2.6 year old and lunchtime nap, or not...

[shoesontheglasslamp]

Please help me. My DS is in a phase of dropping his nap (I think, although he goes off fine in the car...)
He says no cot time when it's the usual nap time, usually I pop him in his cot for a while, to see if he'll go off, but he gets in a state very quickly.

So today I tried 'quiet time', in cot, but no covers, curtains open, books and toys, story tape on. He lasted about 5 minutes, then 'mummy come back'. I've been popping in and out explaining what's going on etc, but he's just screaming as soon as I leave the room. He's doing anything to engage in conversation etc.

So what do I do? Any advice? What do I do with him he he doesn't want to nap? Don't really want to use tv, it's more stimulating for him.

Please help.x

We're at a very similar stage. DS is 2y4m and sleeps some days and doesn't others. We have compulsory quiet time in his room (with books/toys) for the duration of at least 2 of his story CDs which is 40 mins. He probably sleeps about 1/3 of the time.

We have a 2 way monitor so I can talk to him via that if he is shouting for me, usually just say "I'm just eating my lunch/hanging out the washing/emptying the dishwasher, it's quiet time, I'll be back at the end of your story". Takes a lot of repetition some days but he does stay there without screaming now, although doesn't sleep half as often as I think he needs to!

DC2 is due any day so I was determined to keep some kind of sanity saving DS-free time after lunch for when I have a newborn too...

Thanks vinegar
Sounds like you have a plan. Which story CDs do you use?
How long did it take your DS to stop screaming?