2 yrs refusing nap but exhausted.

[terribletwo]

2 yr old son has been really good napper until last weeks when he has just screamed hysterically when I put him in cot in afternoon. Eventually falls asleep exhausted in buggy in afternoon 4ish but is really becoming overtired and cannot cope without this afternoon nap. Don't know how to get him back into it - grateful for any tips!We had a new baby 3 months ago which I think has affected him more now than when he was born.

DS2 also stopped napping when dd was born. He was 1.10 yrs at the time. DD nine months now

he's never had another one since then

Sorry, probably not what you want to hear!

I am keen on sleep and got very mean with DS at a similar age and left him yelling in his cot. Lasted about 45 mins and fell asleep standing up. He was back in routine within 3 days.

He is now 3.5yrs and still naps for almost 2 hours every day and about 11 hours at night. He is a happy bright boy and survived the trauma of being left to yell!!

See, much more useful advice!

I feel terrible suggesting it

did you leave him to cry for 45 mins outright or go in and out at all? I did start trying a kind of watered down controlled crying but this wasn't working - I did wonder about just leaving him full stop as he is obviously exhausted. I feel a bit braver now knowing someone else has done it

My Dd is also just two and she is now refusing naps.. has a bed which makes matters harder as she just gets up!! She is so ratty by 4pm but used to take herself up for lunchtime nap so I doubt I'm going to be able to persuade her..

We had this with Jess a few weeks ago. She is also in a bed and would just get up and hammer uncontrollably on the door.

We then put the travel cot up and put her in that for naps, and it worked wonders (afterabout 10 mins screaming) and we broke the cycle. Put her back in her bed for naps now and she goes down without toooooooo much fuss!

Both my DDs stopped napping shortly after their 2nd birthdays. From that point onwards, they would only sleep in the car in the afternoons, but not always. With DD2 however, every few days she will be tired enough (esp. since nursery started) to take herself to bed in the afternoon for an hour or so. However, downside of this is that she readjusted to not sleeping during the day, and if she DOES sleep in the day now, will be a pain at bedtime...

A trick a friend used with DD1 and both of the following babies, is that they would ALL go to bed in the afternoon and sleep in the same bed. It worked a treat for her.