How Do You Keep Your Child in Bed???

I don't know how to keep them in bed at naptime as I have the same problem. I, too, have gates at their doorways so they can't get out. I don't mind if they don't sleep but I insist they have some down time so I always put them in their bedrooms and if they play quietly I am okay with that. If they get noisy they get a privilege taken away. If their behavior in the late afternoon or evening indicates they should have taken a nap, I put them to bed early.

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I had to laugh at your title, because i have no idea.

as far as nap time goes, I wouldn't give up, you are most likely right that he still needs his nap, 3 hours seems like a lot to me but if it is working for you don't change it.
I think first, try to think back to what was different that morning or the night before that might have got him off schedule and try to avoid that ever happening again.

Then just stick to your normam routine, but know when to say, enough is enough and trying to get him to sleep isn't worth the frustration. I think giving it an hour seems like pently of time that if he were going to fall asleep he would have. If there is nothing in his room for him to play with or get into other than some stuffed animals or something then I would push a little harder on the "you have to stay in your room and play quietly".

One thing that was helpful for my kids was listening to stories on Cd that we would borrow from the library. I would always push repeat all so the cd would continue in case it wasn't long enough the first time. There are lots of cute ones out there, our library has lots of Thomas ones and at the least it might get him to stay in his room and give you a little bit of sanity. just becareful of cords and strangulation.

Usually these nap strikes don't last all that long.
Hope tommorrow is better for you.

Hey M.,
I'm reading through some other responses and people are suggesting he give ups his naps. Is that the feeling you are getting from your son or was it a one week only type of nap strike, where he just got off shedule due to adjusting tot he the new freedom?? I was basing my advice on him just being a little off not giving naps up entirely. My son napped until he was 5, partially because i needed him to be quiet for his sister to nap. when he wasn't falling asleep until after 10 pm, i had to cut the naps and move bedtime to 8:30. it's hard to tell, but i wouldn't have him stop napping unless he is showing other signs of not needing the day time nap.

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Never did figure that one out! LOL
I believe what we did at that stage was to let him lie on his bed and watch a DVD and sometimes he would fall asleep.......
Try to explain that he needs to stay in his room for X amount of time. I used to tell my son he could read books, play quietly or watch a movie but he had to stay on his bed.
Sorry--not much help.
I would just adjust his bedtime according to nap vs. lack of nap. :-)
Good luck!

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maybe push his naptime back an hour, so then he really is ready. Or just skip naps on some days, put him to bed earlier on those days, and then the rest of the days, he'll be ready. That's what I do with my daughter. She'll be in her room hanging out and never fall asleep, but she'll catch up by either falling asleep earlier that night or taking a nap the next day.

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You are too funny! I don't think any mom figured this one out! Actually, all my children by 3 y/o would not nap, but they would sleep 12 to 14 hours a night.I figured it was just another growth spurt with yet another change in routine.
If you really need your mommy time, I would put him in his room and call it quiet time. He should be allowed to play with quiet items-books,puzzles or anything else that does not make noise. They use this method in preschool too. They tell the children,you don't have to sleep but just be quiet.
I think at this age, he associates being in bed as being there for the night. Maybe use a mat or a specific blamket on the floor and let him nap there. My oldest was like that at 2 y/o-nap was on the couch and night was in her bed.
Hope you figure it out.

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