Nap intervention & Soothing routine for chatty 1 1/2 yr

[sacmommy]

I've posted on this before, but I continue to have problems - so I have some new questions. My dd chats in her crib for hours and regularly skips her nap. Many of you have recommended I leave her and not intervene, so I'm trying to do that (it's killing me right now; she's been in there nearly 2 hrs with no nap in sight). Here are my questions (any excuse to get more input):

1) Would you go in at all during the 2 hrs to try to get her to lie down and go to sleep, or just leave her the whole time? I typically go in after 15-30 mins to check her diaper; she often saves her bowel movement for this nice quiet time! Other than that, sometimes I go in at least one more time to try to get her down.

2) Any suggestions on soothing routine prior to nap? I wonder if I just don't relax her enough for the nap? (My husband always gets her to nap, and he's the calmer of the 2 of us). My routine is typically:

lunch
book and sippy cup of milk in her room with soothing music on
small cuddle (2 min or so) and down

Her room is almost blacked out, and I leave the lullaby music on the whole time.

Thanks!

[marlowho]

Maybe a little more play time in between lunch and wind down? 
Even setting a timer for, say, 5-10 minutes after lunch.  Once timer buzzes she understands it's time to go read books,etc...
I noticed around that age that holding my little chatty girl off a little longer for naps helped.  But also sometimes she just needed to talk for a while.  And yes there were times she talked through naps and went for a very early bedtime. 
But usually sticking to your routine/being consistent will help get through this stage.
Is she still taking 2 naps or is she down to one? B/c if she's still doing 2 this might be her way of letting you know she's ready to just have 1 per day.

Also a thought- maybe the music is too much for her?  I know I couldn't sleep with music on, but everyone's different.
Hang in there!  You are doing a great job!

[sacmommy]

Thanks, Marlo, I appreciate your thoughts. I never thought about cutting out the music - it's been part of my routine for so long! My dd has very much been on 1 nap for a long time, nearly 6 months! This is not a new problem - ever since she could stand (10 or 11 months) she's been having her fun hanging out in her crib!