nap frustration

bh2720 · August 2011

I have to get a handle on Warner's naps before this new baby comes. Unless I rock him to sleep, he just will not settle down and nap on his own. And he's almost two and a half!!! I never even needed to rock him when he was an infant, but now he's a mess. And he goes to sleep just fine with no fuss and no fight at night, no rocking needed.

When I rock him to sleep for naps, he'll often sleep for 2-3 hours...so I know he's tired!

Today for the first time in awhile I tried to let him go to sleep on his own. We read a book in the rocking chair, sang him a song and then put him in his bed at around 12:45. I was watching in the monitor and for the first 10ish minutes, he stayed pretty still and I thought he was falling sleep. Then he started playing with his stuffed animal and standing up and he announced he had a poopy diaper. (nap crapper strikes again!!)

So I changed him, put him back in bed, and as soon as I shut the door he started playing and singing and laughing--having a lovely time NOT sleeping. Oh, then and he had another poopy diaper.

Finally at 2, I gave in and rocked him to sleep (mommy needs a nap, too, you know!) and now he has slept the entire afternoon away and at almost 5pm he's still snoozing.

I am open to any and all advice...lemme have it!!

Sofka · August 2011

can you Ferberize him for naps? I know the Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby book recommends letting him be in his crib and if after 30mins, he's not asleep, nap time is over. Supposedly, after a few days the child will fall asleep. Can't vouch for that as I have crappy nappers and sleepers.

Not sure how you feel about this but can you cut out his nap and make his bedtime earlier? I know some kids are ready give up their nap at this age.

I feel your frustration!

LMH1209 · August 2011

So, if you just leave him for thirty minutes or an hour, he just talks to himself and plays, but doesn't cry or scream or anything? But if you rock him, he'll sleep? Fascinating. (Mine is a little more vocal about is nap protests!) If nothing would make him go to sleep, I'd say he might be giving up his nap early (aack!), but the fact that he will sleep (with help) makes things more interesting. I think I'd try a week of a consistent nap time routine (similar to your bedtime routine, with no rocking) and leaving him for an hour. Perhaps a week of no rocking will let him know that he needs to fall asleep on his own. You probably won't get a nap yourself for a week, but at least you'll get to rest (if he's quiet).

vml14 · August 2011

Could you just let him play up there until he falls asleep? Most days, my LO goes down no problem. We read a book, lay down, snuggle a little, and then she stays in there. But, there are other days where she literally talks to herself and sings songs for almost an hour before falling asleep, and then she sleeps for her usual 2+ hours. I just let her go as long as I don't think she got out of her bed, and she's always wound herself down enough to fall asleep eventually. He may just need that decompression/down time.

bh2720 · August 2011

yes, he is completely happy just sitting in bed playing with his stuffed animal of choice, laughing and talking. we've let him hang out in there for almost 2 hours (his usual nap time) and he won't come close to going to sleep. But I haven't done that consistently for a week, so maybe I'll try that...(but the thought of giving up my nap is painful!)

unless he is sick or really overtired, he doesn't fuss at all. it helps that he LOVES his "big boy bed" and thinks that it's pretty much the coolest place in the house.

bh2720 · August 2011

Sofka:
can you Ferberize him for naps? I know the Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Baby book recommends letting him be in his crib and if after 30mins, he's not asleep, nap time is over. Supposedly, after a few days the child will fall asleep. Can't vouch for that as I have crappy nappers and sleepers.
Not sure how you feel about this but can you cut out his nap and make his bedtime earlier? I know some kids are ready give up their nap at this age.
I feel your frustration!

I don't think Ferber works if they're not actually crying, right? He is happy, but just doesn't want to sleep!

And I don't think I could move his bed time much earlier...we start getting ready for bed at 7:30 as it is.

vtkgirl77 · August 2011

One thought I had is that my SIL (the one with 6 kids and another on the way) does "quiet time" everyday with all of the kids after lunch. When they are young, they have to stay on their bed for quiet time and they can choose to sleep, read, or do quiet activities. If you think he may be getting to the age where he may not need the nap everyday, it may still be good to do the quiet time so that that he gets into that routine. It sounds like he's already doing a great job of entertaining himself so my thought is to at least try to hang onto the quiet time even if he doesn't actually fall asleep.

I hope you are feeling better these days.

vtmezzo · August 2011

If he's happy to be in there playing and talking to himself, and doesn't turn into a monster by dinnertime sans nap, I'd rename it "quiet time" instead of "nap time" and just be glad he doesn't get out of bed. My DS was protesting naps for a while but he was just so overtired by bedtime that I have to make sure he gets an hour nap at some point during the day. Good luck - bringing baby #2 home caused MAJOR sleep disruption in our house. I will keep my fingers crossed that you have better luck!!

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