My daughter has always been very consistant with her naps. Once she turned 2 and I had another baby, she began resisting naps. She can be in her crib for an hour and just talk and play in her crib (I do not have any toys in the crib). We were able to get her to continue napping after the rough patch. Now at 2 1/2 she naps maybe only 3 or 4 out of 7 days in the week (when she naps it is for 2+ hours). She is very tired as the day rolls on if she doesn't nap, but will sit in her crib and strip her bed and take her clothes on and off, etc. I really don't think we are able to do without the naps at this age, but any suggestions would be helpful.
Its probably because she is not getting enough physical activity in this long winter season. Come spring when she is outside playing for hours at a time the naps will probably resume.
This sound exactly like my two year old! What I've been doing is I made up a naptime chart and I explain to her that if she takes a nap she will get a sticker on the chart and once she gets 5 stickers we will go up to the dollar store and she can pick out whatever she wants. She just started resisting her naps a little over a week ago. I started the chart on Monday and she has three stickers on the chart. I bought her special Thomas the Tank Engine stickers that we can only use for the chart. Friday was the last day she resisted her nap. She did take a nap yesterday (after about 20 minutes of goofing around and calling for me) and then today she went right to sleep. I think she's finally understanding the concept of the chart. I also know that if children don't take their naps, then they need some time during the day where they have "quiet time." It doesn't quite work the same for my daughter, but it's something you may want to try with yours if she doesn't take a nap. Good luck!
M.,
My 2 year old is the same way...some days there is a nap, others there isn't. And on those days I have to purposely keep her up until at least 7pm so she doesn't pass out at 5:30 or 6 and then wake up at 5am! I don't force a nap but I will tell you what I do-- she still has to take "quiet time" in her room with books, crayons, etc. Because when it comes down to it, momma needs a break! :) So I tell her if she is not going to sleep then she has to take her quiet time so i can get things done (or have a nap myself). After about a half hour I get her and then I just grin and bear it till the end of the day. (Sigh!) Good luck! My pediatrician told me some kids just don't need naps after a certain age. Ay! Preschool is just around the corner....I hope....
You might try to put her down a half hour earlier than you have been. Her sleep patterns may be changing and she may be over-tired when you put her down. The key is to get them down before they get to that point. Just a thought...
