2 1/2 Yo Daughter Wont Stay in Bed for Naptime and at Nite Any Ideas?

At this age most kids are looking for ways to exert their independence & test your boundarires. I suggested to a friend that she turn the door knob on her ds's room around so she could lock it from the outside. He had just moved out of the crib & would not stay in his room to nap. He would be exhausted by the end of the day, (and so was she). This worked. Once he realized she meant business and he couldn't get out to roam the house he started napping again. He's still quite a handful, but at least now he naps.

i put my daughter in a playpen to nap and that works great, she cant get out. maybe you can try that during the day so that once she is used to napping then you can transition her back into her bed for naps.

My son was the same way, actually he still is. One thing I found is that some kids cannot stand the absolute silence. I started putting on soft relaxing music or a short movie for bedtime like Sesame Street Sleepytime songs & stories. Works like a charm.Good Luck.

Just want you to know you're not alone! My 3-year old son hasn't napped since he was a year old, and once I stopped forcing the issue and letting him stay up all day, bedtime became so much more pleasant for all of us. My brother had been the same way as a toddler. Doctor says it's simply that some kids require more (or less) sleep than others.

Good luck!

S.,
Please do not lock your child in her room. This is extremely unhealthy. You can keep her in her room by putting her in a playpen or by putting a gate in the doorway. Then she can see and hear you, but still will learn that she needs to stay in her room for a certain period of time.
Amy

Does your child drink anything with sugar in it b4 bedtime? Maybe she is full of sugars or hydrated soft drinks!

S.