Nap help after a move

HeidiP14

I am really struggling with my sons naps lately. We recently moved into a new home which I know was a huge change for him. At first we struggled with the naps and I would sit with him & rub his back until he fell asleep and he might sleep for 45 min-1hour. Sometimes he would mess around and want to play and not listen and so I put a gate out of his door so he couldn't run out of there and he would cry for a few minutes for me to come back and then he was tired out when I came back and would go to sleep pretty quick. For a few days things seemed to be getting better and his naps were back to the normal 2 hours they were before the move once he fell asleep. Now the past several days things have not been going well again. He no longer asks for me to stay instead he tells me to go so he can play in his bed or goes and grabs books to read and doesn't go to sleep at all. I can't get him to many times or it takes a really long time. I'm so frustrated because I went in there today to tell him to get back in bed b/c I couldn't see him on the monitor and knew he wasn't in bed and he was by the window messing with the blinds again, which he already broke. I am constantly telling him to not touch them but as with most 2.5 year olds he doesn't listen especially if I am not there in the room and he is sneakily doing it. I'm trying to be patient and work through this but am I doing something wrong? I am pregnant and getting very emotional about everything which isn't helping but I don't know how to keep DS in his bed. He needs his nap! He probably would do better with his dad b/c he tries to get away with more with me. He doesn't have any problems going to bed at night really. 

meglette417

We recently moved as well and it was a challenge, not naps as much as at night but when he doesn't want to nap I lay with him and really hold him down.  He tries to get up and I just wrap him close to me and tell him sternly it is nap time.  The difference with us is that if I close the gate he gets up and screams for me, I have taken everything out of his room to play with.  You might want to replace with blinds with cordless ones, nothing to play with and much safer.  Also I sometimes thinks DS needs a nap too but if he plays nicely in his room for a while just let him and you still have your space.  

Spin313

2.5 is a prime age for nap strikes...the move is probably just fuel on the fire. Try to stay consistent and hopefully you'll come through it in a few weeks.

ashiscute

Spin313 said:

2.5 is a prime age for nap strikes...the move is probably just fuel on the fire. Try to stay consistent and hopefully you'll come through it in a few weeks.

I agree with this.  We just moved in with my parents because we sold our house and didn't have a new house ready to move into yet.  My kids are sharing a room and DD is in a toddler bed for the first time.  I just keep things as consistent as possible.  Some days they nap awesome and others not so much.  But I keep the routine up no matter what.  

Snapdragon750

I moved AND had a baby when my daughter was that age and we also had a big nap problem.  Her nap situation was much different because I never soothed her to sleep at that age and she was still in a crib that she couldn't or wouldn't climb out of, but she would play for up to two hours and not nap.  All I can tell you is that in my case it passed, and she got back to napping again.  Just take a deep breath and tell yourself that you can't force your kid to nap; all you can do is provide him the opportunity (a quiet, dark room and being left alone).  If he chooses not to, you've still done all you can for him and at least you've both hopefully had some quiet time.