My 2 year old this past week decided to protest: scream and cry, and crib jump, so that she did not need to go to sleep. This was happening both at day and at night and we lowered mattress so she can no longer crib jump. She has gotten back into her normal bedtime sleep patterns which are for the most part great! Unfortunately, during her usually nap time, she is continuing to scream and cry. Almost as if she is scared. I have tried to tell her that she can just rest at this time (I have even put a book and a projector in her crib). She could care less and wants out! Any suggestions would be great and very much appreciated!!!
My daughter gave up naps around 2 1/2. I was pregnant and it was sooo sad!! Anyway, I still put her in her room and she had to play quietly or "read her books." That worked well and I was able to get some rest.
Good luck!
My almost 2 1/2 year old son decided he was done with naps about 2 months ago. After lunch he looks tired but doesn't want to nap so I tell him we need to pick a DVD and sit on the couch and do quiet time. He gets his blankies (because he insists on carrying all his bed blankets all over the house), his binkie and sits like a good boy. I don't expect him to fall asleep, just to relax. Sometimes I sit and cuddle with him and sometimes I sit in the next room depending on what I'm doing. Occasionally he'll get up and try to talk or walk around and I remind him that's it's quiet time and he needs to go back and sit down. If he fusses, I say 'do you want to go up to bed' and of course he always says 'no mama', so I tell him he needs to go sit down then. Generally the threat of going up to bed gets him to do what I want him to do. I use that tactic alot now. So that's what we do.
She's too young to not nap and also way too young to call the shots. Don't change her routine at all. Stick to your guns or your house will be run by a 2 year old.
I have three kids. They all nap until they are 5 yrs or at least nap the majority of the time. If there are some days they are not napping they need to have some quite time.
She is testing you. I would continue to put her in her room for her nap. Put a gate in front of the door way so she not able to get out. She will scream to let you know she thinks a major injustice is taking place. She will realize that your will is stronger and will eventually go back to naps but dont give in.
It is COMMON, at 2 years old, that sleep/nap tweaks happens.
They are changing in development and can't cope either sometimes, and at this age 'fears' develop too, which is developmental based and their imaginations.
Kids this age still typically get tired. And need a nap. Which can vary from day to day.
If you expect her to do it by herself, it may not happen.
You may need to actually lay with her... maybe on the floor... to get her to wind-down and nap.
But keep to a daily routine of nap. A kid this age, may understand 'quiet' time but may not be able to actually do it.
Thus, keep your 'expectations' in line with your child's age and development.
Also, over-tired kids, get more fussy. And they cannot sleep better. Over-tiredness can actually make some kids 'seem' more 'hyper' too... but it is because they are over-tired and forcing themselves awake.
all the best,
Susan
my 2.5 yr old went through a month-long phase of not wanting to nap. we always had quiet time though. I always encouraged sleep but never fought her over it. I resorted to saying "then don't sleep, just have quiet time--but you have to stay in bed and be quiet." she had a couple stuffed animals and several books to entertain her and sometimes she would sleep and sometimes she wouldn't--my priority was giving MOMMY downtime! The turnaround point for us was when we found a "naptime" book at the library. I read it to her at naptime every day for 2 weeks... I loved quoting it! "...take a rest to feel our best" and ..."take a break from play to have a better day" She naps almost every day now.
with my daughter i let her take one small toy to bed and she can play quietly until mommy comes to get her. Usually she's asleep within 20 minutes.
I went through this with my son at right around the same age. He seemed so scared out of nowhere, which was not his personality at all. I just perseveared ( sp?) and would lean over his crib and read him a couple of books while rubbing his back ( he would be screaming at first, but would eventually settle a bit) and then I would just tell him I loved him and leave the room. the crying would continue for quite a while ( heartbreaking), but I didn't go back in and eventually he would fall asleep. He got over it in about 2 weeks or so. the only reason I kept at it though, was he really seemed to still need that nap ( he was napping for 2-3 hours regularly). Anyway, you know your child and if she seems to still need that rest, try and keep pushing it, but if she doesn't really seem to need it, you could maybe just skip it and put her down to sleep earlier at night....hope that helps! Good luck with everything.....
I told mine that she might not need a nap, but momma sure did, so she needed to be quiet for quiet time. That way momma didn't get so fussy. After quiet/nap time I would let her choose a snack she liked and have a little play time with her, showed her the benefits of letting momma rest. It helped... I also let her nap in my bed, do don't know if that made a difference...
good luck!
R.
my son did this as well and then again after he turned 3. we still insist on naptime but i gave him a flashlight to take to nap and bedtime. so, he can "read" in bed but the lights are off and sometimes he would fall asleep and other times, he just sits and plays quietly for naptime. while it's best they sleep, sometimes it just doesn't work. we also found that if we let him go to nap a little later, like around 2:30, he doesn't fight us as much. no matter what, they are learning to test the waters and you just have to stand your ground because you are doing it for their own good. good luck!
Maybe it's time to get a toddler bed. We had a lot of fighting with the crib, now with a bed it's much better. Yes, she gets up sometimes, but she doesn't cry when we put her there. We've been using one since 21 months.
My 2 year old has given up her daily naps too. She only takes one if we've been especially active in the morning. Instead of fighting with her (the screaming and kicking got to be too much) we do "quiet time" when she can read books or color or play quietly in her room for a set time. I put a comfy kid's stuffed chair in her room and she has a lovey that she talks to during her "quiet time". If she's tired she curls up with her lovey and takes a catnap. If she doesn't nap we go to bed a bit earlier.
Good luck!
