Toddler Nap Hell

[greekypie]

DS is 2.5 years old. He is trying to give up his naps. He goes to sleep at bedtime without issue, at 8:30 - 9:00 pm (somewhere in there). Wakes around 7:15 or 7:30. He used to take 90-120 min. naps like clockwork, and now he just whines and whines and whines and WHINES in the crib.

I've tried giving him books in the crib, so he can just sit quietly and read if he chooses not to sleep.

I've tried letting him just be in his room (not confined to the crib) to have quiet time. He whines to go to the living room (where 90% of his toys are).

We are (were?) considering moving him to the big boy bed, but now I'm not so sure. I'm wondering if that would be a step backwards in the nap realm.

This is just a phase, right? What else can I try?

[Deleted]

The only way I can get her to nap on the weekends is in the car or stroller. I have no idea what daycare does bc she naps fine there, but at home it's a constant battle. So if it's nice out, I walk for an hour and a half, and if it's not, we go for a ride. Sucks.

I guess it's the age bc it seems other friends with 2.5 yo have the same issues.

[greekypie]

He has never been one to fall asleep in the car *or* stroller. I got a dud baby :-) , that isn't normal from what I hear.

I am SO not okay with him quitting his nap. Gah!! This past weekend I tried moving nap earlier and it was a big fail. I already know (from experience) that moving it later is a crapshoot.

I don't require that he sleeps - I just need quiet time! Maybe I will let him choose which toys to bring to his room before hand, that is a good suggestion. However, if I get to the point where I let him have toy or books, I'm guaranteed that he will not fall asleep. So that is kind of a last resort, you know?

ETA -my problem with him not sleeping vs. just quiet time is that later in the day, he becomes a cranky bear if he didn't sleep during "quiet time". Cranky bear = 5+ timeouts between dinner and bath time. Not cool.

[keh2oblue]

Yes, it's normal around that age to start dropping naps, and I bet switching beds will definitely have an impact on that, too.

[h]

If he is going down fine at night and not overtired, can you just give up trying to get him to nap? My oldest quit napping shortly after turning 2. My youngest is 27 months and generally doesn't nap unless he's at day care. It's a little on the early side, but it isn't that unusual for kids to stop napping at 2.5.

[Mrs.Syntax]

Jul 23, 2012 22:12:27 GMT -5 h said:

...it isn't that unusual for kids to stop napping at 2.5.

Please, no! I love my DD but I would go crazy without some "me" time.

[jena]

I lay down with him until he's asleep. Because 30min of laying down = 1.5-2hr me time. On bad days, I just keep telling him no he can't go downstairs, can't go play, etc. This pisses him off and he cries. Crying has never failed to lead to crashing into sleep of exhaustion.

DD was a little over 3 when we started doing just quiet time instead of nap time, so I know I'm probably running out of time before this method stops working too.

[beer]

My kids dropped his naps around that age. He would nap maybe two or three times a week, then they were gone all together.

[luvmagoldn]

Yea...I'm sorry to say it sounds like the naps are over. My guys dropped naps around then. They would be overtired at bedtime so I moved bedtime up by thirty minutes or so. But if they are over the nap, trying to force it will just leave both of you frustrated.

My boys would nap every once in a while but it wasn't consistent. If they conked out on the couch in the afternoon it was just a bonus. But I couldn't count on it.

[6fsn]

Agreed that naps are about to end. Try quiet time with a few toys in the room or get some color wonder markers and let him color. If he's a crank in the evening maybe move bedtime back a little until he gets used to no nap.

[Willis Jackson]

When it looked like DS was dropping naps and moving to "quiet time", we went to the store and let DS pick out a new toy that he could ONLY play with during quiet time. It lived in his (locked) closet and we would get it out after snuggling in his bed and reading a few books. He loved it so much that he would kick me out of his room so he could have quiet time.

It actually turned out to be a phase and he started up with naps again and is still napping at 3.5, thank god.

[liveintheville]

I have to run mine to exhaustion for the 2 year old to nap. We do park time in the morning and before bed after dinner. It's the only way to burn off the energy.

[mrssandro]

Ditto the burning energy. We do something that requires DD to get tired. Usually park time or shopping time or swimming time. Without fail she will want to nap in the car on the way home. This weekend she blessed us with a morning nap and a afternoon nap.

[greekypie]

Jul 24, 2012 7:19:39 GMT -5 Willis Jackson said:

When it looked like DS was dropping naps and moving to "quiet time", we went to the store and let DS pick out a new toy that he could ONLY play with during quiet time. It lived in his (locked) closet and we would get it out after snuggling in his bed and reading a few books. He loved it so much that he would kick me out of his room so he could have quiet time.

It actually turned out to be a phase and he started up with naps again and is still napping at 3.5, thank god.

Genius!!! What was the toy he picked? I am so trying this.

[Willis Jackson]

Jul 24, 2012 8:26:03 GMT -5 greekypie said:

Jul 24, 2012 7:19:39 GMT -5 Willis Jackson said:

When it looked like DS was dropping naps and moving to "quiet time", we went to the store and let DS pick out a new toy that he could ONLY play with during quiet time. It lived in his (locked) closet and we would get it out after snuggling in his bed and reading a few books. He loved it so much that he would kick me out of his room so he could have quiet time.

It actually turned out to be a phase and he started up with naps again and is still napping at 3.5, thank god.

Genius!!! What was the toy he picked? I am so trying this.

He picked a gigantic, hideous monster truck. He loves it.

[mrshandy]

DS just turned 2 and nap time is touch and go with us.

It usually requires some serious running around in the morning to make it happen.

After we got rid of his crib, he now sleeps on the floor 8-D since he refuses to sleep in his toddler bed.