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Toddlers: 24 Months+
Started fighting naps
Thank you in advance for any help you can give me. My son just turned 2 in January and the last 2 weeks has completely stopped napping. I follow the same routine as before but now he just talks and plays in his room. He used to go down with no problem at all and this is completely new. I have been making sure we are doing activities to tire him out like going to the zoo, walking, story times and nothing seems to help.
I am due with my second baby in 7 weeks and I am exhausted! I really count on these breaks 
Plus, I can tell he needs a nap still because he will be cranky and rub his eyes, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions or reassurance that maybe this is just another one of those phases?
He did switch from his crib to a twin bed a little over a month ago. He doesnt' have any issues sleeping at night but maybe that is also affecting his naps?
Thank you!
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Re: Started fighting naps
This totally just happened for me in the past few weeks too. DS turned 2 in November. I am also expecting soon - 4 weeks to go for us! So, I was terrified that his naps were becoming a thing of the past. Here's what I noticed and what has so far worked:
- DS started forgoing the naps in the past few weeks when my husband and I took more of a relaxed attitude to his schedule. Instead of going down around 12:30/1pm, we would go do stuff in the morning and have lunch and come home and put him down closer to 2pm. It was too late! We missed the window.
- DS is easily distracted. We were also starting to have problems with him going to sleep at night (sometimes). During naps/nighttime, we would enter his room when we heard him playing and DS would have filled his little toddler bed with toys and books.
- I also don't make a big fight out of nap time. It is partially an independence thing. I say, "time for a nap!" He says, "no, no nap." And I think he was determined to prove himself right, too! So, if I caught him out of bed, I would just quietly go in and put him back in bed, or move the books/toys that were distracting him.
- We moved all of his toys and books (except for the few he has out from the library right now). I was able to start mat leave early (started last week), so I started really watching his schedule. DH and I vowed not to keep him out so late on weekends and really watch his schedule. So far as of about 5-6 days ago, DS has started napping again. I think the biggest problem was the toys & books. We just keep them out in our living room. I also read him one story before nap time and allow him to look at that and one other book. He crashes pretty quickly now.
Basically: Back to routine, and keep distractions to a minimum. It is at this point where they try to assert their independence pretty hardcore, and they also are very easily distracted.
Hang in there stick with the routine. Try to remain calm. (I know it's not easy!) You guys will get through this. It is just a phase. Most LOs are not ready to lose their mid-day nap for at least a year or so.
Thank you! That is very reassuring! We also have been more laxed with his schedule. I did a very brief teaching contract and now and back to staying at home. I think I need to buckle down on the schedule and go from there.
I was beginning to question what we have gotten ourselves into with another little one on the way. We have 6 weeks so hopefully we can get back on track.
Thank you for the replies. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who has struggled with this!