I am at a loss and would appreciate any and all suggestions!! My son, who is turning 20 months old in a couple days, was perfectly nap and sleep trained at around 9 months old. At some point at 17 months old he started resisting his crib for naps. No issues for bedtime and still no issues with bedtime. He happily goes to sleep.
When he first started fighting the crib and independent naps I just went to contact naps immediately. He had been giving us HELL with these 5:30 am wake ups and so after weeks of pushing bedtime to 7:30 pm we finally got him to get up 6/6:30 am. I was not about to let that go. But, things happened. He got a cold, was teething and then we moved a week after he turned 18 months old. We went from a small condo to living with my in laws. I continued the contact naps until a week after the move to give the little guy a chance to get acclimatized to the new environment and all the new people. Then I tried to re-nap train. I did 60 minutes in the crib and then adjusted bedtime to 6:30pm to make up for the lost nap.
My son is STRONG WILLED. He will NOT go down for his nap! I am exhausted!!!! I even pushed him window to 90 minutes to see. All we ever got was dozing standing up at the crib but never laying down (expect for maybe 1 fluke). And to top it off, he started his 5:30 am wakes again due to the early bedtime (my son caps overnight sleep to 11 maybe 11.5 hrs).
After that 10 days of absolute chaos, I gave up. I decided to do contact naps again for a week to resettle him because I knew his cortisol was through the roof. And then my SIL came into town to visit and his room was gone for a few days so I just continued the contact naps for until she left. So, I tried the nap training again but this time a hard stop at 30 minutes and then a rescue nap in the stroller or car or via contact. I am exhausted. No matter what I do, how dark I make the room, the sound machine, the physical activity to tire him out, the timing of his meal, IT DOES NOT MATTER. He WILL NOT lay down and take a nap independently! And I know he needs his nap because he’s a mess if he doesn’t. He also conks out in a stroller, car or my arms.
I should also add that I stupidly created a very strong nurse to sleep association. I’ve been trying to break this for he last 10 days. I nurse him 30 minutes before his crib drop off. (Instead of nurse to sleep and transfer which worked up until 17 months)
Please. Anyone. I’m begging. Help this struggling mother out. Any suggestions, tips or tricks are welcome!
My son’s naps have consumed me. And not to be dramatic, but it’s ruining my life and I’m spiralling.