If your LO has quiet time rather than a nap...

KateLouise

My LO looks like she's ready to drop her nap. I don't think she is in terms of her needs for sleep, but she just refuses to sleep.

So I figure she at least needs some quiet time in the middle of the day. I'm just wondering how others have this set up.

Do you have it at the same time every day, or do you just put it in place when you see your LO needs a break?

How long do you have quiet time last?

Do you shut LO in their room? or do something like read books with them? or something else?

If you shut LO in their room and they cry and protest do you just leave them to CIO?

Any other thoughts comments?

Thanks 

Lil Kate

DS gets quiet time about 3-4 times per week.  I can usually tell when he needs down time...if he is overstimulated or just being whiny.  At first, I put a gate up across his door and put him on his bed with a huge stack of books.  He never really cried but in the beginning I let him out shortly after he protested.  I slowly increased the time using a timer and told him when he heard the beep he could call for me.  Now, the timer will go off and he stays up there....he plays with toys and reads books.  I don't use the gate anymore.  He will be 4 in September but started this when he was 3.  I never made it a screaming match becasue I wanted him to feel like he had some control over the situation (although he really didn't)  I just transitioned him slowly into a longer "quiet time".

Torani

DS sometimes has queit time instead of a nap.  Usually it's because he won't fall asleep.  He sits in his room usually on his bed and "reads" books.  I close the door hoping he'll go down for a nap, but he has been stubborn lately.  The only problem is that he still needs the nap, because if we go anywhere after, he falls asleep in the car.  I've given up and we now go for walks in the stroller to get him to fall asleep and then transfer him to his bed for nap.

zubenescamali

we pretty much gave up.  she gets quiet time on the days she goes to daycare (3x/wk), unless she is really being a terror or overtired.  and then it's met with protest.

kpips20

DS stopped napping at 2.5 and gets quiet time every day. We still do the same bedtime routine (sound machine, shades closed, book) at the same time as he used to nap, but he knows he's free to play quietly in his room. We have books and a few quiet toys in there for him. We have an OK to Wake clock that's set for about an hour and 15 minutes. It was a struggle for a few weeks b/c he didn't want to stay in his room but once he realized I wasn't letting him out until the light turned green on the clock, he got much better.