Bed Time Wars

Slyvia,
we were having the same problem with my 3 year old daughter. I finally just left it up to her whether she wanted to take a nap or have "quiet time" in her room. It worked for us. Now, she decides if she wants to take a nap (usually she takes one now twice a week.) The rest of the time it is quiet time, where she reads books or lays down but doesn't have to sleep.
On the days she does not take a nap, she goes to bed earlier, and she is now sleeping through the night. She used to get up at least 2 -3 times a night for something (any reason, actually) and it was driving me crazy. It stopped once we dropped the mandatory nap. She was a little cranky without the nap for the first two weeks, but then she adjusted and is sleeping through the night again! Good luck!

My son gave up naps about age 2 1/2, my daughter about 1. Bedtime for them was set at around 7pm and now they are 5 & 6 respectively and bedtime routine starts at 7 and lights out at 8pm. I would recommend cutting out the nap and going for quite time if you need some respite. I would recommend putting her to bed a little earlier...8:30 is pretty late for a 3 yr old...I'd try for 7 or 7:30 (especially with the no nap). I too have a problem with them getting up in the middle of the night if they haven't had enough exercise throughout the day...they just don't wear themselves out as much...

Bundle her up and send her to the backyard to play for 30-45 minutes before dinner, walk her around the block, even make her walk through Wal-mart (tell her "big girls" walk through Wal-mart ;) it'll wear her out!). Another idea is to get involved in some kind of evening activity dance, swimming lessons, gymnastics all of which will sign her up at this age and will DEFINITELY wear her out and give you a break! ;) Good luck and keep with the schedule...it's your lifesaver!

My kids wanted to get rid of their nap around 2 1/2 or so...maybe she is doing that, but since she is tired you could up her bedtime to 7:30. Also, I would have her take a "rest" time during what used to be her nap. She could listen to music in her room, look at books, play quietly, OR decide to lay down for a nap if she wants. All my kids do/have done this and it provides them a quiet time and me too! Just an idea!

She very well could be telling you that she is ready to drop her nap. I know that around that age we dropped my son's afternoon nap - because although he would sleep - it would make it that much later for him to fall asleep at night. What you might do it take away the nap but maybe give her a little quiet time in her room to read or whatever and then move her bedtime up to 8pm. It will take a week or so to get in the groove of things but that should work.

instead of insisting on a nap at one try giving her just quiet time in her room. I do this with my 20 month old and after she gets bored she puts herself down for a nap. also keep her active and on the go for most of the morning and it will help make her more tired by nap time.

otherwise your just going to have to toughen it out since you waited so long to get rid of the binky. She became attached to it and was old enough to remember why she wanted it. also try giving her a snack in the afternoon. it could be she is hungry and fighting going to sleep on an empty stomach.

Before all three of my kids were 3 we stopped the naps. As soon as it became a fight we just stopped it and evenings got better.

How about moving the bedtime up and forgoing the nap and let her sleep longer at night. This is what we just did in August with my 4 year old and it is awesome... We don't have the battles at nap time nor even at bedtime. Because at bedtime he is truly tired since he did not nap. We turned the afternoon nap into a 30 minute quiet time. This means he has to stop and relax by either watching a video or sitdown and "read" books quietly to himself. Sometime's he will dose off, but most of the time it is just enough that it soothes him and gets us through until the 7:30 bath and 8:00 betime.

Just hang tuff, this too shall pass. kids go thru all kinds of phases, and usually end up back on track. You might try dropping the nap and see if that helps at night.

Same exact thing happened to us! Stupid binkie! We just cut out nap time and moved up bed time. It took awhile for him to not be cranky in the afternoon but trying to get him to nap was by far worse than the crankiness. Bed times were a battle for us until at the dr's we mentioned the problem in front of my son. He gave us some advice about being matter of fact with him and saying this is what happens at bed time and that we expect him to stay there so we can have some couple time. That night we told him "remember the dr said that we have to keep bed time short and that you have to stay in your room because it's time for Daddy and I to have some time alone". Miracle upon miracles it worked! He's maybe argued once over the last week but then he said "the dr told me I had to stay in my room right?" and he did!

Could you "find" her binky for her so she can sleep well? I'd say, if she hasn't adjusted to not having it yet, then it's not time to take it away.

thank for the answer it has been 1 yr. but u should try not given her a nap one day and see if that helps no nap plus put her to bed about 7 30 or 8 just try it and let me know how it gose

My daughter was around 3 when she "grew out of her nap." I just recently found this mp3 player for kids (www.sweatpea3.com or www.sweatpeacompany.com - I'm not sure which). It's a large player with only 3 buttons. You can load stories, soothing songs..etc. Now, I give it to my daughter at "nap" time/bed time and tell her she can listen to her songs/stories and she doesn't have to sleep, but she has to rest. I set an egg timer for 1 hour and 1/2 and tell her not to get up until the timer goes off. She is usually asleep before then! If you use it at night, just remember to go in and turn off the timer or it will wake them :0)

Good Luck!
M.

During the day when it comes to nap time lay with her or sit with her 5 minutes and read very softly and turn on very soft music with no words. talk soft and low and reassure her when she wakes up what she has to look forward to. Night time she could be having slight nite terors, gently,calmly and very very quietly walk her back and soothe her. If they are night terrors dont wake her even though she looks awake. They out grow. patience is the virtue. A calm soothing warm bath with lilac helps before bed.....