Quiet Time - what do you do for it?

[JudyLee]

Hi all.
Just needed some advice as to what to allow DD to play with during quiet time?
I'm still hoping she'll pass out and take a nap - she's 26mths and ugh - don't want to lose them, but seems that they've flown out the window.
So what do I leave in the room for her to play with?
She's got books and soft toys at the moment.
Just looking for suggestions.

Many thanks!

[Colin Macs Mom]

For us, quiet time was just that - no toys but maybe a couple of books.

[lilisuze]

you could leave a calming CD running? lullaby's or whale-type music

[JudyLee]

Thanks for that guys. Just wasn't too sure.
The annoying thing is that she'll still join in with the communal sleep at day care...
Oh well - they change the rules every minute don't they.

Thanks again.

[Dairy Queen]

Hi there,
I'd darken the room.  Maybe soft music and only give her books and soft toys, like a teddy bear (in case she falls asleep on them).  I had a bit of trouble wih my son when he turned two... he'd want me to lie down next to him for his nap and sing or tell him a story.  A long long long story.  Otherwise, he'd just get up and start jumping around.
We got over it though.  He's 4 and still naps 2 hours per day!
Good luck :-)

[JudyLee]

Wow! There is hope!
Do you recall how long it took for him to get over it?
We lost the dummy two months ago and the issues with naps started about five weeks ago, and the separation anxiety has returned big time in the last four weeks...so she and I need the naps to occur.
The curtains are always closed, the room dark, only a few books, her drink and a couple of soft toys. We don't play music, but then we never have for sleeping. The gate is up at the door to remind her it's sleep time...
She either howls for twenty minutes and then gives up and just runs around the room talking to herself, or she wasn't tired to start with so doesn't bother crying and just goes into playing in her room...
It's nice to think that it might not be permanent, because she really still needs the nap. Come five o'clock...sigh.

Oh well - here's hoping the golden rule applies, just when you get used to something, she changes it again.

[Dairy Queen]

I'd say about 6 months.  But DS was in a crib, so he couldn't really run around too much.  Besides, we'd read together first and I could usually tell that he was getting tired since he'd start to rub his eyes.  Then, I'd put him in his crib and he wouldn't stand up.  I'd still leave the toys and the blankets in the crib... but he'd often just throw them out of the crib afer a few minutes. 

Have you tried lying down next to her?  At least until she gets a little drowsy?  I know it's not the best solution... but it might help in the short term.

Good luck :-)

PS: Your last comment is bang on... DH and I feel like we're always tweaking something! 

[JudyLee]

She thinks it's a great game if I lie down next to her. She's in a toddler bed, so she can peer over the edge at me and giggle.  I've tried sitting in the recliner chair, but to no avail.

I always take her down when she starts to rub her eyes...but it doesn't seem to make a difference.
She was always a great sleeper, but with the dummy. So all the problems have come about since the removal of said dummy - but it was better to get rid of it now then later. The dribble was appalling!

Thanks anyway, it's good to know that it could possibly resolve itself.

[my3girlsjde]

We're going through something very similar right now. We did the 'switch' to big girl beds and the napping seems to be going by the wayside. We keep the same naptimes and they have to lay down for them but sometimes they just don't sleep. Books and toys seem to get them wound up, so they just get their waves cd and their soothers. It's unfortunate because I had wished for naps until much older and perhaps they'll outgrow this. DD2 is going through quite a bit of sep anxiety and I'm not sure if that's where her nap resistance is coming from.

Good for you for being able to get rid of the dummy! I fear that our girls will need them to sleep for years, but I can't muster the courage to do it yet.

[JudyLee]

Thanks for the support Vicki.
May I say though, I SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO regret getting rid of that dummy.
I'm sitting howling, listening to her howl down the corridor and DH is wondering what to do with both of us!
Nap time is gone, but also going to bed easily at night time has gone too - she is just howling and has been for the past half hour.
Have been doing WI/WO for the past what six weeks to try and reduce the separation anxiety and thought we were finally getting it licked, but tonight! Can't even leave the room before she starts howling and all she keeps calling out is 'wee wee mummy'. Now she can go for up to three hours during the day, and at least one and a half hours late afternoon...so the 'wee wee mummy' every thirty seconds is only her desire to put off bed time. She may do a pushed out squirt one out of four visits to the potty, as I didn't want to ignore the toilet training... but this is ridiculous.

Sigh. I'm going to have to post this onto the sleep forum as a new post, as I'm pretty desperate here.
She's also started this behaviour if she wakes through the night, so the sleep deprivation is getting a bit much too.

Here's hoping some one has some ideas for me.
Sorry to off load on you. Good luck with yours!