BGB Transition Tips!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[marlowsmom]

How did it go last night?

[~*Nicole*~]

I had to put her back ONE time and then she stayed put and fell asleep by herself. It still took her a long time to settle (a lot of that having to do with her routine being all over the place I am sure) BUT I didn't have to help her or stay in there so I was pleased.

I did have to go in and lay with her overnight b/c she woke and couldn't get herself back to sleep (although I heard her trying!). She was coughing and just having trouble. She hadn't been coughing or sick or anything prior to this so now I hope a cold isn't coming on to throw a kink in the works.

[marlowsmom]

Awesome news!   Sorry to hear she has a bit of a cough but at least she is getting the idea about staying in bed.

[~*Nicole*~]

Okay, now any ideas on what I should do if she stays in her room without me and ends up playing the entire duration of nap time and doesn't nap?? I don't have a video monitor so I can't tell if she gets out of the bed very easily unless I stay right there. She has books and soft play things like stuffed animals but no "active" or "loud" toys up there. She literally just spent an hour quietly playing! She also peed in her diaper and decided to take it off but pulled her pants back up by herself b/c her diaper was "scusting" she said.

I always thought if she was quiet and not crying I should leave her be, but if she doesn't nap then what do I do? She is only 2 I KNOW she still needs a nap. This is the second day in a row of no nap!

[marlowsmom]

I used to tell DD1 when she was little that her body wants to go to sleep.  It needs to rest so it can have more energy to play later.   She would say that she wasn't tired but I'd counter with that her body is saying "Go to sleep.  I need to rest."   I gave her the basics of her body and said her heart and brain want to sleep but they can't without her.    I know that probably sounds pretty dumb but it worked.

[~*Nicole*~]

I've tried that.

[marlowsmom]

I've also told her she isn't leaving her room until she took a nap.    That worked too.

[~*Nicole*~]

I could try that, but then she might be in her room until dinner or bedtime! We shall see!

[kayra]

do you think if you just let her do her own thing for a couple of days, the novelty would eventually wear off and she'd nap? Obviously each time you would stress that it was nap time etc, so not encouraging her to play, but in a sense ignoring for a few days? Then if she is cranky in the evenings you could say something like we need to take naps so that we can be happy in the afternoon.
I can't help thinking that eventually the novelty would wear off, and although it's not ideal that she doesn't nap a few days, at least it's in the dark and calm play. Though I guess if this were to go on for a long time you'd need to take some kind of stronger action, such as making her get back into bed when you catch her playing. or taking they toys in her bed away.
good luck!

[~*Nicole*~]

That's kind of what we're doing. Saturday she napped finally at 3:30 and was hard to wake at 4:30 so slept til 4:45! Then didn't go to bed til 10!!!!!!!!! Yesterday we had a Christening and luncheon over cousin's house and that lasted until forever, so was up again til 9:40 and only napped about 30 mins ont he car ride there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[~*Nicole*~]

Again, yesterday, no nap. She had woken up for the day at about 7:15 or 7:30 (I can't remember now!) and so I put her up at 1:15 (She's a 6 hour to nap girl) and I finally went in and got her at 2:45 b/c she just played the whole time! When I went in, she had stripped down naked, peed on her bed and broke her magic wand and had water and glitter all over the bed as well!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had her in bed at about 6:45/6:50 and she was def. out within minutes (would have been earlier but I had to fit in dinner and a bath---she NEEDED a bath, was smelly!) But then she was up from 1:00am to about 3:30am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Clearly this not napping is catching up with us!

IDEAS???

[kayra]

oh wow! that's quite a mess she made! sorry it's being such a struggle.
Could you threaten her with something? As in whatever she enjoys doing in the afternoon, dvd, certain toy, something... she doesn't get it unless she naps.?
Or basically WI/WO until she gets the message and settles down?

[~*Nicole*~]

Well, I wasn't sure if I should do WI/WO b/c she's not crying for me??? She's not that attached to any particular item/activity so I'm not sure that threatening her will help.

I did cut off the feet to a pair of pajamas and I am going to try to put them on backward at nap today to see if I can keep her dressed at least. I can't find my sleep sacks!!!!!!

Did just realize that she has a low grade fever so wondering if that is at least part of last night's issue. Maybe she'll be SO tired she'll pass out for her nap today. *Crossing fingers*

 

[~*Nicole*~]

So of course, today I put her up early b/c of being a bit sick....and she was out instantaneously at 12:30! I know it's b/c of being up so long overnight last night and being sick, but does that mean I just have to find the right A time before nap on a normal day when she's well rested and feeling well??? And could it possibly be longer than 6 hours?!!

OR will she fight no matter what if she's not ill/exhausted?

I mean, she's literally in the same position that I left her in...tucked in and everything! She never stays in the blanket!

[kayra]

hope she feels better soon.
You could try putting her down a bit later on a regular day, but don't push too much or she'll go hyper.
I guess the WI/WO I mean is just making her get back into bed and constantly repeating that it's nap time not play time. Do you prepare her before nap time with a lot of 'it's nap time soon, which means we don't play, we have to rest and sleep.....'?
You could try offering a treat if she naps? Hardly ideal I know but just till she gets the hang of things maybe.
Does a good telling off work? Once DS got out of his bed and followed me out the room, I was on the brink of laughing but did a big act of being cross and said he should never get out again bla bla, and he hasn't-whether it's because of that I can't say of course, but it might be worth a try.
All the best!