Naps great for everyone else except me...TORTURE

kikistar70

I don't know why this is the case, but my 25 month old DS does great with naps/sleep with everyone except me. He's in a toddler bed and when grandma or nanny puts him down for nap, he doesn't fuss at all, cry or get out of bed and is asleep within 10 - 15 minutes. With me, IT'S TORTURE. He cries, screams, and refuses to go down unless I sit with him and rub his back. Sometimes this goes on for 2 hours ore more. Why is it that he is so good for everyone else but not me? Anyone else have this problem? What is causing it and how do i get him to be a good sleeper for me as well? I feel like a prisoner and that my life is getting him down for sleep. 6+ hours of my day is spent getting him to bed it is driving me batty. Any advice, suggestions or help please!!!

ladylisalt

I am not much help but I can tell you that I have a similar experience. DS sleeps in pack n play with no problem at daycare. At home he fights me on it and I usually lay with him in my bed until he falls asleep. An hour is usually the most but anything after 20 minutes can feel like 2 hrs. I agree all that time spent on putting them to sleep feels unhealthy. I chalk it up to them taking advantage of mom in a different way. I am just glad when he falls asleep in the car for his nap and I can transfer him in the house  for a good nap. Good luck, its tough stuff!

AimeeL85

He knows you're going to come in and soothe him if he screams enough.  I know it's hard but you're going to have to put him in his bed, close the door, and not go back in no matter how much he keeps it up.  He might not fall asleep the first day but don't get him out until the end of naptime. I believe within a few days you won't have a problem anymore.  Whatever you decide to do, good luck...they will always test parents more than anyone else!

superaunt

he wants to be with his mama. that's why it's easier for everyone else. i know it's tiring and exhausting, but it'll pass. when my girl is like this (she still naps but generally not at home), i tell her she doesn't need to nap, but she needs to be quiet till the alarm sounds. it took a couple times doing this for it to stick but once she understood she didn't HAVE to nap she was at least quiet for an hour or two. GL.

eb1113

I have the same issue.  Since January, when DD was 26 months, she has been a pill to get down for a nap with me unless she did a lot that morning or slept horribly the night before.  At my in-laws, she almost always goes down without a fight and same at the baby-sitter.  

I'm sure there are other options, or people won't like what I do, but it works for us!  What I ended up doing was trashing traditional nap time routine.  After lunch, we go upstairs to my bed and let her pick a movie.  Sometimes she'd fall asleep and other times she would just rest.  Sometimes I'd stay with her and other times I'll put the movie on and tell her I would come back to check on her.

That stopped working for us, so now she's back in her room for rest time and I will put a movie on with the portable DVD player.  Some days she sleeps, other days she will play with her animals or read books.   

We had a lot of issues with bedtime when she transitioned to her big girl bed.  She made that transition in December and we go through phases.  Sometimes it's really easy to get her to bed and to stay in bed, other times it'a a battle.  At 2 1/2 (32 months) we are in a good phase for bedtime.