How long does it take your 2 y/o to fall asleep for a nap?

momofmanyinthemitten

Ever since transitioning to a toddler bed, I've had to sit with DD until she falls asleep for naps. Her eyes will be rolling in the back of her head, but she fights sleep so hard-I spent an hour in there with her today, to no avail. Once this baby arrives, there's no way I'll be able to do this. Do I let her drop the nap and put her to bed earlier or try giving her the chance to fall asleep on her own (which will end up with her reading her books, I'm quite sure, as that is what she is presently doing)?

TiffanyBerry

When DD went through a phase of not nursing to sleep, it'd take at least an hour. She usually takes 1.5hrs at bedtime, so this didn't surprise me.

If she will stay in her room and read books, ok. Eventually, nap time can transition to quiet time anyway.  

momofmanyinthemitten

TiffanyBerry:

When DD went through a phase of not nursing to sleep, it'd take at least an hour. She usually takes 1.5hrs at bedtime, so this didn't surprise me.

If she will stay in her room and read books, ok. Eventually, nap time can transition to quiet time anyway.  

This is what I'm thinking.

eb1113

At naptime, I can get DD to fall asleep by the time I finish 2 books.  I don't always read until she falls asleep, but I will read her a few books and I can always get her to conk out by the 2nd book.  She will usually sleep for 2 or 2.5 hours.

Bedtime is a whole different story... it takes forever for her to fall asleep at bedtime.  Even on days when she didn't get a nap it can take forever.

DD2 was born almost 2 weeks ago.  DH is home for 1 more week and I am praying that I can still get her down for a nap myself.  There have been times where DH needed to step in to help get her down.  Luckily, so far DD2 is napping when I am putting DD1 down for a nap.

Maybe read her a book and then leave her to fall asleep on her own.  If she continues to fight it, then maybe just have her rest with you and baby or something.

Good luck! 

anvloveskme

We do two short books then rock for like two min.  She's still in a crib and is out within 5 min.

Angela814

I generally rock DD2 to sleep for all her naps. We read a few books before, and if she's really tired, she'll fall asleep within 5 minutes. I'm not sure what we're going to do when DD3 comes. We may just end up doing a quiet time with an earlier bedtime.

pepomntpat

kielpinskim:

TiffanyBerry:

When DD went through a phase of not nursing to sleep, it'd take at least an hour. She usually takes 1.5hrs at bedtime, so this didn't surprise me.

If she will stay in her room and read books, ok. Eventually, nap time can transition to quiet time anyway.  

This is what I'm thinking.

This is what I did when DD was resisting naps. She'd sit happily in her bed for as long as two hours and play with her toys or read books. She now sleeps fine and is usually out in 10 or so minutes. I am glad I did not decide to drop the nap as some people suggested I do. She was not ready to lose the nap, just going through a phase. 

ETA: I did not sit with her or attempt to do anything to get her to sleep other than our usual routine of diaper change, story, nurse, one song while stroking her head in bed.   

AmericanInOz

I've started putting dd down at 12:30 rather than 1 - so she isn't overtired and fighting me for a nap

she has a choice to read books if she wants - but throws them out when she's finished - and it's usually after just a few minutes

I have friends whose kids are transitioning to no naps and sometimes they sit and read for the whole hour, but sometimes they nap - quiet time is a good thing anyway