How do you fill the time once toddlers drop naps altogether?

[MrsJamin]

DS1 (2.5 YO) seems to want to drop his naps even though IMHO he still needs them (seems to be tired all the time, irritable, rubs his eyes but will NOT nap).

So now I have him for nearly 3 more hours a day than I am used to! He's quite high maintenance and a kicking-a-ball-in-the-park kind of boy rather than doing-a-quiet-activity-by-himself boy. The only thing he can do by himself quietly and restfully is watch TV, but that's not sedating him for much time. How do we use up the time so I don't have to think of a million more activities and I have some time to sit down, have a cup of tea, sort out washing/ washing up/ prep the tea etc?

I really REALLY miss the time to myself, plus the time to utterly coo over DS2 (4 MO) without feeling like I'm making DS1 jealous.

shouting

Bring bedtime earlier, and split the day so that you are out either all morning or all afternoon.

DS dropped his nap at 18mo but this seems to help

mrsjohndeere.

I am watching this thread with interest MrsJamin as DS (3.1) will probably drop his nap soon (I know I am very lucky that he still has one)and I will be faced with a similar issue as you.

Like your son DS loves 'doing', he is full of life and energy and loves racing about. I think this is part of the reason he still needs a nap.

Would you consider letting have some quiet time in front of a DVD after lunch. Providing you are doing plenty of fun stimulating stuff during the rest of the day, I personally think its fine to do this. The way I see it they are up and about for 12 hours ish per day once the nap is dropped- if they watch a film for 1.5 hours that still leaves an awful lot of time for more productive stuff.

I guess there is also the ever popular tactic of encouraging him to 'help' you with chores, cooking etc..

How about pre-school? Would he enjoy a morning or two at the local one? This would give you a break and some one-to-one time with DS2. Without meaning to start a debate on the best age to start pre-school he may get something beneficial out of it at 2.5.

Hope someone has some more constructive ideas.....

What happens when you put him down for a nap? Will he shout and scream to get up, or just lie there not sleeping? If he's just lying there, I'd leave him and call it "quiet time" instead

Or could you persuade him to lie down and listen to a story CD? Or do what wheresmypaddle suggests and stick a DVD on.

Don't give up on the nap altogether though, DS has had a few (isolated) days where he refuses to sleep, and I think it's the beginning of the end, but then he goes back to normal.

Wow, whenever I read these threads about children dropping naps I am amazed they seem so young. My DS2 still naps most days he is 3.6 and my DS1 was napping right up to starting in reception and even now he will nap at the weekend.

I would do with the quiet time approach - make the living room all cozy - dvd on and snuggle on the sofa, he may even prefer to nap on the sofa. I am guessing he feels he is missing out on something if he goes to sleep with a newish baby in the house.

For about 6 months after dd gave up her nap (around 2.6) I encouraged 'quiet time' - she went up to her room and looked at books on her own for about 30-45 minutes. However, I know this wouldn't work for everyone.

Also, we had about 6 months of gradually losing the nap rather than one week sleeping every day and the next week never having it.

Some frineds will go for a drive to get their dcs to sleep and then move them into bed when they get home.

I brought dd's nap time forward to 6.30 when she first gave up her nap.

TV is definitely on more than it used to be!

And dd started pre-school at 2.6 for 2 sessions, one of which was in the afternoon.

If she's at home after lunch, I still have half an hour of 'me' time. I don't mind what she does but she doesn't get my attention for that time. Afetrwards, i try to then do something nice with her like cooking or drawing or playing a game.

Hope at least some of these ideas are of help!

for a while we did "quiet time", we read a story together and after that ds was to stay in his bedroom for about half an hour so I could put my feet up. sometimes he would sleep, sometimes not.
now no naps anymore and he sleeps much better at night. we go to the park or to a one o*clock club instead.

What I should have said instead of 'watched tv' in my OP is that we did just that, one of his favourite movies on after lunch, a cushion behind him, a blanket over him, he was still for 45 mins then after that got up and tinkered about with some duplo in front of the tv.

I still believe he needs a nap, but hasn't settled in his bed for nearly a fortnight. I get so riled at trying to get him to sleep that I'm more at peace with him not napping in his bed. He clearly has no intention of sleeping, just asking to wear these pjs or those pjs, have this toy or that toy in bed with him, keeps getting out of bed, calling for me, often doing a poo, etc (so then I can't just leave him to it) and then plays with toys in his room and after all that never goes to sleep. I end up getting him out of his bedroom after an hour. It was really getting me down!

I think it is an attentional thing, as you say pippy, before the baby arrived 4 months ago he went down for a nap like a dream, even after moving from a cot to a bed at new year. Perhaps I should keep up hope that he'll go back to it - it's just what do I do in the interim, take him upstairs and let him wind me up or just put a DVD on? tis tricky.

Oh and mrsjohndeere, I have tried that, believe me!

wheresmypaddle - he's going to start preschool early in sept, 2 mornings a week, I'm hoping it's going to tire him out so he wants to sleep.