2.5 yrs old driving me crazy at nap time!!!!!

[Jann]

I think if he stops feeling the pressure of me insisting on him napping he may decide to go on his own or even ask to nap.  We'll see

thanks

[Jann]

Ok so today didn't go so well.  He watched a bit of a dvd and kept playing.  He really needs the sleep, what should i do?

[brenda2]

i think it depends on how the night sleep is going.  if he doesn't nap and then is up a lot at night i would do a nap the following day and insist on it in future.  however if he doesn't nap and still sttn i would continue with going with what he wants to do.  no nap some days and a nap on other days as he decides.  i mean if he's still sttn with no nap then what's the problem?

my dd1 has refused to nap about 3 times and each time it has led to nws.  so we're back to insisting on the nap.  if she flat out refuses i do take her out and let her have some A time and then try again later but cut it short.  so usually her nap is 1-3 but a few times she has napped as late as 4 pm but only for 30-45 min (i wake her up).  this seems to prevent the nws at least and she still goes to bed fine. i wouldn't do a nap that late every day but if she is really fighting me then it's a way to get it in. 

another way i have "bribed" her into having a nap when she is looking like she might fight me is to tell her we are doing something fun but she must nap first and then we do it after she wakes up.  so after your nap we are going to the park, or going swimming but you need to have a nap so you feel better and are ready for fun.  if you don't nap we can't go do whatever.  it has worked for her.  she is at the age now where she understands you do this and THEN you can do that.

[Jann]

Your situation is exactly the way mine was about 3 months ago. However now, when I tell him you have to rest because we are going swimming after your nap, he says he doesn't want to go.  So it all worked before and now he just wants to stay up.  He hasn't had any nw but a few ew but very rare.  we have been in transition since dec so he will be napping less and less I guess.

thanks for the tips

[Jann]

He didn't nap yesterday.  I put him to bed at 7:30 rather than 8:30 and he slept a 12 hr night!  I must say it is way less stressfull at lunch time now, we don't have to rush to get him to bed.  I will try to keep the routine just in case he may want to start napping again, but won't insist.

keeping my fingers crossed.

[brenda2]

sounds good to me, i would just continue with the no naps unless ot catches up and he starts nw or ew and then you can do a catch up day of a nap.  i'm sure i'll be there with you soon!  good luck 

[Katet]

When my DS2 started refusing naps (because his brother had given up his), they both had quiet time, they could choose where they were as long as only one person was in each room... that meant if one of them was in the living room I had to be in another room... some days I got an hour to read my book on my bed LOL. I do think it is about picking battles & if they need the down time & there is a way that is acceptable to you (ie my then 2yo falling asleep watching TV was more acceptable than me trying to get him to nap for an hour) then why not.

[Jann]

thanks alot.  Yesterday i encouraged him to have a nap but he refused.  I put him to bed at 7 and he was up this morning at 7.  We do have quiet time, i tell him i have to prepare supper and he needs to play on his own, which he does.  I will start story telling and yoga during down time as well.

thanks
hope everthing goes well