Daytime nap

[roseability]

Help! My 21 month old son has started refusing to sleep during the day. He usually sleeps for 1-2 hours after lunch everyday (unless we are out), but recently he won't. He will sit in his cot for a while and chatter away, but it's not the same.I find myself getting really cross with him as it was always 'my time' to relax, read etc. Has anyone else experienced this? Any advice? he does look tired when I put him down and he isn't sleeping any longer at night. I suppose he has been getting less exercise with the poor weather, could that be it?

could be all of those things i would have thought. If he is happy sitting in his cot and chattering, i would leave him for a bit, he may drop off. At least that way you could get a few moments (will probably be hounded off for saying that, but i live in the real world ). Getting cross with him, will only liven him up and he really won't understand.

Hope that was of some use. Only my thoughts obviously

Would have thought the lack of exercise is part of it, and also he may just not need a nap anymore. My best advice would be not to push for him to sleep at this time if he won't - starting a battle will make you feel tired and cross with him. My DS dropped all naps at 23 months, and has only started sometimes sleeping in the day again since starting nursery.
You could try to teach him that this is Mummy's quiet time - stretch the time he is to stay in his cot 15 minutes more each day until you get a proper break (you are entitled to want time to yourself to relax and have a cup of tea!). Give him books and toys etc, and explain how long he is to stay put. I tell DS he can sleep if he likes or he must stay and play quietly. It took a while for him to get the point, and he still sometimes plays up, but for the most part I get 45 mins of him playing quietly on his own in his bedroom.

thanks for good advice. I might just have to accept he dosen't need as much sleep, now he is getting older. I had just got too used to the time to myself. You are definately right about not getting cross with him, it dosen't help matters I know. I will probably just keep putting him in his cot at the usual time and if he dosn't sleep just leave him until he gets fed up. That way i'm still getting some sort of break and he gets a rest even if he dosen't sleep. I don't know, you just get used to one way and they do something different! kids!