To still have downtime now DS has dropped naps?

[Usernamqwerty]

DS has just turned 3 and seems to have finally stopped napping (farewell naps! 😩). However, I got used to having downtime in the afternoon (I also have a one year old and need the rest!). What do you do once they stop napping? I don't find joining him watching Peppa Pig very restful... 😬

Thanks!

DD was still required to have downtime when she started dropping nap. I made it quite clear that I wouldn’t entertain her for 30-45 minutes and TV wasn’t an option.

We started putting on nursery rhyme CDs and simple storytapes and DD would lie on the sofa for a while. She would also have her dolls and teddies with her to cuddle and talk to them.

She is 12 now and she still loves her downtime.

We did “little rest” with a story CD. He usually got into bed but it wasn’t compulsory.

We do quiet time where DD gets to watch tv for a bit and I’ll read or get her to watch tv on my iPad while I watch something on the tv.

Always kept ‘quiet time with a book on your bed’ after lunch. They often dropped off for a bit, but most importantly practised entertaining themselves.

Thanks so much for your suggestions 😊. It's been a tough year and downtime is good for my mental health 👍

My eldest used to have quiet playtime in his room when youngest was still having naps - DC2 was a dreadful napper and would only sleep if the house was quiet. However, I then kept quiet playtime going for youngest once they dropped naps until they started school as I really needed the downtime too.

We’ve just dropped the nap too. We have cuddles and watch a calm film. Old Disney films like Beauty and the Beast, Little Mermaid work well

Quiet time in their beds for an hour after lunch. Sometimes they fell asleep sometimes just played. Life saver!

Can you try a kids dvd film, like the Gruffalo or Room on the Broom etc? After lunch when the youngest napped, my older one and I used to sit with a cuppa (me) milk (him) and watch something easy but not energetic. Now the youngest is starting not to nap I’ve started to do the same: sometimes we play snakes and ladder or read a book or he listens to a story with headphones on etc.

I feel your pain, DD5 is at school and when DS used to have an afternoon nap I'd be able to watch something on Netflix or put my earphones in and listen to music but now he's nearly 2 he doesn't really seem to want to nap and I need it the most now as I'm 14 weeks pregnant. I'm so tired as he seems to be able to go all day and by the time both kids are in bed I'm pretty much snoring myself

What KingscoteStaff said. Quiet time in their room (no screens). I still do this in the school holidays, when we’re having a day at home. Though nowadays it’s more “I want a cup of tea and to read my book in peace for an hour, please be somewhere else and we’ll do something together this afternoon”.

Thanks so much for your suggestions 😊

Totally agree with posters who say when naps stop

Quiet time in bedrooms continues

The choice is theirs .........

Sleep, read books, do puzzles, play quietly, draw.

The choice is theirs but it is quiet play upstairs in their room alone

No screens included in this time

Just a short time like an hour but it is important for them and you

They need to learn to entertain themselves alone in a safe secure environment for short time (without screens IMHO)

Yes, we do this too (for my benefit as much as theirs!). We've only started dropping it now they're both in school.

TV on handheld devices, or colouring in, or playing quietly with toys upstairs, or reading for the older one.

I see others disagree about TV ;) I guess it depends what your reasons for doing it are. For me it was to have a break for me, and a bit of peaceful time after lunch for them.