19 Month Old Doesn't Want to Nap

Updated on December 08, 2009
A.C. asks from Franklin Park, IL
4 answers

Since my daughter's been about 14 months old, she has been sleeping approx. 12 hours at night, and one 2 hr afternoon nap. I would put her down for nap about 4 hours after she woke up. This was working great for the past 5-6 months. But lately, she is resisting the nap. She will talk, sing, and play in her crib, but doesn't want to sleep. She doesn't really cry though, so I leave her in there and she will eventually fall asleep. But it's been taking close to 2 hours! And then she wants to sleep for two hours (or more). And of course, because she is sleeping later, she doesn't want to go down at her regular bedtime. There are days when she will go down no problem, but they are getting less and less common. I've been taking the wait and see approach, because I'm hoping it's just a stage. But it doesn't appear to be getting better. I've thought of just giving up the nap, but she's so young! If I do that, she'd have to go to bed earlier, and probably wouldn't see her dad at all. I'm worried that if we skip the nap, or I let her take as long as she needs to fall asleep, but wake her up, she will just be a cranky little monster for the rest of the day. And I know things are REALLY going to change in another few weeks when baby #2 gets here, so I'd like to fix this ASAP.
Any advice appreciated, thanks moms!
EDIT- We have tried pushing it back, so far not so good. My question is, if it takes her a long time to fall asleep, should I let her sleep til she wakes on her own, or wake her up to keep the schedule. If I let her sleep too late, it will interfere with bedtime, but if I wake her, she'll be cranky all evening??

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

I agree with you that you probably shouldn't eliminate the nap entirely. Your daughter does seem too young for that.

Have you tried pushing her nap back an hour or so and putting her down 5 hours after waking rather than 4? I wonder if the extra hour of activity would make her more tired and more ready for the nap. Perhaps she would fall asleep quicker.

My daughter is 17 months old, and she usually goes to bed at 7pm, wakes up around 8am and naps from about 1-3pm. She's a little younger than your daughter, but she has tolerated being up for 5 hours before her first nap. Maybe your daughter will too. Just try pushing the nap back by 15-30 minutes every few days and see how she does.

If for some reason, she still doesn't go to sleep, I would still use the scheduled nap time as "quiet time" in her crib. I think that even if she's not sleeping, the time spent being quiet and still would be restorative for her.

Good luck, and congratulations on baby number 2!
J.

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A.M.

answers from Chicago on

I agree with Judy. I wouldn't emilinate the nap completely but rather try adjusting the nap time. Try both moving it up and down. Not only does your daughter need some down time to reenergize but so do you!!

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D.T.

answers from Chicago on

Hi A.,
I would change the nap to later afternoon. When I had that issue...it worked great. I have my 3 and even 4 years olds nap from 1:30-3:30 with a bed time at 7:30! No issues! Best of luck!

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M.S.

answers from Chicago on

My 19 month old typically goes to bed at 7:30pm. Wakes between 7 and 7:30am and naps from 12:30 - 2/2:30 or 3. I would try pushing her nap back in 10 minute increments each day and see what happens. Do you do a nap routine? I spend about 15 minutes in his quiet room to change his diaper and read books to him before he goes in the crib. He's usually rubbing his eyes by that point so I know he's good and sleepy! good luck!

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