so nap time will be from 12:10 -12:40 so earlier than I was hoping for.

I completely agree that she will start having meltdowns soon if her night sleep doesn't lengthen and I'm really wanting to curb that before it sets in. Last night she was more tearful at bedtime than the day before which I wasn't expecting as I was thinking that the earlier nap would at least help her to be asleep before 9:30 pm. We'll just have to see how we get on tonight. Gosh I hate it when things goes so wonky like this, I'm so used to her sleeping well and being refreshed! Oh well guess it's just a process and we'll find our way in time! x

[Truly Blessed]

Ah I know, it is a shocker when you've had lengthy periods of calm I wish I could say it will be over soon, but for us this was the longest transition. I think you sound like a very calm Mama I envy you lol. I am sure you will be fine, just take it day by day. Make sure you join the 1-0 support thread if you haven't already, it really will help to be amongst parents of LO's in the same boat, with great advise and support.

I'm here too Hun x.

[Hayleys]

Hi!

I'm sure I won't feel quite so calm when the night wakes and meltdowns start. I'm dreading that!! It's great to know that I have your support though.

So today she has been fine again in mood. I noticed that she didn't have the same concentration levels when she was playing though and she was twisting her hair a lot which is what she dies when she is tired. The lack of sleep is certainly affecting her!! Thankfully no tired meltdowns yet.

Bedtime went a little better competed to the other nights, but was still not great! She only mildly protested initially and then laid down for a good 10 mins or so. She looked like she was really trying to sleep but then she sat up and started playing in her cot. On previous nights she has just been constantly playing really and not laying down much at all.  She still fell asleep at 9:50 pm though so that obviously is way too late, but an hour earlier than the last two nights!

This was her EASY

WU 7:40
S 12:10 - 12:40
BT 8 pm (asleep 9:50 pm)

Just a thought but, do you think the slightly earlier nap could have help? If so I think I could definitely get her to sleep earlier for that cat nap. Or  thinking about it she did wake up earlier this morning than the two previous days so perhaps that played a part. Anyway, we'll see how the night goes!! x

[Truly Blessed]

Hi Hun,

I would get S to take a nap as soon as he was willing. The only possible risk with that is that she starts to wake earlier because her nap feels like tacked on sleep, TBH I'm not sure if this is something that toddlers still do or whether it's more of a baby thing, I'll have to ask about that. However IIWM I would much rather deal with some early mornings to achieve a better BT, it depends on whether you're a morning person I guess Worth a try IMHO.x.

[Hayleys]

Hi

Thank you! She slept solidly until 7:45 this morning so she had a 10 hr night. Not great, but at least she had more than in previous days. So far she also seems to be happy in her mood.

Think I'll try a 12-12:30 nap then - thanks! xx

[Truly Blessed]

That's better I hope the earlier nap could be starting to help Hun. Finger's crossed for today, but bear in mind because she's had more sleep last night she may refuse it any earlier than usual, hope not though!  .

x.

[Hayleys]

Hi!

So I managed to get her to nap in the car from 11:55-12:25 pm which I was really pleased about then to top it off she fell asleep at 9 pm tonight!!! Here was her EASY for today:

WU 7:40
S 11:55 - 12:25
BT 8 pm (asleep at 9 pm)

I'm just hoping that she now sleeps all night and doesn't wake too early. If she does have a better night then she may not fall asleep for her nap as early as she did today so we'll just have to wait and see. My sister will look after her tomorrow while my DH and I are at work so I'll tell her to try the 12 pm car nap and see what happens.

We might be in a different place tomorrow but at the very least tonight I get to have a bit of an evening, yippee!!

Thanks! x

[Truly Blessed]

Much better I think you have a handle on it Hun, and are getting to grips with what to expect. I hope she has a good night. Let me know how it goes, finger's crossed! x.