How on earth will I get my toddler to nap when DC2 arrrives?

[thetigerwhocametoteax]

Ok so I suspect I have made one of those rod-thingies for my own back but DS is 21 months and NEEDS a lunchtime nap but can't nod off on his own and never has been able to. We have a mini-bedtime routine of a cup of milk and 3 stories in his bedroom and then a rock him and sing to him and he'll then transfer to his cot fine and sleep for 2 blissful hours. It takes about 30mins from start to finish if all goes well, shorter if he's really tired, longer if we've timed it wrong and he's being a monkey. If he misses a nap he'll just about cope for a day or two but then after that he turns into a totally grumpy and hyper maniac.

I am due with DC2 in 4 months and am panicking already about what we'll do then as I am sure we won't have 30mins to get dedicate to nap time settling. I have tried on the odd occasion to leave him in his cot to settle and he gets quickly hysterical, but oddly has no issues with settling down to sleep at bedtime on his own. He has never been good at car / buggy sleeping unfortunately. Will we have to give up naps? Anybody any experience of similar? Help!

Dd1 is too old for naps but dd2 still needs them. I tend to do milk and stories together then i take dc2 up for her nap while dd1 watches tv/dvd until i come back. Works well for us. So dd1 is usually on her own downstairs for about 5 mins.

I would imagine the baby will want a nap at this time anyway so you may be able to combine the 2?

I worried about this as I used a pushchair to get my toddler to nap and then I'd carry him upstairs to our flat.... How could I do tis wig a baby? Or heavily pregnant? I tried and tried to get him to fall asleep in his bed which he did but then fought and it was all so silly I soon realised he didn't need a nap any more! So the problem never really arose! He gave up napping just after 2.

I think if They really need a nap then by 21 months you should be able to get them to lie down and go to sleep without the rocking. The rest you can do with a baby in tow.

I have the same issue except in my case DS (also 21 months) breastfeeds to sleep (and I'm not pregnant). He goes down fine at night but in the day will.not.settle himself to sleep (except at nursery where he sleeps fine). To be honest I've given up worrying - life's too short. Four months is a long time away in the life of a toddler, and I think my DS is almost ready to drop his nap anyway, so I wouldn't be surprised if your DS drops his by then, especially if he can go without it for a day or two already.

Good luck!

You could try putting baby in a sling? I worried about this when I had dd2 and had to put dd1 to bed when DP working, I just carried baby with me attached to breast. Neither seemed to mind!

You've got loads of time to change things! With ds we went from rocking for naps to putting him down awake and getting him to settle while we say with him. This was by feeding to drowsy then in cot and kept at it. Make sure he's nice and tired! Took a couple of months.

Then when dd arrived, I had her in the sling or fed her in the dark. As she gets older, I can feed her while doing story/milk and pop her in the other room in a travel cot with a toy then settle ds. It now takes 5-10 mins.

DS stopped having his beautiful beloved daytime nap pretty much the month after he turned 2 :(

sigh