Why does it stress me out so

[WinkyWinkola]

to the point of anger?

My DD (18 mos) still needs a nap in the morning. She's shattered come 11am. So, I put her down and she always just screams and screams and screams.

So, I get her, nurse her until she's on the brink of sleep or before and put her down again and she screams and screams again.

I've left her for 20 mins before. But she's a gasping mess after that and I just get so stressed out and upset because I know she's tired and needs a sleep but she won't do it.

Aaaaaargh. Anything I can do?

Is she possibly overtired? Like, are you waiting a little too long to put her down?

Do you have a little naptime routine? If not, start one. It will help, though it will take time to work. A certain lullaby CD has been played every naptime since DS was born 2.5 years ago....

Possibly just take her out if she does not settle after 20 minutes. Do something else low key, like play with books, or let her play on her own in another place. She'll either perk up or get more tired.

Change your approach. Try a late morning activity to get her properly tired. Park, playgroup, walk in the leaves outside, anything with fresh air.

HTH

what about moving nap time to after lunch instead.. she'll have a full belly which can aid sleep. My ds 17 months just has one nap now after lunch (12pm-12.30pm ish) for about an hour, he seems fine with this and ready for night sleep come 6.30pm.

I also lie down with him until he is asleep though (takes 10 mins or so) which you may or may not be prepared to do. He will only need this daytime nap for another few months anyway so I don't see this as a big deal (the lying down with him bit)..

I would second the giving her a mini lunch or milk before the nap. Also definitely an active morning is good. Does she go to bed OK at night? If so, try simulating that, make the room dark etc..

I reckon try starting the nap at noon after an 11:30 lunch. 11 sounds a wee bit early and ours rebelled like that until we jumped it back.

Dd (officially the worst sleeper in the world) goes down much easier after lunch.

She is like this at bedtime instead, which is much more fun . I have resorted to making sure that she is ABSOLUTELY KNACKERED before bedtime now. It's not a good way, but the only way.