Tips on getting toddler to nap in cot

[partyskirt]

Our 2 year old DD has always napped in her pram but is getting frustrated with it. Also, as the weather's getting colder, it would be really good to teach her to nap in her cot.

When we've tried before she has just played quietly for an hour or so, pretend-sleeping, but never actually slept. She goes to sleep fine in it (more or less) at night.

Do you have any tips? She's not ready to drop her nap yet.

I know some people who have had success with getting them to nap in a bed during the day, with a bed guard, and still use the cot at night. Is that something you could try?

I transferred DD from buggy napping to cot napping at about 18 months, when she got too long to nap for a long time in the buggy.

I started doing a mini version of her bedtime routine - change nappy, into sleeping bag (at the start I put her in PJs too but don't bother now), short story, bed. Seemed to work ok...

You might find it works best if you push her naptime back a bit for a while - so she's reaaally tired when you put her in the cot at naptime?

Hmm, I never did I must admit. We got into a routine of walking back from playgroup at about 11 and he'd fall asleep on the way so I'd leave him in the pushchair or lie him down on the sofa.