Move nap time later or keep it the same?

[Carmela's Mom]

My 2 year 8 month daughter was napping at 1:00 p.m.  She'd go in and most of the time be asleep within 1/2 hour.  On the odd day she'd skip a nap, but not often.  Well since Tuesday, I put her in at 1:00 and she didn't fall asleep until 2:45ish....today it's 2:45 and she's still playing, talking, singing, etc.  So it looks like no nap today. 

I'm not sure if I should try putting her in later or if I should keep with 1:00 p.m. and let her work through it???  Suggestions???

[Jaime]

my dd would do that on occasion too.  instead of messing with the time i put her into bed, i would have a cutoff time for getting up.  i.e.; naptime here was 2pm, and she had to be up by 5pm in order to go to bed okay.  so, no matter when she finally went to sleep, i would get her up at 5pm so she could go to bed okay.

[mari]

If she doesn't nap in the day, what is she like in the night? Perhaps she is starting to drop the nap altogether.

[Carmela's Mom]

I really really don't think she's ready to give up that nap.  She is a bear by night time and sleeps worst at night.  She gets herself in a vicious cycle and I don't know how or why.  Things will run smoothly and then for what seems like no reason at all, she starts avoiding naps and seeming overtired by 1:00.  Then she has problems falling asleep at her 8:00 bedtime and then she is up a few times at night and wakes tired in the morning.  Then SOMEHOW we get back on track and after a few weeks we are all off again.  Someone on here told me to stick to the 1:00 and 8:00 nap and bed times to keep her body on the right track (I used to move it forward when she went through these times, but then we'd get ALL out of whack and she'd never get back on track!)....so that's what I'm trying to do.

I will say though that this weekend is a rough weekend to start getting back on track for us though because last night we had a party at my house and tonight we're going to a neighbor's house for New Years Eve party!

[Carmela's Mom]

Nap should probably be earlier.  She does best going down at noon, BUT I really really enjoy my afternoon time with both the kids napping so I am selfish and try to push her until 1:00. 

[Duckie]

I agree with Stacy, if she naps better going down at noon, I'd say put her down at noon.

[Carmela's Mom]

See the problem is my son naps from 10-11 and then again at 1:30-4:00  sooo if I put her down at noon, we literally would never leave this house!!!  She'd sleep from 12-1:30 and that would just be us tied down every single day.  It wouldn't work with any of us.  So for now I am going to continue the 1:00 and just hope this phase seems to work itself out.  For whatever reason, we just keep going thorugh these phases.  She'll sleep great for 3 weeks or so and then BOOM she's back to eearly wakings, taking forever to fall asleep at night and no naps

[mari]

Until recently, my Alex took her nap around lunchtime, but the baby I care for took his nap in the morning and in the afternoon and rather than have them unsettled I would choose to stay in the house.  Things are better now, I've more or less got them to nap together, but I'd say, if you want to solve sleep problems, then stay in for a bit until they settle down, it is short term, especially as joey is so young, he will soon change his nap times and then they will suit you better.

[Carmela's Mom]

See Carmela will NOT nap at all if we don't get out of the house.  it just isn't stimulating enough for her to tire her out!

[imsmum]

Margot decided that she would skip some naps over the holdiays too.  She normally goes into her crib at 7:30 and will fall asleep between 8 and 8:30.  On the days she didn't nap she was in bed by 6:30 asleep by 6:45 and slept thru (albeit with a few nail biting stirs) until 7 the next morning.  She is back to napping for the nanny--same time--so there's no reason that I can think of other than it's just a toddler power struggle.  I know, not much help to get the nap re-established, but if you do a super early bedtime on the days she doesn't nap she might at least sleep through the night for you.  HTH   

[Carmela's Mom]

I do think the holidays through us off too.  She had a few very late nights and that just made her overtired, at least I'm hoping htat's what it is and it fixes itself quickly!