Naps during the day!

gigglybug · Post: # 87151Post **gigglybug** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 7:44 pm

My daughter has decided that she doesn't want naps anymore

She is only 20 months!! She totally refuses, nothing happened to trigger it off,I suppose maybe a nightmare? She is sooo grumpy and tired!

I was wondering has anyone else had this? And did you give up on nap time?

circlecross · Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:16 pm

we always used to have a terrible fight to get ds1 to go down for a nap, and for his sleep, and I think at between 18-24m we relented on the nap front. I just decided one day, ok lets see how you get on without. He was tired, but enjoyed himself so much that it was worth it. I mean, sometimes he has a nap now if he needs it - but it is usually an enforced sneaky one (a car ride).
Ds2 is the same about not wanting a nap - but generally is better natured about going down for sleeps. He is only 13m so he doesn't get a say in the matter yet!
I would say try it - on a day when it doesn't matter too much, pottering in the garden or something and see how she gets on. If you can coincide a pram ride or something with when you think she needs a rest, she may have a power nap anyway.
Good Luck!

Annpan · Post: # 87159Post **Annpan** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 8:25 pm

I am really very structured with E's naps, she still has 2 a day 12-2 then 4.30 -5.30... and yes she does sleep, I know (and she knows) that when she gets stroppy, it is nap time.

I have read that this is too much sleep for her, but she still sleeps right through at night, and sleeps (and quitely sings to herself) for naptime.

I am sure I will have to give them up one day... but for now, it helps us both get a break from each other, and we both thrive on routine.

But... we have had this routine for a year, so there is also Pavlov's dog theory, she knows story, then bye-bye everything, then up stairs, music box wound up and down for a nap... I make sure that even when others are putting her down they use exactlly the same routine, and it never fails.

Russian Doll · Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:25 pm

when all mine reached this age they would decide if they wantd to sleep...hannah would toddle of to bed herself..amy would curl in a corner and alex will pull a blanket and come and cuddle me...somedays they nap and some days they dont

ina · Post: # 87165Post **ina** » Sun Mar 02, 2008 9:35 pm

I really don't know how they got us in Kindergarten to all take our nap - up to the age of 6. We always slept (or at least were quiet, and lying down on our folding bed) from 1 - 3. Is it easier when there is a group of kids doing the same?

hetty · Post: # 87241Post **hetty** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 9:04 am

My daughter was reluctant to nap in the afternoon from 18 months and I really needed that rest due to being pregnant so we both had a rest in the afternoon listening to a story tape and we often both fell asleep

Susan

Eigon · Post: # 87299Post **Eigon** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:34 pm

When I was tiny (about 2, maybe?) I decided I didn't want a nap in the afternoons any more, because I was convinced something interesting was going on somewhere else.
I don't think staying awake did me any harm, though I dare say my gran would have been glad of a bit of time to herself.

citizentwiglet · Mon Mar 03, 2008 1:44 pm

Ellis (22 months) still has a kip in the afternoon most days, although the amount does vary between an hour and three hours! He usually kicks up a bit of a fuss when I put him in the cot, screams for about 30 seconds and then falls straight asleep!
I do suspect that the yelling is more to do with him being very nosey and thinking he is missing something interesting..

. In actual fact, all he is missing is me buggering about on the pooter or doing something fascinating like the ironing.

He really did not want to go down this afternoon, but that's because we've got loads of snow. It's the first time he's seen snow 'properly' and we've been out playing in it so he needs a sleep to give me time to dry the umpteen pairs of soaking wet jeans and socks....

I luvs snow.

Mydreamlife · Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:02 pm

Ours have all dropped their nap early but we have done things to encorage them to reconcider!!
I find a game in the garden, walk the dogs (or toddle them!) just agood game of sillyness (animal impressions, piggy back rides tickleing etc) usually tires them enough that they are perfectly happy to doze off on my lap with a blanket. If not, just a little quiet time reading/singing songs can help re-charge the batteries!
Make the most of it though It won't be long before they really don't need a nap and then you won't know what's hit you! I would this harder than when they were new born!!
Claire

Esther.R · Post: # 87312Post **Esther.R** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 2:29 pm

Beth dropped her nap at about 20 months too, now she will sleep in the car if we are driving somewhere in the afternoon but not otherwise, she is fine on no naps but if we have had a busy morning I try to keep the afternoon relatively relaxed and quiet.

gigglybug · Post: # 87351Post **gigglybug** » Mon Mar 03, 2008 8:27 pm

Thank you for all your advice!

She seemed to be in a better mood today

It really makes you feel like your a bad parent to see them so unhappy.

mrsflibble · Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:38 pm

soph stopped napping for acouple of weeks, thn started again, then stopped..... depends on her mood. I no longer try to structure my day around her naps like I used to 'cos theres no point.

circlecross · Wed Mar 05, 2008 8:16 pm

I am reminded of a parent and child who we made the acquaintance of, and ds1 and said child were playing nicely together then all of a sudden the mum announced "Time for your nap (name of child)". This child had selective deafness, but the woman's voice was pitched to be heard not just over the folk festival we were at, but a distance of several hectares, so child had no choice but to sullenly slink over, throw himself into his buggy and lie in it, eyes open, as he was "napping" in the middle of blaring music, laughter and chatter. The mum put a blanket over him, saying "he gets fretful without it" and then busied herself with the chatter. When ds1 went over to see why his bud had dropped out, the mum said to us "He is impossible without his 3 hour nap" THREE HOURS!!! the kid was at least 3 years old!!! He clearly had been enjoying himself, and had had no intention of napping! But, the night before, we had noticed that this kid was full of beans at 10pm, whereas our ds was flaking out, so maybe if you want your kid to have a party life...?

Green Rosie · Wed Mar 05, 2008 9:13 pm

I have 2 boys - 4.5 and 6yrs old. They are in French school, the maternelle class which is the equivalent of a combination of Nursery and Reception Class.

Neither of the boys has had a nap at home for ages but the younger does at school, along with his peers. He is usually a lot less grumpy if he has his nap but tends to go to bed an hour later in the evening. The older one needs a lot of sleep and even he sometimes has a sleep if he needs it at school - and still sleeps the same amount through the night.

This is my boys though and I am sure it is different for every child the world over - all I do know though is that if you try and force them to go for a nap after a certain age they will fight tooth and nail to stay awake!

LSP · Post: # 90385Post **LSP** » Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:10 pm

I made my boy lie down for a 'quiet time' even when he remained awake. He could do anything, like listening to a story CD just so long as he does not bother me.

For me this period between 'no naps' and 'school' was the most difficult as I had no time to myself at all. I consoled myself with, "Ah! This will not last forever. Soon he'll be at school."

sp