Napping problems for 19-month old

[Anonymous]

My DD is 19 months old and for 3 out of the last 4 days has cried hysterically when put down for her nap. She was napping with no problems for anywhere from 1.5-3 hours prior to this. We even spent a week at my parent's house (last week) and she napped beautifully there as well. The first day back she started with the hysterics. Twice I just took her out of her crib and got her to nap on a walk in her stroller, and today I toughed it out and let her cry for about 20-30 minutes until she finally fell asleep (she is sleeping now). I can't figure out why she's doing this since nothing else has really changed. Has this happened with anyone else's toddlers? I'm really hoping it's a short-lived phase.

[Anonymous]

Just a thought, but my 18 month old usually has a phase of pretty intense separation anxiety right after we get back from a trip. Is she going to sleep okay at night?

[Anonymous]

OP here -- I thought of that, and she has been a little clingier lately, but she has been going down with no problem at night (thank goodness). It's just naptime that seems to send her into hysterics.

[jsmarkarian]

We went to visit my family in California for two weeks and after we returned, naps were completely weird for two weeks. My daughter was exactly the same age at the time. I really think that it's the change of routine that affects their naps and it doesn't matter at night because they are just completely exhausted. Good luck! I'm sure this, too, shall end.

[Anonymous]

18-mo-old DS is having this exact problem, but at bedtime. He's gone to bed with no problems at 7:30 for months and months and months... suddenly there's screaming and crying (and tonight -- a full-on temper tantrum) at bedtime, which tonight was 9:30!

What got us out of the tantrum tonight was... reasoning. Sometimes I forget he's somewhat capable of that now. Our dog wandered in his room, and I told him that the dog was going to go night-night with him, so he should lie down and go night-night. (I'll spare you the rest of the baby talk... you get the idea.) The dog lay down on the rug, and DS lay down in his crib. All was quiet within a few minutes. Not sure whether it was a fluke or whether it'll work again tomorrow!

Otherwise, I'm not sure whether to wait this one out or do something more structured, like sleep-training. I'd love some advice too....

[Anonymous]

We are in the same boat as PP: our normally great sleeper who has been putting himself to sleep for almost a year has been freaking out at bedtime for almost a week. He also has been having sporadic (once a week) middle-of-the night wakings. In both cases, I've found going in and rubbing his back and then slowly backing out while gently saying "shhh," which I repeat outside the door for a few minutes, helps in both cases. Still, there is more crying than I'm comfortable with.

[Anonymous]

OP- Since you let her cry yesterday, that probably will solve the problem. Hopefully all goes better today... good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- Since you let her cry yesterday, that probably will solve the problem. Hopefully all goes better today... good luck!

No such luck, but it was a bit better. Yesterday she cried for 20 minutes and today it was only about 10. I'm hoping by the end of the week we'll nip this problem, but who knows? Toddlers sure are puzzling!

[Anonymous]

my son is three and i can't tell you how many wierd little phases we've been through with his napping. definitely after a trip or after him being sick or any disruption in the schedule...and then there are just wierd inexplicable phases. when i look back, realize things usually normalize in a few days.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- thanks, that's encouraging to hear. I think she's gone through a phase like this before, but things change so fast that when it happens it feels like the first time.