Short Nap Misery

[JackandJill]

Hi everyone! I have a new dcb (1 yr) who only naps 20-30 minutes at a time. I have never run into this before!

His mom says this is how he naps at home as well. I can tell there is not a lot of structure at home and his previous care with grandma (irregular naps, carried or in a lap all day, won't hold his won bottle...) Is there anything I can do to get him to sleep longer? We are a super active bunch and I am so surprised he isn't as tired as everyone else!

He is also a screamer, so it is hard on the other kids who are trying to nap! I'm sure there are other threads on this, I just am not sure how to look them up

[jenboo]

Hi everyone! I have a new dcb (1 yr) who only naps 20-30 minutes at a time. I have never run into this before!

His mom says this is how he naps at home as well. I can tell there is not a lot of structure at home and his previous care with grandma (irregular naps, carried or in a lap all day, won't hold his won bottle...) Is there anything I can do to get him to sleep longer? We are a super active bunch and I am so surprised he isn't as tired as everyone else!

He is also a screamer, so it is hard on the other kids who are trying to nap! I'm sure there are other threads on this, I just am not sure how to look them up

try to separate him as much as possible from the others and leave him in his bed for the duration of nap time. Maybe increase the time by 15 minutes each day until he is in there the whole time. Eventually he should catch on and will hopefully fall back asleep. How many naps is he taking a day?

[NillaWafers]

I have a child like this, he often takes only 30 minute naps and wakes up crying. If this happens, I sit next to him and lay him back down everytime he gets up. He will eventually fall back asleep.

I am trying to only pick him up from nap if he is quiet, so I wait until the screaming stops to remove him from his PnP.

[proudmommyofthree]

MY grandson is 8 months old and only takes 30 min naps. 2-3 times per day, but sleeps through the night . He has a schedule and my daughter lives with me. He's used to the daycare schedule but he won't sleep longer. He wakes up happy every single time. I honestly believe it is just their personality. There really isnt much you can do. :hug: Just My opinion. :hug: to you . I know it's hard .

[childcaremom]

Hi everyone! I have a new dcb (1 yr) who only naps 20-30 minutes at a time. I have never run into this before!

His mom says this is how he naps at home as well. I can tell there is not a lot of structure at home and his previous care with grandma (irregular naps, carried or in a lap all day, won't hold his won bottle...) Is there anything I can do to get him to sleep longer? We are a super active bunch and I am so surprised he isn't as tired as everyone else!

He is also a screamer, so it is hard on the other kids who are trying to nap! I'm sure there are other threads on this, I just am not sure how to look them up

Welcome to my world.

This seems to be the new normal for me. I have had 4 new dcks in the past year who have been nap screamers. Only 1 is still here and she is on week 4.

Heidi gave me some great advice which worked for the most part. If you search for threads that I have started it will be in there.

Generally though, I make sure that the room is set before we go in. Curtains drawn, white noise on, stuffy or soft toy in the crib. As I am changing them before rest, I tell them that it is nap time and that we are going to have rest for our bodies and when rest time is over that I will come and get them. They sleep separated from the group. As much distance as possible to reduce the chance of disturbing the group.

Lay them down, tuck them in.

Once they wake, I make sure that they are awake. So not rushing in at the first peep. I do the sniff test to make sure it is not a bum change that they need. If so, I do it quickly and lay them back down. If no bum change, I will lay them back down and tell them that it is still rest time, friends are sleeping and that we need to be quiet so friends can sleep.

I generally will go in at a regular interval the first week, as long as it doesn't get them more upset. If it does, then I don't go in.

Second week, I will go in once when they wake up to lay them back down.

Third week, unless they need a bum change, I don't go in.

Generally, I have found it takes 4-6 weeks to get the screaming to stop. ( right?) I've also had to set a time limit on how long I will try to transition them through this behaviour. I find it very stressful to listen to it day in and day out. If I am seeing improvement within the first 4 weeks, I will give them 6 weeks. But def. by 6 weeks I draw the line. Not fair to the screamer, to the group or to me.

(I'm of the opinion that a happy and rested child does not wake up and cry/scream. To me, this behaviour is learned and signals a tired child in need of rest and a schedule.)

[JackandJill]

Today was much better! I got a white noise machine over the weekend to keep in the room with the other kids, and separated this dcg in a different room.

When he woke up I was able to let him cry/scream it out for about 20 minutes and he went back down. None of the other kids woke up thanks to the white noise. He stayed asleep for 2 hours! It was amazing happyface

I will def keep all this advice in my back pocket, just in case today was a fluke! It always seems when one things works, the next week it doesn't! Thank you!!