6 m.o. Started Waking 30 Minutes into Each Nap

C. - you didn't say whether he takes 2 or 3 naps. It's probably time to start the 2 nap a day plan. with the first nap starting 2 hours after waking(likely 9). Then, wake him from first nap after no more than 2 hours (11-ish). Put him down at 2 for the second nap (waking no later than 4). If he wakes during a nap and cries, he needs to know how to put himself back down. Does he know how to put himself back to sleep at night or do you need to put him back down? It may be time for some sleep training to teach him to calm himself back down if not. I found from that age on, it was better to not go in. Because there's no light cue (darkness at night) to tell them it's time to get up, your even entrance to the room says it's ok to wake up. Does that make any sense? If that deosn't work, it may make sense to try a 3 nap schedule instead (even if it's going backwards) until he can stay asleep longer).

If you haven't read it, I can't say enough about Weissbluth's book.

Other random thoughts - is he putting himself down or are you rocking him down. And do you have a "nap routine" either a song, prayer, "goodnight bear" stuff, etc. to give him the cues that it's time to wind down and go to sleep?

He may also be teething. Have you tried some tylenol at nap time? I don't think the anbesol lasts more than a minute.

So sorry. May just be phase, but don't be afraid to knock the routine around a little. I know it's scary to mess with when you have a such a good night sleeper! Good luck!

(I think I know you C. P. If so, call me to discuss. It SUX - just when you think you've got it all figured out..)

Wow, looks like you already got some great advice. I also can't say enough great things about Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weisbluth. I started reading his book at about the age/stage your at and it helped me a lot. I will also say that some kids just don't nap more than 30-45 min at this stage. My son didn't start taking 1-2 hour naps until we actually dropped to one nap a day at around 10 months. Prior to that I just had to deal with short naps which was hard when you hear about other kids taking 2-3 hour naps. I bet it really hard for you considering he used to take long naps. It got better for us, and hopefully it will for you too.

You might want to get his ears checked. Waking soon after going to sleep (being laid down) can be a sign of an ear infection, especially if he if fussy/crying when he wakes up.

Actually that sounds pretty normal to me. They go through fases like everything else. He just wants to experience the world. I wouldn't worry unless he is awake all day and all night.

She could be feeling bad. I would look for others signs/symptoms, such as changes in diapers and/or eating. This is exactly what my DD did when she was feeling poorly (with GERD). Basically, she would sleep for half an hour cuz she HAD to get some sleep but she felt to bad to sleep anymore. I could also get her back to sleep at times, but rarely could lay her down. Once we got her GERD treated, she sleept like a champ.