help with day time naps please...

[AliciaK]

Hi ... my daughter just turned one and has never been a great day time sleeper... generally two to 3 hrs hours in one hour lots... but the last week has been terrible. She is getting up anywhere between 5.30 and 6.30 am and going back down anywhere between 9.30 and 11am - usually after a little bit of a fight and usually has about an hour. But that is it for the rest of the day! The last two nights it has taken me over two hours to get her to sleep for the night just because she is sooooo overtired . I don't have her during the day, DH does and I am the one who does the night time routine as this is my time with her, but neither one of us can get her to sleep easily like we could do a week ago. The routine hasn't changed - dinner, bath, bottle (whilst being read a story), teeth, lullaby and into her cot.
Does anyone has any hints as to how to get her to sleep during the day! The pram can work, but atm it is cold, raining and blowing an absolute gale so its not an option. She is sleeping well at night - usually 10 to 11 hrs, sometimes one wake up but just a quick bottle and back to bed.
She is getting teeth ( only has 3 and number 4 coming through), but when she got her first couple of teeth we never had a problem, she would have a second day time sleep.
any hints, comments or ideas would be greatly appreciated, as poor DH is exhausted when I get home, and I hate seeing her so distressed going to bed (and it taking me so long to get her to sleep - its eating into our time)
thanks
Al

[taralee]

My DD was never a great sleeper and always seemed to get worse around developmental milestones. I would imagine teeth coming thru and the fact that she'll probably be walking soon, if not already is making her less likely to go to sleep easily.
If you dont have her during the day maybe separation anxiety is an issue for her? there are lots of tips on how to help her overcome this but from my experience;
1) just stick to the same thing you've been doing, it might actually be comforting to her if she's not feeling like herself.
2) like everything, its a phase, it will pass
3) does she have a comfort toy or something that smells like you that you can leave with her that she can keep with her all the time - whether you are around or not?
4) my little motto is 'be persistent and consistent'
Also, if she's sleeping well at night, maybe try to keep her up for a bit longer in the morning? it could be that she's in that awkward phase of not needing 2 naps, but 1 is not enough, if that makes sense? if you try and make her one nap closer to the middle of the day and/or shift her bedtime back 30mins or so..it might help with the overtiredness...
it will settle down again, im sure, but good luck and i hope something there is of some use to you!!

[Lolli]

Brilliant advice from taralee! I've recently put a radio in ds's room and it has helped so much. I'm not sure why but I haven't had much trouble since I put it in **touches wood**

[taralee]

Oh thankyou LoriRae, yes actually, i use whitenoise for both my kids and its brilliant - DD did start sleeping better after i started and ive used it with DS from the beginning. There are lots around that you can download - i use ken davis aquatic dreams, which is rain sounds and waterfalls - i find it irritating lol but the kids like it hahahaha

[AliciaK]

thank you both very much. we do have the radio on during the day so the noise doesn't stop and a cd at night so it will....
I'm not sure if it separation anxiety as it has always been this way - I went back to f/t work when she was 6 mths old, so she has always been with dad... but I will try a comforter, she doesn't have one yet.
I certainly hope it passes.... thanks again, and i inform dh so he can try a few of these things.
Al