22 month old fighting naps- what to do?

[NotAtAllConvinced]

My 22 month old DS is really fighting his afternoon naps. He does nap at nursery, though, with no problems (so they tell me)!

(He dropped the morning nap ages ago).

I try and put him down after lunch but he kicks, screams, and fights. I just give up because he gets so upset. Today it took me 90 minutes to eventually get him to sleep and he is still alseep now (5.30) which is obviously ridiculous.

I find it really hard to encourage him to nap. He does need it- he is knackered, staggering around like a drunk guy, yawning, eye rubbing etc. He is an active and independent little boy and just does not want to be asleep!

I have tried everything....wearing him out, blackout blinds, wearing nightclothes, simulating the nursery set-up of mats on the floor....

Any tips? Thanks.

You have my sympathy! DS1 was like this at 2 years 1 month when his little brother arrived (V bad timing!) My DS1 is very similar, independent and active! I got very wound up trying to get him to sleep, it didn't seem worth it some days!

I have a star chart and depending on your DS's verbal understanding, this may work (although it's quite hit or miss). Sometimes I say he can have chocolate buttons something nice in the afternoon if he sleeps.

I think the thing that worked (now he naps 4 or 5 times a week) was going for a few weeks without even trying to put him to bed. Sometimes he'd nap in the car (easier to leave him asleep in the car now it's not hot). But I think it broke a bit of a bad cycle with naps in bed and we started again. With a little more maturity he might start to understand his need for sleep. On days DS1 doesn't nap I put a DVD on and put a blanket over him on the sofa. He hasn't slept much like this but at least it's some down time for him and a break for me where I go in another room and prep the tea, or MN! But my sympathies - it's incredibly frustrating when you know they are tired but won't nap!

Thanks, MrsJamin. I'm not sure a star chart will work- he loves stickers but I'm not sure if he understands them as rewards, if that makes sense.

He sometimes sleeps in the pram but to be honest it's not ideal as it means trundling him outside and (selfishly) I need a break and to get things done indoors!

I think I might give up trying for a while- the sofa/blanket/DVD idea is a good one and maybe he would nap like that. I have 'Shaun the Sheep' /'Timmy Time' in reserve for emergencies so maybe now is the time!

Thanks for the sympathy. If only he would understad that he needs to sleep.

Hopefully he'll start to want to sleep if you say he can't! Something else I do is just let him read in bed, he loves older-children books about cranes, trains, etc, and spends ages talking to himself through it! It's not at all selfish for you to want a break in the day - toddlers (especially boys I think!) are v tiring. DS1 loves disney movies like Cars, Tarzan, Finding Nemo, perhaps this would extend a quiet time. I know of a friend who would put on Story CDs too.

Ah, time to dig out Finding nemo!

Thanks for the tips. Will definitely try them. Books in the cot would be a good one.

Much appreciated!