Give up on naps?

crunchymnm

2 yo DS refuses to nap anymore, at home anyways. If we're out and about during the day, he'll usually pass out after lunch in the car ride home. Thankfully it's usually a 20-30 min drive, so he get's a 'good enough' cat nap that way.

I've tried pushing nap time back a couple hours, doesn't work. So I'll give him lunch, put him in his room that has a gate on it and tell him he can either nap or play quietly. He'll usually play contently for about an hour and then he gets PISSED. Throws toys, undresses and removes his diaper. I'll redress and rediaper him, he'll take it all back off.

So should I just throw in the towel on the whole nap thing?? Is he done?

candlequeen

Don't throw in the towel yet! My son did this for a little while, but now he takes them again. Just keep your routine and try to get him to lay down. Quiet time is good too though. I think you are doing the right thing.

crunchymnm

candlequeen:

Don't throw in the towel yet! My son did this for a little while, but now he takes them again. Just keep your routine and try to get him to lay down. Quiet time is good too though. I think you are doing the right thing.

I forgot to add that once he gets to the point of taking off his diaper, I usually just let him out of his room. I don't have the energy or patience to keep redressing him, or have to clean up a nasty diaper mess in his room. 

superaunt

i wouldn't give up on them quite yet either. i insist on quiet time- in the near-dark- and 9 times out of 10 (weekends- since she's at school during the week), she'll end up napping. : ) if she played quietly for an hour, i let her out after the hour. so sounds like his time is up after an hour and i'd let him out.

kimber926

My DD hasn't napped since she was 14 months.  She sleeps about 12 hours a night and isn't cranky, so I don't mind.  I think it depends on the kid.

tracey4228

DD is doing this too, ever since she switched to a toddler bed. Naps like a champ at daycare but refuses to at home. We do the same "quiet time" and usually discover she's rearranged her books and diaper stacks when it's over. I don't think DD is ready to give up her nap - she's cranky without it and she does so well at daycare with it. I think she's going through a phase where she thinks she's missing out by being in her room.

Glad DD isn't the only one and keep doing what you're doing! If nothing else,the quiet time allows him to decompress.

Grk_Natasha

If he's falling asleep in the car, then he clearly needs a nap! DS did this a couple months ago during the summer. He would just roll around like crazy, play with his animals, talk, sing. I even went out and bought room darkening shades. After 90 minutes I would just give him and take him out of his crib. I thought his naps were over, but I stuck with it and persisted. Believe it or not, not only is he back to napping but he's napping much longer than ever! (2-3 hours) I think at two years they definitely still need a nap, so be patient!