changing 1 year old sleep schedule

[maisiedotes]

AARGH.  My son just turned 1 and had a virus recently. He was so miserable and uncomfortable that he totally stopped sleeping at night and started taking cat naps throughout the day. The virus has been gone for about a week now but he has been falling asleep at about 4:00pm and waking up at around 1:00am.  Then he is up till 4:00pm again except for a quick half-hour nap at around 10:00am.  I can't go on like this.  The big obstacle is, if my son wants to sleep, there is no keeping him up.  Is this something that will regulate over time?  I tried taking him for rides in the car during the day to get him to take a longer nap earlier and stay awake later... with no luck.

Help! 

[carmen358]

Can you try it gradually? Like keep him awake for an hour later for a few nights then another the next few nights? That sounds almost like his days and nights are mixed up like he is a newborn again!