Refuses to nap

[WinkyWinkola]

My DS of 28 months refuses to nap like he used to. He then spends the rest of the day yawning, red eyed, rubbing his eyes, tantrumy etc. At it's got really hard to get him to go to sleep at night too now.

I believe he still needs his nap and that sleep begets sleep so it would be easier to get him settled at night if he slept during the day.

He just won't stay in his bed or his room. I've tried taking him back, giving him hugs, reading him his stories etc.

Any ideas please? It's actually making me really cross because our afternoons are so unpleasant as a result of his tiredness.

Is he old enough to understand quiet time? DS1 stopped sleeping in the day when he was about 2.8 and I explained to him that even if he didn't want to sleep, Mummy was not going to play with him for an hour as it was quiet time. I just sat reading or watching ladies TV(ie boring for children) DS1 did got bored in the end and often sat next to me after 10 mins or so and ended up going to sleep. Might be worth a try.

the transition from nap to no nap is a nightmare. you have my sympathies

if he won't sleep - and short of medication i don't see how you canactually make him, can you have a slot of designated "downtime" ie, lying on bed listening to story cds in a darkened room; lying on sofa together, each reading own books, even a little very gentle dvd watching in the hungry caterpillar/bagpuss vein.

fwiw i found my ds wouldn't nap every day, but would find himself dropping off and nap maybe once or twice a week

'short of medication ' LOL. It is often very tempting when they won't sleep

you're lucky to have got so far before he dropped the nap..my dd3 dropped hers at 23 months..

She is wide awake for 13 hours a day now...

Ive got a mindee (2.2) whose mum said no more naps but his behaviour went so far downhill we are now starting again with the naps the first day he played up for 1hr and 20mins but i did not give in i gave him a blanket and a book and eventually he sat down with it and fell asleep, the next day it was 45mins and today was 15mins so we're getting back into the swing of it now and this is after 6 weeks of him going without most days.

If he doesnt want to sleep i agree with just giving quiet time, even on the days mindee didnt nap he watched tv for a bit while i had my lunch and cleared up after their lunch.

YOu could always try the "you don't have to sleep, you can lie awake if you like, but you MUST close your eyes" line....

I used to get DD1 to lie in bed and listen to music/story tape for 20 minutes. She liked that - and if she was actually tired she went to sleep.

But it really isn't unusual for a child who is ready to drop their nap to act like yours. It's a horrible, in-between phase where they aren't tired enough to nap at the "right" time, but haven't quite got the stamina for a whole day.

DD2 went through it at 18 months. These days she has a nap about every two or three days, but only for half an hour or so otherwise she can't get to sleep at night. She has just turned two.

Thank you for your tips. Have bought a CD player today so he can listen to his Charlie and Lola CD in his room. Then if he's tired, he'll nod off. If he's not, so be it. Ooooh, I used to love it when he was asleep. Never mind. Thanks again.

How are you getting on with the CD?