Refusing daytime nap at 23m -how to cope with tired toddler...

[beaglea]

My son started refusing to go into his cot for a lunchtime sleep a couple of weeks ago. He goes down fine for his childminder, two days a week, but not for either of us. What's your experience - is this a phase or dreaded end of daytime sleep? Have to say nightime hugely improved as goes out like light v quickly BUT is really tired all afternoon - eye rubbing, no attention span, very sensitive. Does anyone have a strategy for a tired todder who refuses sleep? Or should I persevere with daytime nap routine in the hope he one day accepts it???

This is a transition stage for him. He is beginning to be able to cope all day without a sleep.
If he is still tired I would try him every day but accept it if he doesn't want to sleep. Some children cope with a sleep every other day or just every few days.

My DD (24 months) is at this stage - she has a nap every couple of days (if she has had a very busy morning or if she has had a bad night). On the days without a nap she goes off to sleep beautifully at bedtime but tea time and bath time are often a nightmare because she is so tired! Only thing I do is move bedtime forward (so on a non-nap day bedtime is 6.30, on a nap day it can be more like 8). It is a pain though!

Oh and we try and have a quiet couple of hours on the sofa if not a nap!

I found DD1 would not nap in the daytime for a couple of weeks, then nap again, then not, or nap every other day etc, on and off for several months before she properly dropped her nap. It was very hard going on the non-nap days! I would suggest trying him in the cot every day for a while in case he does go off, but don't leave him too long if he doesn't sleep. Or you could try leaving him in the cot with some books and toys for some quiet time as he might then sometimes drop off. I found DD1 would be much more likely to fall asleep in the buggy or car so I went out for long walks just to engineer a nap.

Mine is doing this too - we still put her down in the cot and she'll just play (has lots of soft toys in there) and sometimes will crash out if tired enough. I figure that if she's in the cot she will at least get a rest. Seems to help.

Thanks so much - reassuring we're not the only ones and helpful to know is normal to do something different on different days. Rest in cot tricky - he generally wants 'up' if not asleep, and can now climb out (eeeek), but stories and TV over lunch a good plan - that and a stroll in pushchair if looks v tired. That might be quite nice, esp if the sun rears its head at all....

pushchair or car drive to induce a sleep if you judge it's really needed or just allow a quiet time in front of the TV or with a book. If you allow a dummy at this time and maybe a blanket, he might drop off on the sofa occasionally.

I agree with Trixie, a car/pushchair time can work wonders. Even if he doesn't nap in the car or pushchair some 'fire gazing' time just staring at the world going past is good and restful in itself. Massive sympathy here as I have a 22 month old who some days naps and some days doesn't and is a cranky madam on the off days!