Dear Kay:
My 10-month old has always been a fantastic sleeper (both nap time and night time). He takes the typical 2 naps a day (each about 1 1/2 hours) in the am and then in the after – and is in bed at 7:00 and sleeps until 6:00 or 6:30. Just recently he has started to cry when I put him down for naps. He has also started pulling up and “cruising” some. Could this have anything to do with his tantrums at nap time or is it possible that he wants to give up a nap? I hate listening to him cry. He is a wonderful, happy baby and very rarely cries. So, to hear him scream at the top of his lungs at nap time (just out of the blue) is really bothering me. Is this a typical developmental stage? Will it pass?
Heather
Dear Heather,
This 10 month old has no sense of time and probably will not until he is oh say, about 8 years old. Having daily routines is so much more important than schedules. Children depend upon routines, doing the same thing in the same order each day. It brings them security. Skip something to keep to a schedule and you set of fear, anger, resistance…pretty much all the normal human reactions to losing something.
Just parent by listening to him. If he is resisting a second nap and wants to play can’t you both take the opportunity to have some fun?Crying and other forms of emoting feelings are his only way of communicating with you. By all means follow his lead.
Enjoy him while he still young and there with you. These times don’t come back again.
Sincerely,
M Kay Keller
