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Toddler dropping naps - what did/would you do?

2 replies

MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 02/08/2010 10:46

DS is now nearly 32 months and although he has been a very good sleeper since he was fairly young and usually slept more than most of his friends, he definitely doesn't need a nap every day any more.

So far, I have still been putting him in his cot after lunch, with a book if he wants, so he can either go to sleep or just chill. Most days now he doesn't sleep but "reads"/rolls/talks to himself quite happily, so I usually leave him up to an hour and then get him up if he is still awake (or earlier if he starts sounding unhappy).

When he does go to sleep, maybe once every 3 days or so now, he usually sleeps for at least 2 hours unless we wake him, but now that usually means he is awake and banging about for ages after bedtime; on the other hand if I try to wake him earlier, he is usually in a really deep sleep and then is very grouchy and out of sorts for a long time after being woken. Sometimes if we are out he falls asleep in the car, but then will also often be very dopey/grouchy when he wakes, and may also not sleep at bedtime.

However we have just moved him into a "big" bed, and so far have not put anything on his bedroom door, so not sure whether he will stay there if I put him down for a nap/rest now. Also as he rarely sleeps now, I'm not sure whether to keep putting him to bed in the afternoon if I am fairly sure he won't sleep, but I think if he doesn't rest at all he will still get very tired.

So I wondered what other people did at this stage and what you recommend? Should I still put him in his bed/room to give him a chance to sleep or just chill? Did anyone try the "hush hour" thing recommended in the No-cry books? Frankly I am very glad to have an hour or so of relative peace myself too to get things done, especially as I have a baby to look after as well so don't get much chance to do things otherwise, so I would be reluctant to stop doing that, but don't want to keep shutting him in his room just for my own selfish reasons!

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
usernamechanged345 · 02/08/2010 10:53

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MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 23/08/2010 14:59

Argh, well we tried this but some nights after a nap he is now awake till 9 or even 10 afterwards, so loses more night sleep than he gained from the nap, and then be shattered the next day!

I think we might have to go for a "rest" or quiet time most days, and a short nap just once or twice a week once he has got really tired.

Not sure how to do rests or quiet time now he is in big bed though? He used to have good rests in his cot if he didn't fall asleep, but now I don't think I can make him stay in bed (or necessarily want to) - but how to keep him to "calm" activities for an hour or so then? Does anyone else manage to do this?

I could use TV/DVDs I suppose, but am a bit reluctant as at the moment he hardly watches any and therefore doesn't demand them, so it seems a bit of a shame to start now (and then probably have him demanding it all the time)! And also I wasn't sure whether that would really work as a "rest" or whether he would still get tired out by it? Any ideas?

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