My 2yo daughter has been refusing to nap at home for over 2 weeks now.
She typically would nap from about 12:30 or 1pm to 2:30 or 3 in the past, and suddenly just refuses. She goes to part time daycare 3 days a week, and still naps there (at same times). I am about to have another baby in a few weeks and haven't been able to be as active with her on our days together (we used to run around and play outside everyday), but this seems WAY too early for her to be dropping naps altogether. Anyone else have issues with a 2yo refusing to nap at home? we have changed nothing about her nap time routine, and have not changed anything with bedtime routines- she does go down earlier though when she doesn't nap. No nighttime issues. Im at a loss for what to do...I can't phathom breastfeeding a newborn with a toddler that doesn't nap....what's up?
I put her in her crib (she says ....I'm tired, time for a nap, or I want my crib....etc..) and she will lay there and talk or sing to herself for as long as I let her lay there- I have even tried leaving her for a full hour. She will start calling for Mommy, and I do try to leave her alone and let her rest, but I can only take it for so long before I finally give up and drag my weary (and PREGO!!!) self in there and retrieve her. She is happy to see me, doesn't seem upset, just wants to be with me or help me with tasks around the house etc.... (she doesn't scream and cry or anything...she will say she wants to nap, and then just doesn't fall asleep, and when I get her she says "Im all done with my nap Mommy...") Any ideas? When have other toddlers dropped naps completely? I think 2 is too young to not nap!!
Am I way off here?Is she just ready to go all day without napping? Thoughts ladies?
well I appreciate all the great input...glad to know other Moms have had similiar issues with naps. For now I will just continue trying to nap her, she is definately one who lets me know what she needs ex: she has been known to say " Mommy I need the doctor to check my ears." when she has had ear infections. So as suggested, she may just be craving quiet time. Thanks so much for the input...I had been feeling guilty for not constantly providing her with entertainment, but now I will try not to feel bad if she just plays quietly in her crib while I just "be" for an hour or so. I imagine some of this has to do with the upcoming arrival of her baby sister, and surely we will have some adjustments to make as a family! Thanks everyone- so glad to know we aren;t the only ones out there with this situation!!
How do they do the naps at the daycare? My son napped in his bed till he went to daycare, but then he didn't want to nap in the bed after he got used to napping on the nap cots at daycare. Now I fold up his quilt in a totally different spot in his room - I let him pick the spot - and he naps on it. It's like a special "nap spot". Maybe making her nap spot more like daycare will work. Good luck!
At about 2 years old..... sleep tweaks happens.
Both my kids did that, with naps and bedtime.
For me, when I was pregnant with my 2nd child... my daughter and I... napped at the SAME time.
I told her, Mommy has to rest and take care of my tummy... she understood... she and I would either go to my bedroom or on the floor of the living room.
She'd make her spot all comfy with her stuffed animals... she'd even put a blanket on me... and I would be on the sofa.
And we'd nap... together. It was a daily routine... when I was pregnant.
Once baby came home... she STILL napped everyday... and she and my baby (my son) would nap at the SAME time. I did it that way on purpose... since I then had 2 kids to coordinate.
That helped.
And I would often, nap too.
Your child to me, still needs a nap.
But it is an age related sleep tweak.
Just KEEP to your DAILY nap routine.
all the best,
Susan
mine is ka 1/2 and only naps 2 or 3 times a week.
Both of my girls stopped napping at 2. They were getting a good 12-14 hours of sleep at night. I tried begging, pleading and bribing - but they were just ready to stop napping.
My son always was afraid he miss something fun while he napped, so we all had to lie down with him (we let him nap on our bed) till he dozed off and then we'd end up napping with him without meaning to. I'd usually wake up first, and I've got some great pictures of Daddy and our son napping together!
My son took naps through kindergarten, and he kept it up on weekends through first grade.
My daughter stopped napping at home when she was 2. She did and still does nap at daycare (she's 3) but not very well and never at home!!! She is very tired in the evenings and because she doesn't nap, I put her to bed an hour earlier than she goes during the week. That way she gets her nap in whether it's during the day or at night!! If we're out and about driving, she will sometimes nap but hardly ever! I think it was at age 2 because that was when her brother was born. At that time my husband was still working Mon-Fri (now working Fri-Sun) so she never saw him except for the weekends. So we were only together as family on the weekends - I think that made her want to stop napping!!
I suggest leaving her in her crib if she's not crying and that way she'll still get a rest time in!
The routine change is going to school. You might try making her bedtime later
my 23 month old is doing the same exact thing (staying in his crib for an hour and a half just singing and talking to himself) so i'm anxious to see what your responses are...I have a 6 week old also, and REALLY need him to take a nap to avoid the late afternoon crankies when baby starts to get really fussy too.
I think everyone would benefit from a nap-no matter what age. Maybe she needs to be moved into a bed. That way, she can go in a take a nap when she wants to-and get up and come out of her room all rested and cheery.....????
They all go through these phases where they try to get out of naps. I make nap time as close to bedtime as possible. Same stories, routine. I would leave them up there for at least an hour and a half. If I did break down and bring them down, I made it clear that there would be no TV or playing. they simply had to stay on the couch and read a book quietly as it is quiet time. Eventually they go back to sleep.
I would keep putting her in the crib and let her play quietly for an hour. She's obviously doing fine in there for an hour or she'd be crying for you. Maybe she just needs a little down time in the day to recharge when you guys aren't all that active in the morning (versus a full nap when she's running around with the other kids at daycare).
Put her in the crib, set a timer for an hour, and lay on the couch to rest yourself. Use the timer so you aren't constantly looking at the clock. She'll let you know if she really needs you.
Some kids give up naps around that age. As long as she is happy going
in her crib to chill, keep that up. She obviously would go to sleep if she
needed to but it seems like she just does not need to. If she goes to
bed earlier, she is getting what she needs.
Mine gave up naps at 2! It was terrible with the first one b/c I had a newborn. But it was nice when they were 4 and 2 - we were free to do whatever we wanted throughout the day and not worry about getting the younger one home for a nap. Maybe it's just a phase with your daughter, so keep trying (I know it's exhausting!!!) But, she might just be done. I always emphasized "quiet time", so that when I finally got the baby on a good nap schedule I could lay in my bed with my toddler. I don't think she slept much, but I dozed in and out. Good luck - it's a hard time of life :)
Are you sure she "naps" at daycare? Since she lays quietly, they may say that she's napping because she's not disturbing the others. I'd still lay her down. If she is napping some still, she should still nap now. Try very hard to get her outside. Take a light outdoor chair with you and just sit while she gets some sunshine and fresh air. It will help her sleep later. She sounds like a real joy to be around. I know it doesn't matter, they drain you regardless. Even if she's just playing quietly in the crib. You get a hour without her under your feet. Keep the routine. You will need the break, however brief, when your second comes. Good luck!
Maybe she intuitively realize her days of having you all to herself are numbered and she is trying to get in as much mommy time as she can before the sib arrives. My son and a couple of his friends went through something similar where they refused to nap (in my case it was at home AND at daycare) off and on for three weeks. Some days he would nap, but for only an hour or so. After three weeks, he resumed his old nap time. I chalked it up to change of season...growth spurt...whatever. The happy news is it did not last. I can't imagine being pregnant and no getting a break all day. Good luck!
