Taking naps - Parenting Issues Message Board

hope2663 · 09-29-2003, 03:47 PM

My dd is 2yrs old and has given up nap time for the last 3 months. I have realized that this is no longer a stage she is going through. I put her in her bedroom for about 1hr around nap time and she doesnt sleep so I dont do that anymore as she usually just destroys her bedroom. I have tried putting in movies and not putting in movies laying down with her and visa versa, with no success. She usually gets very cranky around 5:00pm and then wants to take her naps and then doesnt want to go to bed until 11:00p and then doesnt want to get up until around 9:00am. I have only let her do that once. She goes to bed at 8:00p and is up at 8:00a, but no sleep in between, is there a way to get her to take naps or should I just come to terms with not having that mommy time during nap time and no house cleaning until 8:00pm?

Greenberry · 09-29-2003, 05:22 PM

You might try getting her up earlier in the morning. My three year old DD still naps, but ONLY because I get her up at 6 am. If she sleeps much past 6, then she's up all day too.

momof3mjt · 09-29-2003, 06:23 PM

I agree with that last poster. Try getting her up EARLY, like around 7 am, and not letting her lay down until after lunch, around 12:30 or so. After a few days of this, she will be taking a nap again, AND going to be earlier.
Sometimes their little systems just get out of whack. Some just don't need to nap anymore, but if she is getting cranky and falling asleep in that late afternoon, then she definatly still needs that nap. Just get a routine going. I used to make lunch, then turn out all the lights, and close all the curtains in my daycare room. All the kids had a special blanket and space to lay, I turned on a very calm movie, and before I knew it they were all off to sleep! Everyday! Don't send her to her room, possibly your room, or on the couch with no other temptations or stimulation?

good luck!
Lindy

CCmakes3 · 10-01-2003, 09:52 PM

Agree with the last 2 posters. The only thing I would add is that if a movie is too stimulating for her (or something she normally associates with being awake), you might try something different like a book on tape or a CD with kids music. I got a CD with lots of Disney movie songs on it and my 2 year-old loves it! We only play it when we lay him down for naps or bedtime, so he always associates it with sleep. I think it calms him because he can just lay there and imagine the movie that goes with the song instead of actually watching all of the "action." Good luck!

hope2663 · 10-03-2003, 08:59 PM

Thanks guys, I will start to wake her up earlier. I'm up every morning at 6:00am, (I dont think I ever got my usual sleep habits back after she was born, lol). I was just worried that if she still decided napping wasnt for her that she wouldnt be getting enough sleep. Do you think that 12hrs is enough sleep for a 2yr old. You hear so many different ideas on how much sleep a child should be getting. One day I will know it all, (probably not, but any mother could hope) but until then I am so glad I found this forum!!