Naptime Nightmare!!

Well as children grow routines change. Potty training will replace diaper changes, and meals will replace bottles and no naptime will replace naptime.

When my son was about that same age, we had the same type of "separtion anxiety." I ended up getting a blanket and a stuffed animal that we would both cuddle with while he drifted off and then would put him down for a nap. He still wasn't very happy, but he didn't make as much of a fuss or fuss as long as before. I think having my "scent" on the blanket and stuffed animal was helpful. He's 2 now, and has his favorite blanket. I don't even have to have my scent on it.

Hopefully this is a helpful option.

hi T., good luck, it is never easy watching your child cry. i underdtand. ,my son is 17 months and i have experienced this a few times already. my advice is walk out and let it be. i have had to do this a few times and it hurts, but they have to sleep. if they don't what happens. a horrible night. not fun for anyone else in the family. good luck.

Start calling it quiet time. One day they will no longer nap so it is important that it be a quiet time in room or laying quiet reading. Have it the same time each day. Ours was 2pm-3pm. an hour can be a long time to start. It just needs quiet.
Peace and quiet to you!

my oldest would scream and refuse to take a nap I would lay with him and make sure he took one and sometimes it would take over an hour to fall asleep. With my second I pushed back his nap time, usually around 2ish. I also did something that some might not agree with but at nap time I let him nap in our room while watching cartoons. He's not a big tv watcher but for some reason this works. I put the tv so low you can barely hear it and lay down with him. He's usually out by the first commercial, then I turn off the tv and either nap with him or go do my other chores. I wish I had thought of this with my first.

Can you lay down with her until she falls asleep and until she gets back in to the swing of things?

Dont think this was mentioned already but perhaps (if she has received enough cuddling/loving from you and it becomes a manipulation issue rather than a need issue) give her a "lovey" (ie a soft stuffed animal, doll, blanket, something soothing and comforting "almost" as good as you) and have her watch you fill it with your love & kisses then let her sleep with that, knowing she's got your love near her in something tangible?

Wow that sounds good, I should have tried it with my son ROFLOL

What I DID try with my son and this worked (for bedtimes when he was a little older, he quit his naps before I was ready for him to). When it was time for bed, and his bedtime routine was completed, he would not stay, he kept coming out for one thing or another. So we put a hook on his door and locked it. The first few days were terrible, but he stays in his room once it is bedtime and has not come out in 3 years once it is bedtime. We only had to lock his door for the first week or two, and maybe once or twice since then, and of course we unlocked it before we went to bed after he was asleep! Your child HAS to know what the boundaries are and that bed time means bed time (or naptime or whatever it is)

Just lie her down and walk out. She may fuss, but she's figured out that staying awake is much more fun and is trying to have you stay with her so she can stay up. This is a power struggle for which you have to be strong since she is at an age that she still needs naps. Just go through your routine, lie her down and tell her it's time to nap and walk out. She may fuss, but stay strong. If you keep with it, she'll just fall back into that routine of napping. Good luck.

As toddlers get older they can be awake longer. Try pushing back her naptime by an hour. Also tire her out by making sure she gets 30 minutes of outdoor play. Hope it helps.

Hi T.. When both of mine were that age I started putting toys in the bed with them. My daughter just immediately started playing and then eventually fell asleep. It gave me extra time to do my other work or just take a break. She still to this day (she's 3) has quiet play time in her room before taking a nap. My son was a lot harder because he would scream and throw temper tantrums and cling to me. But he eventually has learned to do the same thing and it's so sweet to watch the change. I'd recommend giving her some of her favorite toys to play with in bed at naptime and see if she'll eventually adjust - but I wouldn't expect the positive changes immediately. Good luck!

Could she have an ear infection??

Just thought I would add...all my kids went through a little phase around that age that would last about 1-2 weeks where they tried to give up their naps and not sleep. Don't loose hope! I just kept putting them down and our rule is they stay in their room/crib for either a nap or quiet time for 2 hours. Just today, my 22 month old played in her crib from 12:30-2:30 with no sleep! It allows them some much needed down time and some for me too. My 9 and 7 year olds still get quiet time in their rooms where they have to read/draw quietly during summer vacation and weekends. It's good for the soul :)

T.,

I actually agree with all the responses so far, except I couldn't put toys in my children's bed because that gave them a mixed message -- bed is for sleeping, not playing (though now that they are six and ten, I allow them quiet time on their beds to read -- but when they were little, I kept things very clear and simple -- bed is for sleeping). The way I did it was to be very consistent, which it sounds like you are -- and when I closed the door, my children knew that was it. I wasn't going to open it again. They just knew early on that there was no point in trying to manipulate that one. But before I left and closed the door, I would often lie down with them to reassure them. Children benefit hugely by co-sleeping, and even if you don't do this, just lying down with her for a few minutes (you can even set a timer) can be very soothing.

It's true that after 12 months, children learn to be able to manipulate their environments. Before that, if they cry it's because they have a need, and I don't like the "cry it out" systems because they actually contribute to insecurities in children. But older children very much appreciate boundaries and firm parameters; it helps them with confidence and independence.

If she is clinging to you, perhaps she's had some bad dreams lately and feels afraid, especially if this is new behavior. Or she's learned that this behavior concerns Mommy. Calm reassurance and firm, consistent "closing" activities (like closing a door, turning out a light etc.) can help. You can also tell her that she doesn't have to go to sleep, but she must stay in bed for one hour and she must "rest" because it's good for her. It's just a rule. Sometimes knowing they don't have to sleep is all they need to feel more in control of the situation.

Good luck!

S.

T., I agree about pushing back naptime and making sure your sweety gets plenty of sunshine and exercise....just something about playing outdoors that makes them ready for a nap.
I'm a grandma now, but when my son was little, he refused to go to bed at a decent time. Being a first time momma, I couldn't bare to make him cry.
My mother told me "he's got you wrapped around his little finger. Children are a whole lot smarter than you think!"
OH! I thought this was horrible, but took her advice and started putting him down at a decent hour (bedtime). He wailed the first night for awhile and it lessened each night for 5 nights.......ooooooo, that was hard, but it worked. After 5 nights, he would go to bed and go to sleep..wheeeeew, what a relief.
Momma's need baby's nap and bedtime, too. It IS for their health and well being, but let's be honest, it helps momma too.
She's clinging to you, because she knows that works. I know how hard it is to be firm ( especially with sweet little girls), but firm you must be. When she has had lunch and enough activity to make her tired. Put her down ( and try to keep naptime, the same time of day as much as possible) and be firm. Tell her it's time for nappy. Give her a kiss and a hug and reaffirm that you are there. She may fuss and give you a problem, but when she realizes that nap time, means just that......you will be surprised at the results.
Children, by nature, try to run things.....but they need momma to be firm ( even though they can not "reason" that out)....it's very reassuring to them.
:)

I have 4 children and my two older ones napped until age 4-5 but my two little ones stopped napping at 12 months and at 2 years. They didn't throw a fit when I put them down but they would just sit there and play the whole time. I agree with Cassandra about pushing the nap back a little...Good luck!

You mention that you took over a business this year, have you recently been spending more time working than you did before? When you say that your daughter clings to you when you lay her down it makes me think that she just misses being close to you. If possible try to lay down with her for a few minutes and reassure her that you are always there for her.

You may want to consider homeopathy. Fear of falling manifests when being laid in a cradle or bed. It could be a good symptom to find the right remedy.