Need encouragement to win this battle.

[lynn]

I have always went for a drive with my dd when it was nap time. I really need to stop this with gas prices. It's to cold to jog with her. So for the first time, yes I know I should have started sooner, I am putting her down from 1P -2P for "rest" or nap. She think it's a game I just keep picking her up and putting her back in her bed. We are on 12 in the past 10 minutes. How much longer do I keep this up? Yikes almost 45min to go. Is this being to strict or something I will be grateful for later?

[Tammy]

nt

[lynn]

2.5 years old.

[Karin]

Honestly, we gave up naps when our kids were 2 so they'd go to sleep at night. Yes, it was rough at first with tired, cranky kids, but within 2 weeks well worth it.

[lynn]

She goes to bed 8P-9P pretty well. Especially if she gets outside play. Maybe not so much to get a "nap" in the afternoon but more in the habit of a quiet time hour where she can play quietly in her room or look at books and I can get some study time for my classes or mop the floors without worrying about her running past the chairs and slipping.

[Natalieclare]

Have you ever tried resting with her? When my almost 4yo was that age, I was not willing to give up on naptime quite yet, yet she wasn't falling asleep on her own anymore. I NEVER had had success snuggling my older kids to sleep, but I was desperate to make it work with Ava. I had to learn to make my body really relaxed and peaceful when I wanted to tensely shriek, "You NEED this nap, now lie down and HUSH!!!!" It turned into a wonderful time for us to connect. We kept up naps 'til she was about 3.5, and now she just has a rest time. Pesonally, I think 2.5 is young enough that I would keep searching for some way to make naps happen!


Edited to add: I really like the book Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Child. This book argues pretty convincingly for the need for lots of sleep. Ava goes to bed at 7 or 7:30, even on the occasional day she actually falls asleep during quiet time.

[Cadam]

I put my 2yo in a pack'n'play. Eventually she falls asleep. We always try the bed but she tends to get up so into the crib she goes.

You asked how long it will take for her to understand.... It could be a few days to a couple of weeks but in the end it will be worth it.

[Jennefer@SSA]

unless you decide to forgo naps as Karin suggested. You may have to set everything aside for as long as it takes until she gets the idea. She will eventually get the idea.

Another idea? Can you put a gate on her room and set the timer. My 3.5 yo is starting to outgrow his naps most days. I put a timer in his room and give him 3 or 4 toys and tell him he must play quietly until the timer goes off. About 1/4 of the time I find him asleep on the floor but the rest of the time he does play quietly.

Good luck

[Jennefer@SSA]

can I use the word idea in one post!

Note to self: proofread before clicking submit!

[Karin]

My kids went to bed earlier than that when they were little--it's what worked for us at the time. I think at that age they went to bed around 7. The idea of quiet play is good, too, and we've done that.

[lovin'life]

quiet, alone time for any age. My 10, 8, 6 & 3 have alone time most days.

[lynn]

However, we have 3 older boys that range from 15 to 8 so she thinks she missing something so we put everyone down together between 8-9. It's just what works for us now.

I hope his is not coming around as snooty. I do not intend it to be like that. This is the situation for our house right now. there is an hour that gets rough here and the boys don't always understand that baby girl has not had her nap so she may not play nice or be whiny and by golly she still won't go down at 7 no matter how tired she is, unless of course we are out someplace and she gets a "recharger nap" then she's up until 10:30...

[Karin]

\I hope his is not coming around as snooty. I do not intend it to be like that. This is the situation for our house right now. there is an hour that gets rough here and the boys don't always understand that baby girl has not had her nap so she may not play nice or be whiny and by golly she still won't go down at 7 no matter how tired she is, unless of course we are out someplace and she gets a "recharger nap" then she's up until 10:30...

No, you're not snooty at all!!! And realizing that you might have other circumstances is why I put "that's what worked for us at that time." Had I a 2year old now with my other three, I'm not so sure 7 pm and no nap would work anymore, unless she were like my ds--he loved to go to bed when he was tired until around age 5. I just hope you find a good answer for the nap/quiet time that works.

[Tutor]

My 10, 8, 6 & 3 have alone time most days.

We have quiet time for everyone in our house, too. This includes me (usually). The kids don't have to nap, but they have to be in bed and quiet. All of our kids have had periods of pushing to see if I would give up on quiet time and just let them up. Our worst took two weeks of my repeatedly putting him back in bed before he learned to stay.

Be patient. She'll eventually get the message.