14 Month Old Will Not Lay down to Nap!

Updated on February 21, 2014
D.J. asks from Clearfield, PA
9 answers

My daughter is almost 14 months old. She was sleep trained around 6 months and hasn't really given us problems when we lay her down for her naps. We could pretty much lay her down, she'd stay laying down... not cry and then fall asleep for 1/2 an hour in the AM and an hour and a half or so in the afternoon. (She sleeps thru the night as well) I went away for 4 days to attend a wedding, though my husband was with her during that time and had no problems (they did not attend with me, they stayed home). All of a sudden (Feb 18) she has started refusing to sleep for her naps. She will be SO tired, but she stands up and drapes her arms over the sides of her crib and starts dozing (after she's done her share of screaming and crying). She is constantly waking herself up because as she falls asleep, she startles herself so she doesn't fall. I have tried music, white noise, no music, heater on, no heater, toys (hoping she'd play herself to sleep), putting her in the packNplay instead (in another room), putting my 3 yr old in the same room for "quiet time" to distract her. Nothing works. She goes to sleep just fine at night. The only way she will sleep is if I hold her - which isn't really an option since I need to keep track of my 3 yr old. Has anyone dealt with this? She IS teething... but isn't fussy about it and is pretty much fine through the day while playing, etc. Oh, we took her pacifier away on Feb 7 and she has not had a problem without it... I even tried to give it to her today to nap with and she tossed it away. Is this a separation anxiety thing? I am at such a loss! Help! Also... I tried dropping the AM nap and it didn't help. She was literally falling asleep in her high chair at lunch - but the minute I put her in the crib... back to square one.....

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

She is probably ready to drop the morning nap. I would try just skipping that morning nap and do a just slightly earlier lunch/nap.

2 moms found this helpful

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R.K.

answers from Appleton on

Be patient with her, her schedule was upset due to the travel. She will go back to her normal behavior soon.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.F.

answers from Phoenix on

You list all these changes you've tried, but it's only been 3 days! She's had a few weeks of changes-no binky, Mom out of town-and now she's doing something differently at nap, which you've responded to with MORE changes-white noise, sibling in room, different bed, etc.
I suggest going back to your normal routine. If she's tired, she'll sleep. If she has a bad nap and crashes later, only let her sleep for a few minutes. If she's fussy later, make bedtime a few minutes early. Show her the consistency she's been lacking lately (minus the binky, of course) and I bet her naps go back to normal.

1 mom found this helpful
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❤.M.

answers from Los Angeles on

Sounds like she is down to one nap.
I'd skip the morning nap then maybe try moving her afternoon nap up a bit

1 mom found this helpful
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A.L.

answers from Las Vegas on

because she sleeps thru the night, she may not need as much sleep as you think and you may have to let go of the idea that she needs a nap.. My son NEVER napped.... but has always been a good sleeper thru the night (less feeding times) .. I think some people are just hardwired to not need as much sleep..

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A.A.

answers from Tulsa on

They go through phases, keep putting her in her crib for naps like you always have done and she will get back to normal before you know it.

T.S.

answers from San Francisco on

It's only been a few days. She probably only needs one nap now, but it's going to take more time to adjust her schedule. Drop the morning nap for the next few weeks, and WEAR HER OUT before putting her down in the afternoon. I imagine in a month or so you will have a fairly easy new routine.

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

If she were in child care she'd have been down to one nap per day after lunch by the time she turned one. She may not need as much sleep as you're asking her to do.

If she goes to bed very early she's not going to take a nap either.

I think it's just a stage she's going through and she's needing to cut naptime down to one nap after lunch.

C.C.

answers from San Francisco on

I think she's ready to give up her morning nap, but there's going to be some adjustment in the meantime. You'll probably need to move lunchtime forward a bit, and she will be very tired for her nap after that.

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