I have just read the nap time issues discussion, because I am going through the same thing with my 2 and 1/2 year old boy. He is refusing to stay down for a nap, at least 3-4 days a week. I know he's tired! While we don't do the same things every day, I do have a pretty consistent lunch then nap time routine that we've had for over a year. I can't say that it is consistently at the same exact time every day, but the routine remains roughly the same. That little bugger just wants to play in there and he has the look of the dickens on his cute little face, like he knows I can't force him to lay down (which I'm sure is just a projection on my part due to my frustration.)I usually lay down with him and read stories for about 20 minutes, and then, since we are still nursing, I let him nurse for a bit as well. He just wants to play around. I've been trying to wean him from needing to nurse to fall asleep. This has worked fine at night--I lay with him at night, nurse until he's sleepy but not asleep, then I tell him it's time to go to sleep, but momma will be right next door. I get up, tell him I love him and walk out the door. He goes right to sleep. This does not work at all for naps. I have shut the door on him, but this just results in a half an hour of crying and screaming. Am I just being impatient? How many hours do I have to lay with him to get him to sleep? I have things to do! I haven't been forcing the issue lately because it just takes to much out of me. Maybe I'm just not a very patient mom? I just don't want him to be so tired, but I get to mad and frustrated after trying everything to get him to lay down for an hour and a half. It seems like he thinks it's a game...or he knows I'm going to react. Man. Why does this have to be so hard. I look forward to any and all comments...
Thanks for all the responses so far! It helps just knowing I'm not the only one, no matter what path I eventually take. Thanks...
I think I like the early bed time approach. I am just not into fighting/ or forcing something. I think maybe if I just don't play the game and put him to bed earlier, our lives will be easier. He does not 'get his way' so to speak in other areas, so maybe it's just a matter of choosing our battles.
Thanks...
You are not a bad mom - I could never deal with the screaming either. My daughter was the same way. I would try to stay with her, read books, rest etc and hope she dozed off. Some days she didn't. She doesn't nap now - just over 3.... I guess I stopped before 3 so it's possible. On really bad days I did drive... put her right out... and gave me an excuse to get Starbucks! Hang in there - this too shall pass...
Get a door knob cover so he can't open his door, and let him be. If he doesn't want to sleep, you can't make him, but you CAN make him do quiet time in his room and give you time to do other things. If he screams, he screams. Ignore it. You DON'T have to lay down with him--that's your choice. He is running things right now, so stop letting him before he gets any older. You''re mad and frustrated because you aren't in charge, so take charge.
All of my kids had "rest time" until they started school. Rest for both me and them :) I think it is time to consider not doing the nap-time nurse (he just wants to goof off anyways) and not laying with him at nap-time either. He is absolutely old enough to understand that mom shouldn't need to lay with him anymore. He screams because it works - if you are responding to the screaming, he will just keep doing it.
Make sure that his room is as dim as possible at nap time. After lunch, do the story and (if you really still want to nurse) don't do it in his bedroom. Do it in the living room on the chair. Offer him the breast once. If he isn't interested, then just skip it. Put him in bed and either shut the door or put up a gate so he cannot get out. Turn the music up in the living room so you aren't so focused on his screaming. Even if he screams the entire 1.5 hrs, let him. He is mad - not hurt and all you are doing by going in there is letting him know that when he gets mad, screaming will allow him to get his way. When nap time is up, calmly go in and get him. After a few days, he will either nap or at least lay quietly.
Good luck!
My daughter barely ever napped in her crib/bed... she always napped on the couch in the living room.... and she was a good napper (I truly enjoy the few naps she takes now!) I always would sit with while she feel asleep, and than would do laundry, or whatever. Good Luck!!
I hated midday naps when I was a kid. Yep, even though it's a custom where I am from. Some kids don't like it because it interrupts with play. I wanted to play all day and it's true for others as well, maybe yours too. There is really no point forcing a child to sleep if they are not sleepy. As for being there while he goes to sleep: My son is only 5 months old, so I'm not there yet with him. But when I was a child, I slept with an adult beside me (at night) when I was a baby, and then a toddler. I outgrew it no problem. There was no pressure getting me to sleep alone. I think children will tell you when they are ready for it. If I were you, I'd let the boy play and let him nap on his own (or at least rest) when he is really too tired to do anything else. Good luck!
I sit in my daughter's room. I'll get the laptop or DS or a book and sit where she can't reach me (she play kicks me to get my attention) and it took some time, but if she sits up or talks, I don't look at her. I lay her back down, turn away and return to what I was doing. We went through a phase where she would sometimes take 30 minutes to get to sleep, but now she knows the routine and usually falls asleep within 5 or so minutes. She sleeps for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours and it is such a needed break for us BOTH! Especially now that I'm pregnant again!
Probably not what you want to hear....but maybe he is done with naps? All 3 of my kids were completely done with naps around 2! I blame their father:) My MIL told me that my DH was completely done w/naps at 2 too!
As long as he doesn't have a melt down before bedtime he might not need a nap anymore?
Maybe its he is done actually NEEDING the nap everyday? With mine, we phased out a daily nap and went to an earlier bedtime? Not sure if that would work in your life, but the 700 -730 bedtime gave my husband and me extra alone time which is ALWAYS welcome! ;)
