Tell me about your days with toddlers

[janedoe56]

Dd is 2.5 and currently dropping her day time nap (sob). This is changing our daily routine up a bit. Previously on my days off we would have a lazy morning, maybe go for a walk, get some jobs done around the home and then she'd nap from 10:30 to lunch time. When she got up we'd have lunch and then head out somewhere in the afternoon whether that was a group, a park, whatever.

Without the nap I feel like the structure has gone and it's a long ass day trying to keep her occupied while getting stuff done too. Would love some ideas and inspiration.

My DD2 was 2 in June. We usually do something in the mornings, a class (there's a free tots group we go to one of the days) or soft play or meeting a friend, on days she isn't at nursery. Then afternoon we might go for a walk, do some crafts, stories, garden if it's nice, etc.

She still naps but 10.30 is really early for a nap, mine doesn't go down till after midday, usually nearer 1, and does a couple of hours, so we've always had plenty of time to do stuff in mornings. Would she not nap a bit later maybe? Or is she definitely done?

Could you introduce “quiet time”? DD is younger, but my friend with a toddler and baby introduced it over the baby’s nap so she could have a few minutes of peace. Effectively for some/all of the old nap time, it’s snuggle on the sofa with cuddly toys/books/TV time, rather than a continuous day. Some days it would be a cushion fort, some days a “day time sleepover” where she would bring a duvet and pillow down…anything to encourage sitting quietly for more than 5 minutes!

Mine is 2y3m and still napping, but like PP closer to 12.30-2.30. We usually get up and play til breakfast, breakfast is done by 9 and then we'll head out somewhere, usually to a park, softplay or a farm, sometimes the library or sometimes just into town if we've got errands to run. Usually back home by half 11 for lunch, then nap 12.30-2.30ish. Then we have a couple of hours til dinner so probably another park or to see a friend. Kind of dreading getting through the winter when parks are grim! Dinner 4.30/5ish, then playing at home, bath and up to bed around 7.15.

I'm going to see about some more structured classes for us to join but there are very few on a Friday near us that work with his nap, so will have to wait for that to drop and then see what we can do.

A trip to the park or round the garden. You could do a bit of a nature hunt, like finding an interesting leaf or a pebble. Our local garden centre sells fish and it’s one of his favourite things to do to go and see them. Puddle jumping now the weather is changing. Mud pies and a bubble bath before lunch. Hook a duck in a paddling pool in the garden. Building a fort with the sofa cushions. Painting with potato stamps. Making chocolate rice crispy cakes. The library. Feeding the ducks somewhere. A trip on a bus or a train, if she doesn’t go on them often. Get her to help you do stuff. Like folding tea towels, or waving a feather duster around (obviously I’m not advocating child labour, or expecting her to actually achieve anything, but it’s enough for her to think she’s helping you).

It’s normal to drop the naps by that age but I’m just curious as to wether she may need a nap still, but later on. Every child is different but 10:30am seems a bit early for a nap at that age? Depends on waking time I guess. Could you try a little nap at 12:30? An hour? If it doesn’t mess with bed time of course.

You will get used to the new routine. I feel like this with small children, you get their routine sorted then they get older and things change just as you think you’ve got it!

I feel like she does still need a sleep and if we are out in the car then she will fall asleep especially if it's later in the day. But even if she's clearly tired she will absolutely fight against a nap in the cot (which is what we've always done) and it just doesn't seem worth the battle.

Agree 10:30 is early and it's always meant our mornings have had to be curtailed but she's a very early riser. At one point it was 5am daily.

It's a tricky one to address but if you put them down for a nap too early in the daytime then you just reinforce the early waking. I'd go for a later (and shorter) lunchtime sleep.