What ways do you put a 2 year old down for a nap without feeling like youve been wrestling a bull afterwards? Lately, she has fought naps with all she has and its wearing mommy out!!!
Naps might be over but you could still have "quiet time". That would work for awhile. We did that, laid down together so I could get some rest too. They usually end up falling asleep if it's quiet. Good luck!
I recently went through something similar w my 2.5 yr old boy. I would wrestle w him and fight him for a nap for hours... I finally decided, after posting a question here, that he is done with daily naps. He has had maybe two naps in the past 3 weeks. I have simply been putting him to bed an hour earlier now...
Make sure she gets lots of active play in the morning. At least 1 hour of running climbing peddling etc.. and again in the afternoon. Children this age have a LOT of energy and really need to be able to run and make loud noises.
Running errands does not count towards this type of running.
If she was in daycare when would play outside actively for 1.5 to 2 hours in the morning. Activity inside, inside play and then wash up.. a calm quiet lunch at 11:00 - 11:30.. Then wash up, set up mats, darken room, stories while everyone lays down and then quiet music.
By 2:00 everyone up.. snack, play inside.. project.. clean up and outside play.. again 1.5 hours to 2 hours very active.
When I would read the stories, I would read quietly and not engage our daughter in conversation or discussing the book. I made it very calm and quiet.
We have lunch 11:30, go up at 12. We read books, while she says "i no want to go nappy". I put a sippy of water and a little book in the crib and she talkes for about 20 min but then sleeps 2 hrs. Don't give up yet! I am hoping to get to 3, as long as she still needs it.
She may be done w/naps.
Sorry that is probably not what you want to hear. :(
My friends w/2 year old GIRLS stopped at age 2.
My son stopped a bit at 2, got them back 3 mos later, now does not take them at almost age 3. (Waa...sad for mommy. :)
Having said that, if he is active enough some days....he will just pass out.
I, then, have to watch that it is not so near his bedtime that he won't fall asleep until super late.
My system is better now. :)
I'm right there with you! I HATE this age! I usually see if I can convince him to let me put him to bed with a book or toy to play with, and he then usually falls asleep 30 minutes later.
He is fighting bedtime now, though, so I am actually thinking of starting to shorten his naptime if he does fall asleep. I found with my daughter that I preferred a small afternoon meltdown due to her running around at 10 not ready for bed (especially since I go to bed at 9!).
I... laid down with my kids. Until they fell asleep.
OR... I sat in a chair, in their room and read a magazine.
Meanwhile, I tell them no talking etc. and lay down.
I didn't look at them or engage with them or do anything. Just sat in the chair READING my magazine. Until they fell asleep. That way, they fell asleep and then I got to actually read... my magazine. Multi-tasking.
Worked for my kids.
And yes, as Laurie A. said, do ALL of the PHYSICAL playing with your kids... in the MORNING. BEFORE, lunch. In order to get the child's yah-yah's out and their pent up energy.
Then come home for an early lunch. Have lunch, verbally say "nap time after...." make everything QUIET and boring. Let them wind-down... make everything dark and quiet... and then head to their bed.
Then, do the read in a chair routine. As they peter out and lull to sleep.
Do not engage with them, at this time. Just quiet. No talking or micromanaging it. You and they... just stay still/quiet/not engaging, and read your magazine.
Worked for me.
I had this prob with my little guy recently. He's very strong willed and it was getting ugly. I started doing the same routine before nap as we do before bed (without the bath) and thoroughly explained it all to him, and within about 2 weeeks, he was retrained. He tells me the routine now and he actually does it! Consistency is key too (in terms of time and routine).
My daughter stopped taking naps at 2 as well, it just wasn't worth the fight. I started putting her to bed 1/2 hour earlier. Worked out well for us. Good Luck!
Hi D.,
My daughter stopped napping at 2 (she is now 14). I tried everything and she just would not sleep. She definitely needed it, by around 5 she was pretty brutal. It is yet another phase that will pass. Her little body will adjust, hang in there!
M.
