Naptime Issues - Saint Charles,MO

My 20 month old has been on a nap strike for over a month now. She naps maybe 2-3 days a week.

I don't think we can get them to take a nap. I know that when I put her in her crib, she is very ready to sleep. She just doesn't want to sleep. I have been telling her it's time for quiet time, even telling her she doesn't have to sleep if she doesn't want to. It seems to be working in terms of her taking more naps. Maybe you could try that approach? Even give her permission to empty her drawers? And just tell her that mommy needs a nap, so ask her to be quiet?

Sorry I don't have any real advice. I've decided to just go with it and stop worrying about whether she is sleeping. I think the key is to just keep putting them down.

Hi M.,

If you know your daughter is tired, gets cranky or hyper w/o a nap, she does need her nap. We, moms, know when the kids are tired, so it is important do not give up, and help the kids to have a nap. M., try to go with her to her room and stay a little bit with her, sing a song, read a short story or make up one (This work for me better), play a soft music, count chickens or bears with her and cuddle her. Does your other little girl have a nap? if it is so, you may want to lie with your youngest in your room and have a nap together; if your other girl doesn't take naps, take both of them to your room, give the older one a book or a coloring book, and stay with the youngest to have a nap or at least rest a little bit. It is not necessary that your 23 mo old girl take a long nap, just an hour may help her to relax even 45 minutes. naps are so good for kids and yourself, even if you don't really nap, it is a relaxing time. You can start by being with your little one in her room and read something quietly.
Don't give up..I never gave up...!
Alejandra

here's the oddball truth: when I was a SAHM, my own children had difficulty falling asleep for a nap. BUT with my daycare & when I worked at a daycare facility, the children never/ever had trouble napping! Why is that?

I truly believe it's directly related to the amount of stimulation - both mental & physical. With my inhome daycare, which I've been doing for 7 1/2 years, every single child simply lays down & goes to sleep...it is uncanny how it happens. & I mean- every child - even when they're < one!

These children are not run ragged, they are all on good schedules at home....but I will say that the few times when I'm down to just one child....naptime is more difficult. It's an interesting phenomenon!

We have the same schedule day in/day out. Playtime before & after breakfast, with learning activities scattered thru-out. Mid-morning break for drinks & maybe a small "bite" of something. Outside play before lunch - always <30 minutes. Maybe once/twice a week, the kids watch ONE show & that's it. We rely on music - a combo of toddler tunes, seasonal, & sometimes a variety of current music (most of my families stay up with music & so do I...I simply censor the content.) Lunch is always the same time....& then the children know it's naptime. & We have a little catchphrase we sing: "lunchtime, naptime, Mommytime". This helps them understand the schedule.

We use the same process for naps each day. The first one "done" gets to setup the pallets...I use toddler sleeping bags for each child, a fav blankie, a pillow....& that's it. No toys, no dolls. Soft music, dim lights. A few reminders to "please close your eyes" & that's it for 2 hours +/-. I sit quietly & read until they are asleep. Once I got this process started, the next child joining us just followed our lead.

There have been rare occasions when I've had to be vigilant in getting the child to lay still. I do a little singsong thingie: "arms down, hands still, legs down, toes still". There are times when this has to be repeated...with "eyes closed" added to it. Once the kids learn the routine, they anticipate my next words. I have been known to change it up, just to see if they're listening...& I love it when they pop open their eyes & say, "Miss S."! & honestly, all it took was vigilance on my part...in the beginning, if they try getting off the bed....then I put them right back on it. If they're in a packNplay, then I repeatedly lay them down & say, "no, you have to lay down & be still". I do this over & over again until they comply.

The only discipline required is that of your own...be persistent & consistent.....& don't give in.

good luck is what I have to say! lol my daughter is 21 months and does the exact same thing. I shut the door and let her be sometimes she goes down nice and easy other times it takes several hours of her playing in her room by herself to get her to bed.

maybe read her a short story - will help her to mellow and calm down to realize she is tired?

you may even mention to her that the baby needs to take a nap too - so you need her to extra quiet - to take her nap so she can be awake when the baby wakes up?

a little about me: a Mom of two boys - married and having their own now. Also a health and wellness coach for people wanting to creating a healthier lifestyle.

S.

Hi M.,

Hope something has started to work for you. My daughter is now 34 months and she doesn't take naps anymore. What I do though is try to get her to rest for at least an hour to two. She wouldn't lay down with me without kicking and then she wouldn't lay down in bed so i went to Walmart and got one of those Kindermats for preschool and kindergarten. She is happy to lay down on the floor with the mat, a pillow, and a blanket.
you might want to try that. Oh, since she likes to get into everything now, you might want to try to leave a small basket of her toys next to her and see if she'll stay on the mat. This is what I do for my daughter. My daughter now loves to lay down with a small t.v. and word world. She also has on the side a small basket of toys.

Hope this helps you out.
A.

M.-

I noticed that you have a 3.5 week old daughter. How long has your daughter been doing this at naptime? It may be a result of the new sister! She may just be resenting less time with you and instead of napping, will do what she's doing!! Are you a stay at home mom? I just wonder if she goes to daycare if she does that there? I would recommend not worrying about it! If/when she's tired, she'll go to sleep. Explain to her that she has to rest in her room with the door closed. If she chooses to mess up her room, let her but then have her clean it up later. My 26 month old daughter started fighting us really badly about a month or two ago to take naps on the weekends (the only time my husband and I are both home with her) and we stopped forcing them on her. Now she'll either fall asleep on the couch or ask to go to her room for a nap. Some days she doesn't take one and just goes to bed earlier!!

Good Morning M., This may not work for you but it does for me right now. I could put Corbin (4 now) down in our room for nap time when he out grew his pack N play. With Zane (2) that is not an option. So I have one of those little kids fold out couches. I put Zane in the living room with me and just have him lay down, I am on the couch, Corbin is in our room watching Discovery channel or cartoons.
Some times he will fall asleep and some times he lays there quietly and just looks around. If he gets off the couch I just have to point at the couch and he gets back on it... :))
Even if he doesn't sleep he does seem to relax and rest for at least an hour. Our little couch I got at Wal-Mart for 20 bux, it's Madagascar. They have some really sweet little girl ones too. Might give it a try if it doesn't work she will still have her own little couch to sit on with the family.

God Bless you M., Congrats on your new little Princess.
K. Nana of 5