q about toddlers who no longer nap (longish)

amahrey · December 2010

so, ds was a great napper until last week. i'm not sure if it's still excitement overload from christmas traveling (we've been home for a few days) or if he's just outgrowing his nap. he acts sleepy around naptime, but i tuck him into his bed and leave the room and two minutes later i hear the doorknob turn and he comes running out saying "great nap- lots of sleep" he thinks he's hilarious. and then he refuses to stay in bed or in his room. i tried yesterday (day 5 of no nap in a row) to just keep putting him back in bed, but after 10+ tries i started to wonder if maybe i should just assume that he's outgrowing his nap. he's not a kid who seems to melt in tantrums by the end of the day if he misses a nap. and, although he usually sleeps from 8 - 7/8, this morning he didn't get up until 9.

so, how did you know when your toddler was ready to give up naps?

or, any ideas of how to get him to nap again?

n&bcarlson · December 2010

My DD is starting to fight her nap but she does still need it, so we've moved it later in the day (3pm). There's a gate at the top of the stairs and not really anywhere else to go except her room, so if she comes out it's boring and I ignore her and eventually she goes back to bed. I would try a gate across his door to keep him in the room, and a blackout shade if you don't already have one. Also, maybe get a small tent and sleeping bag and let him "camp out" for his naps. The novelty could work for you. If all else fails, tell him he needs to stay in his darkened room for an hour whether he sleeps or not. You may find he climbs into bed himself after 15 or 20 minutes of playing in the dark. If none of that works after another few weeks, sadly it's probably time to drop the nap. But give it time in case it's just a phase.

shannm · December 2010

I find that my son naps much better and predictably if he spends at least 20-30 minutes outside in the morning. In this weather it is not always easy to do but it totally helps. We have gone days without naps but he is really cranky.

His daycare teacher had made the comment a few weeks ago that he was having trouble napping and this surprised her because he was usually the first one down. This also happened to be the first week that they stopped going outside due to weather. I suggested bringing them outside even for a few minutes, she did the next day and said that they all napped much better.

So, maybe try wearing him out a bit more in the AM.

Echowysp · December 2010

We stopped trying when he just wouldn't go down anymore without being in the car. And then he'd fight going to bed at night. So, we don't even try anymore, even though I think he still needs it.

Asquared · December 2010

just go with out putting him down at all and if he's happy and sleeps well at night, then he's ready to be w/ out it. Unfortunately I'm there too. dd will take a nap maybe once every two weeks. No more breaks for mommy!

JT41275 · December 2010

This could've been written by me except that DD has started to crash at about 6 or 7 and then wake up several hours later as if it was a nap. Then she doesn't fall asleep for the night until midnight. I am curious to see what others have to say. There have been many changes this past week and a half. We were in disney, DH and I are home for winter break, and she learned how to climb out of the crib so DH has the mattress on the floor inside of her crib until her crib tent arrives. We don't think she's ready for a toddler bed. She is 2 years 4 months. Any and all of those changes can be causing it. It's so hard to figure this out!

amahrey · December 2010

hmmm, thanks for the input so far. another one of my girlfriends has a three year old and she uses a gate for his room during naps too. i can't quite tell if i'm more worried about him not napping if he needs it or if i'm just being a selfish mama whose not ready to give up her two hours of freedom (pregnant mama naptime) in the afternoons. i've also been planning on starting potty training this weekend, so i don't have any idea how this will play into the whole day either. we had a few days like this a month or so ago and then he went back to napping, so i was kind of just hoping it was a phase, but it's been at least six days so now maybe he has just developed a new habit. aaargh. i guess i will try a gate tomorrow. i suppose it can't be any worse than today's theatrics

i'll let you know if i find any success.

Mrs.Saxy · December 2010

we made our DS stop napping when he would fight us to get to bed. He'd still be up at 1030 and 11pm. He does get dopey looking about 5pm but as long as I keep him busy and don't go on a car ride, we're good. He sleeps from about 9-9 or 9-8.

amahrey · December 2010

well, the gate is in the door. we will see how this goes in a half hour or so. i decided that maybe he is just out of whack from the traveling and that combined with him recently learning how to open doorknobs it might just be time for a new nap technique.

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