How Do I Get My Toddler to Take a Nap?

I know this sounds crazy, but when I am having trouble with my daughter napping, she has an ear infection. No other symptoms. Ok, occasionally pink under the eyes, but that's usually it.

Hi A.!
I'm also a stay at home Mom. I have three children and chose to stay home when my first, now 8yrs, was born. My 5 yr old now goes to Kinder, so it's just me and our 2yr old. He did begin to stop taking naps but I needed him to take naps because that is when I am able to clean house and do laundry. So, if you have complete control of your time and are not required to leave for a specifc block of time, you might just put your daughter on a definite schedule. It's tough, at first, because you will have to monitor your time. I begin 30 minutes before "quiet time" with turning out lights and I pop in my son's favorite DVD, Thomas, with the volume as low as possible. We "rest" on the couch and his head is usually in my lap and I "brush" his hair with my fingers and by the end of the 30 minutes, he's asleep. Not only is it a great relaxing time for me, it's also a sweet way of bonding. He loves his hair "brushed" and we get quiet time, together. I don't use the word, "nap" because he always says, "no" to naps, but loves "quiet time" and "rest".
Good Luck and just cuddle as much as you can!
D.

I had this problem with my oldest. After a while, we started making her have "quiet time." We told her she didn't have to sleep, but she did have to stay in her room and read until the clock looked a certain way. It worked like a charm for almost two years. She would fall asleep in about 10 minutes. With your daughter only being 18 months though, she might not understand what you want her to do. Hope this helps a little though!

For my three year old son (who had trouble for awhile..) we lay down with him, read him a story, and then I say "We need to close our eyes and go to sleep now" And he will close his eyes (all scrunched up at first) and I usually just lie there for about ten minutes. He is pretty sneeky, so I can't just walk out of the room. But after ten minutes, he is usually asleep.

I agree with Angel... routine, routine, routine. We have lunch at the same time everyday, and go to nap soon after. I have also found pull shades, rather than mini-blinds, helpful. It makes the bedroom very dark. Hope that helps!

When my son doesn't want to take a nap I just tell him that he will be in a better mood when he wakes up and then we can go to the park or play outside. But that we can't until he takes a nap. He gets grouchy when he doesn't have a nap. So by telling him this he won't get so mad when it is time to take a nap. Just lay her down and turn the light out and shut the door. She might cry for a little bit but she will eventually fall asleep. Also if you want her to take a nap everyday you need to do it at around the same time everyday so that she gets into a routine and she will start to get tired at the same time everyday. My son wakes up at 7:00am with the other two boys and goes with me to bring them to school and then he eats lunch at 12:00 and goes down for a nap between 12:30 and 1:00. It will take awhile to get her onto a routine that fits you both but once you get that down then everything will go smoothly. Good Luck!!

Hi, I'm C.... I have a 19 month old daughter and a 3 year old ADHD/ODD son.. my daughter still takes naps everyday, but my son started refusing naps, and with him being like he is... and pareants of ADHD/ODD children will agree with me, I HAVE got to have an hour break once a day... so I make my son stay in his room for "rest" time, and I put on a Disney movie for him and tell him he can ask to come out after the movie is over, and that helps him out alot to not scream for the whole time. But with an 18 month old, that hard, cos mine is still napping once a day, so I can't offer any advice other than what I do for my 3 year old.

I know it is a hard knock to accept- but if you try the other approaches to no avail- you may have to accept she is done with that phase of her life. Even if a child naps at a school doesnt mean they will need one when at home- its not half as tiring and draining spending the day with mom as it is chasing a bunch of other toddlers around.

none of my children napped past their first birthday- 2 never even would at school but they neevr started until after 4 years of age.

the youngest who is 2 started Mother's Day Out this year and he naps for them just fine. Because all the activity and chasing other children just wears him smoothe out.But he still never naps on his days at home.

some children hit the age to not need a nap much sooner than others- and that is something you will have to feel out and just see what she needs.

hello,
with my boys we watch a movie in the living room with pillow and blankets.90% of the timethey were asleep within the first half of the movie when they were little. now that my youngest is 2.5.. nap is down to about 40%. But that always have a quiet,rest time.

Routine is very important. I started one with my daughter and she naturally gets tired at her nap time. The only bad thing is on days where it's a holiday or party or something that interferes with her nap time, then she's grouchy cause she needs her nap! But I had to train my daughter to take naps. I do close the blinds in her room. I lay a nap mat on the floor (because they use one at school too for naps). I also put on soft sleepy time music. There is a station on my XM radio that's on the Direc TV we have, called Audio Visions and it has really soft soothing music and that even makes me want to go to sleep. I usually lay down with my daughter and pretend like I am taking a nap with her, that way she won't think she's missing anything. When she is good asleep I sneak away. I don't do this at night, I only have to do it during the day. I did have to get pretty stern with my daughter and still do every once in a while, just to let her know she HAS TO take a nap, no ifs and or buts about it.

Hi,
I know naps are crucial to your sanity!! I used to have to drive mychild to sleep or hold her to sleep but I got totally fed up with that and said I'm not going to take it anymore. I started to put her in bed with me for naps and we would both lie there till she fell asleep. It might have taken her a while but eventually she would go to sleep. Everything is always challenging when it's something new but then they get used to it and it's easier. Maybe try this and see if it works for you. Now She's 2, almost 3 and we still do the same routine and usually I'll take a quick nap too which may be more important than doing the laundry!
Good Luck, S.

So what you are saying is she is not napping at all now unless you do those things? I would go into my room keep it quiet and dark and lay there next to her in my bed or I would rock her in the chair. Then after she fell asleep I put her in her toddler bed. Your daughter may want a big girl bed. Hope that was what you are looking for :) Just set a routine same thing everyday consistently.