how to get 17.5 mo to nap at grandma's

[oliversmommy]

So my DS has only napped at home (in his crib) and the sitter's (in a pnp) since last summer.  (Last summer we traveled and he would nap in his pnp in different locations 90% of the time.)  He has been on one nap for a few months now.  We would like him to nap at my mom's house so that she can watch him for a whole day at her house, however the last two times we tried he refused.  He is an independent sleeper and usually goes down easily for naps, in a darkened room w/ white noise machine in a sleepsack.  (Of course this may change as the 18 mo regression is fast approaching!)  He does not use a lovey. 

Does anyone have suggestions on how to make this work?  We of course try to keep the same sleeping environment w/ darkened room and white noise machine, and the same winddown routine - I'm just wondering if there is anything else we can try, or if we just need to keep trying until he gets used to the new room.  How hard is it to get a toddler to nap somewhere new at this age?


TIA for your help/suggestions/advice! 

[Tecike]

DS2 started napping at my ILs when he turned 12 mo and I went back to work. What we did was this: the first couple of times it was me who put him down same way as we did at home, and he was doing really short naps, like 1 hr max. And then I figured it might help if my FIL (who is in charge of nap times) does the whole thing alone, taking mummy out of the picture. First he followed our wind down and DS2 still short napped. Then he changed WD for something that he liked better and slowly DS2 started taking regular naps. So, for us somehow it was the different WD that helped, but he still needed about 3 weeks to get used to the new routine.
Maybe your DS also needs a bit more time to get used to the new environment, and all you can do is ride it out... 

[ZacsMumme]

We did the same process as tecike with ds1 when he was about 18 mths. I replicated his room as best I could, blackouts, white noise, lovey and stuffed cat in cot, sleepsack etc.

I also made sure he was very familiar with the room, played in it etc. it's now his fav room at grandmas lol

[oliversmommy]

Thanks so much ladies for your responses! 

Tecike that's interesting that a different WD routine helped for your DS1! 

ZacsMumme that's a good idea to let him play in the room he sleeps in - we haven't done that but we definitely will now!

It helps to know that both your LOs eventually adjusted - I think we'll just keep trying and hope for the best! 

[ZacsMumme]

Also, talk about it, lots. They understand a lot more than they can say at this age YK?

[Solene]

My 2 year old naps in a stroller at grandma's, that way we can rock or move the stroller back and forth until he goes to sleep if need be. He has a proper one though, not just a little one, so it's good for him to sleep in it.

[Tecike]

Yes, that was surprising for me too, although it might just be that he eventually got used to the routine there.

And I agree with Sara, talk about it lots - I used to tell stories and included things I wanted DS1 to get used to, now with DS2 it's easier because he copies DS1 in many ways and I tell him stories of his big brother. He likes those for sure!