Goodbye naptime?

[muddylettuce]

Dd is 19 months. Today for the second time this week she has not slept during her usual nap time (after lunch 1340-1500 ish) Is it really the end?! I thought they stopped around 2.5-3? Or was that wishful thinking? How on earth am I going to cope?! X

[violator]

Not necessarily the end!
AFAIK most children go through nap resistance around 18 months.
Mine did too, some days he refused to nap, but I persisted in trying every day.
He's 3 now and still needs and gets a nap. I was 4 before I dropped it completely.
Most of my friends gave up around the 20 month mark, no way was I quitting!
I think it's a good idea to keep trying every day. A rested toddler/preschooler is far easier than one who's wired come 5pm.

[daisychainmail]

Try putting her down earlier. Sounds crazy I know, but try noon.

[muddylettuce]

Oh thank god. She's happy enough to sit in cot and play for an hour or so. I'll keep at it then. I'm pregnant with number two so need my nap too! X

[GothicRainbow]

We have an 18 month old who is going through this atm. We put him down for his nap around 12.15 and sometimes he'll fall asleep and other days he'll kick about for an hour/hour and a half and then I go and get him up and carry on with our afternoon.

I'm trying not to let it bug me but the afternoons when he has had a nap are so much more enjoyable!!

[Thurlow]

On the other hand, DD's naps have moved later. Now they are about 2ish, rather than 12.30. I'd play around with the times if I were you and see if that helps.

But yes, definitely, if she's not wailing then leave her in her cot for an hour or so! It's a bit of chill out time for everyone and it might be easier in the long run for her to realise that if she wants to nap, she can.

[neversleepagain]

19 months is still very young to drop naps altogether. Mine are 2.2 and still happily having a pm nap.

[daisychainmail]

Yes don't give up. When our LO was 19 months her various refusals at one point pushed us to occasionally no-naps and an 8.30 bedtime (go to sleep immediately time). Sometimes 9 with a nap!! And she would protest in her cot for a while.

A friend told me she puts her child (2.5) down at 6 or 6.30 and I tried it myself with mine that evening. Lo and behold she went straight to sleep, and now often has a nap too (albeit in pram).