Nap Refusing...

[humpforfree]

So what do you do for a kid who is refusing to nap, even though he is wicked tired?

He has started standing up in the crib in the last few days, as soon as I put him in there. He just stands there and screams, won't lay down. He is really tired (rubbing his eyes, yawning) but won't give in. If we go in the car he falls asleep instantly. He is doing this at both morning and afternoon naps and is a mess by the afternoon and going to bed at 6 pm. I tried skipping the morning nap to see if he was dropping that, but he was exhausted and still didn't sleep in the afternoon.

This morning I put some books and toys in there and he sat for awhile but never laid down and is now standing and screaming at me. I need this kid to nap..

[Deleted]

You either power through (with a very cranky child) or you do whatever gets the nap (drive, stroller, carrier).

He'll get over it in a few days either way.

[ssmjlm]

How long are you giving him? 30 mins was our limit.

Have you tried talking through the monitor to him? E will sometimes fight naps, but if I say "It's nap time, lay down and close your eyes" that works about 90% of the time.

[Ashley&Scott]

Go for a drive.

[humpforfree]

Feb 6, 2015 9:24:01 GMT -5 @tokenhoser said:

You either power through (with a very cranky child) or you do whatever gets the nap (drive, stroller, carrier).

He'll get over it in a few days either way.

Thanks.. I think this will be our plan. And I sure hope so!!

[humpforfree]

Feb 6, 2015 9:26:01 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

How long are you giving him? 30 mins was our limit.

Have you tried talking through the monitor to him? E will sometimes fight naps, but if I say "It's nap time, lay down and close your eyes" that works about 90% of the time.

Usually about a half hour, sometimes longer if he sounds like he is winding down. (Spoiler alert- he doesn't.)
We can't talk through the monitor I have gone in and laid him back down- that just pisses him off more.

[shelbyann]

My DD has a day where she refuses any and all naps like twice a week. It's annoying! She also stands and cries and just won't lie down. If I go in there and try to make her lie down it makes things worse.

I let her go for 30 minutes, then take her out and we play or do something else for an hour, then try again. Rinse and repeat all day. If the weather is decent I take her for a long walk or a run in the jogging stroller…she doesn't exactly sleep, but at least she zones out for a while. Other than that, we power through. She is kind of cranky by bedtime but we deal.

I have stopped trying to understand it, LOL. Apparently I was also a crappy napper as a baby and stopped taking naps altogether (!) when I turned one according to my mom. Runs in the family maybe?

At least I have those 30-minute chunks to shower or get other stuff done!

[soozy87]

We have him take at least one nap. There are some days that we offer two, if he seems tired, and he will just play in his crib for an hour or so. I think it is kind of like the sleep training/CIO - if he knows you come if he is screaming he is going to scream. This was about the age that some days he started only needing one nap.

[humpforfree]

Feb 6, 2015 10:04:48 GMT -5 soozy87 said:

We have him take at least one nap. There are some days that we offer two, if he seems tired, and he will just play in his crib for an hour or so. I think it is kind of like the sleep training/CIO - if he knows you come if he is screaming he is going to scream. This was about the age that some days he started only needing one nap.

The no sleep isn't for lack of offering the naps... I can't force him to sleep, you know?

I am a fan of CIO and did it for nights, but this crying is much different and not something I am comfortable just ignoring for very long..

[litasail]

I'd be doing some long drives to get him to sleep.

[jeaniebueller]

Is he trying to cut down to one nap? Maybe push his morning nap back later?

[Deleted]

I let her nap in the stroller or the swing.

[browneyedgirl9]

We usually just left him, 45 min took one day.