AIBU to leave my toddler in her cot..

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Currently going through the 18month sleep regression thats what im telling myself . Has been a decent sleeper and napper up until last week. She is shattered having been up since 7am as usual, had her morning poo, eaten a nice big breakfast and had lots of milk so hunger is not the issue. Put her in her cot at half past 11. Settled her with teddy and dummy and blanket... She is still talking away to herself and rattling about the cot despite me re settling her a few fucking hundred times. Do I just leave her in her cot? She is happy and fed and dry and warm enough. I feel guilty that shes been shut in a darkened room for an hour and ten minutes but surely she needs to learn that it is nap time and no, mummy isnt going to take her back downstairs - its time to fucking nap! If she started crying or sounded upset I would be there to soothe her in a heartbeat.

I know she is definately tired - rubbing eyes, yawning, grabbing the cushions from the couches and making herself a nest to curl up in. She becomes a monster late afternoon if she doesn't nap and I am finding it so hard to deal with.

For some perspective - I work evenings - late so I depend on a 30min snooze in the afternoon too!

Any advice?

I would say at this time a more appropriate nap time is after lunch. So between 1230-1pm to go down for a nap and to nap for a couple of hours. Until about 230-3pm

Try doing something to tire her out before the nap as others have said. It takes more to tire them as they get older. Plus my youngest did drop her naps before she was 2 so could be yours wont need one for much longer too

Usually down to 1 nap a day at this age. I would say she's ready to transition to a midday nap

Just wanted to join the chorus suggesting a post lunch nap instead. If she won't settle alone in the cot then take her out in the buggy or sling for a walk. We went through a period before DD turned two when I tried to make her stick to her post lunch nap time, she would just spend 45 mins wide awake in the cot, despite appearing tired. I decided it wasn't worth the bad tempered afternoons so started to take her for a walk everyday around 2.

Mine both switched to 1 nap at about 12 months which seemed pretty standard at their nurseries, so I think you've done well to get to 18 months with 2 naps. The only think I think I'd do differently if I were you is read a bit less .

Surely she isn't nap ready at the time you are putting her down. Try after lunch when she is tired.

I'd also suggest changing up the nap schedule, and have you considered doing away with the dummy? Quite often kids can get woken up by dropping it or whatever and then have to resettle, over and over again.

I didn't nap after 6 months or so

As long as she is happy and has a few toys it is no different to popping her in a playpen.

Thank you for all your responses I appreciate them all, sometimes its hard to gain a sensible perspective when you are so focused on the issue. I called it quits at ten past one and took her round to my neighbours, we had chocolate and coffee and DD ran about daft in back garden. Came home, had a big bowl of pasta (both of us) and she went down around 3:40.

She has been on one nap a day now for the past couple of months and up until now has been great - 2-3 hours mostly and wakes up a delight! Its just the last week or so we have been struggling.

We generally have busy mornings - pop to the shops/go to the park/softplay and a big breakfast around 10 then nap around 11ish

I hear what you are saying and will try and hold off until around 12:30/1 on wednesday (at nursery tomorrow) and hopefully that should do the trick.

On thursday last week she was up at 6:45 and went back down for a 3hour nap at 9:30! It was crazy! Must just be a phase... i hope i hope i hope i hope

A PP mentioned an earlier nap time and I will try this if the later nap time doesn't work!

She is out for the count just now but will have to be wakened for handover to daddy when I get ready for work. He will be gutted as she will be wild tonight now doubt ! Oops!