Does the nap change as they get older?

[tylersmommy]

At bedtime, Tyler chats to himself for exactly 45 min before falling asleep. He's started to do the same thing at naptime too, but for even longer, and he gives me a hard time more and more, but just at naptime. Like today. I put him down at usual time, and he either babbled or emptied out his crib and cried, and it went on for 1.5 hrs (he's finally asleep). If he babbles, I let him be, but when he does the empty the crib routine, I do what I've always done...go in, give him his stuff, say night night, and leave. Over and over if needed. He's all smiles and obviously thinks it's a game, even though I barely look at him and I'm not exactly all grins. Grrr. When he does fall asleep, I usually have to wake him so that he'll be tired enough at bedtime. I guess the issue is that he doesn't seem ready to go to sleep at naptime, but once he is asleep, he sleeps. Does that make sense?

So I'm wondering...as they get older, does naptime move later? Get shorter? Nothing's changed, it's not teeth, and it's been going on for a couple of weeks now. Here's what his day looks like sleepwise:
8 - wake
1-3:30 - nap
8:30 - bedtime (actually falls asleep at 9:15)
Am I missing something, or is this another weird phase that we'll have to ride out? Any wisdom would be greatly appreciated. TIA!

[Matthew's Mommy]

Sounds like he's found a new game of keeping himself awake!  I went through this with Matthew, the game of throwing everything out etc.. and I ended up removing the articles from his bed.  It stopped his game of cause and effect! I took away the cause!

When children are overtired, they tend to rev up.. so prior to his naptime, make the environment low key and calming. Looking at books together in a rocking chair really helps to stimulate those calming hormones.

[tylersmommy]

Thanks, Jane...I'm starting to lose my mind here! It's becoming more and more clear that it's just a game that he thinks is hilarious, and it's killing me. Taking his stuff away seemed like the obvious answer, but I was worried that taking loveys would scar him for life or something. :roll: We have a really good wind down routine in place, it's been the same forever, but maybe I need to look at it again.

Thanks again, I hope this passes soon!

[deenz]

I found that putting dd down a bit later did the trick.  But I don't want nap time to get any later, as I like her early bedtime.  Our day goes something like this:

7am ish wake up
12.45pm nap (this was at 12, then 12.30, now closer to 1pm)
sleeping no later than 3pm
7pm bedtime (usually goes to sleep pretty quickly).

Also dd is in a single bed now, so can get out of bed and play if she likes.