Did I Make a Mistake Disiplining My 21/2 Year Old?

This is what we'd do with our oldest son. I would tell him that it is nap time, and he needs to sleep. I'd say that if he expects to go out (or whatever other fun thing) then he needs to sleep. We'd tell him if he didn't sleep, then he would stay home (you have to MEAN it). I would also say that he didn't HAVE to sleep, but he had to stay in bed and rest. I'd leave him a book to look at. He had to stay in his room for an hour for rest time.
Four hours is too long to battle him for a nap. If he's not sleeping after an hour, then you need to look at adjusting the time he goes down for the nap. Try putting him down 30 minutes earlier, or tiring him out during the morning. Also, maybe he is just used to the nap routine at daycare. Find out how they do naps and do the same thing. You may need to structure his whole day like they do at the daycare to make things work. If all else fails and he will not nap, then put him to bed earlier. Good luck!

I agree with what some of the other mom's have already told you. You definitely need to fit the punishment to the "crime" and pick your battles. You also definitely need to follow through with anything you tell your son you will do if he doesn't obey. There very well may be days when he just won't take a nap for one reason or another. I agree also that four hours is way too long to try to force him to take a nap. On those days when he's not agreeing easily to a nap, try just doing quiet time at nap time. Have him sit and look at books with you or put on a movie. I found that many times my son (also 2 1/2) would fall asleep only a short time into the movie. Disciplining is probably the hardest part of parenting. It takes a lot of trial and error because not all methods will work with every child. What works for one may not work with your own. Good luck!

Did you tell him that if he didnt take a nap he would not be going to the park. You and daddy and baby sister would go and he would have to stay home with a sitter. When he still refused, the do just that. I know you probably wanted to go as a family but you lay down the rules and if they are not followed, then the punishment must fit. ie.. no nap no park. stick to it..

first of all no matter how tiring it is never give in. once you give in they know there is a breaking point and push you to it. if it gets unbearable to listen to or deal with take turns with you're husband on dealing with him i have found it best to sit a chair in their room and watch them or clean the room making sure they do not get up. while it is his turn leave the room and breathe when you feel you can handle it again do the same for your husband.

just a quick note: when u tell children something fun is coming up, they are too excited to nap, or behave even..... i always tell my kids on the way to do something, that way they arent bouncing off the wall s with excitement!!

I learned from a chlld rearing course many years ago to try to fit the crime to the punishment. It was not an easy task. I was not very good at child discipline. I was not one to make and issue over naptime, because kids are very manipulative and your son might learn that not napping when you want him to is all it takes to push your buttons and make a mole out of a mountain. And what does taking away toys to do with napping? So perhaps one way to deal with it was not to deal with it, but when it came to the time to go to the park, you could say to him, well we are not going to the park today because you are tired and acting up and now I don't want to take you. I was not much of a napper as a child. Never was and still am not. Some kids just don't need to nap every single day, so it is up to you, the parent, to come up with alternative plans on those days. Maybe sitting down with him to read a book would actually put him to sleep without his knowing your initial goal. Believe me it is much easier to look back at the situation from the outside than when you are actually in the situation. I would just say, pick your battles carefully because the battles get much harder as the kids get older. I wouldn't dwell on who wins or loses, then everything becomes a battle of wills. Just go with the flow. Young kids really don't know what they want emotionally, so even though he said he didn't want you, he really did! Sometimes just a few loving or reassuring words is all it takes, whether or not you go in to see him at night or not. Everyone has low moments now and then!