2.7 yr old is probably dropping her nap - how do I introduce the idea of quiet time?

[uppereastsidemom]

DD1 will happily nap for 2 hours, but then won't go to sleep till 9pm and is a monster the following day. Putting her to bed but limiting the nap to 45 minutes just seems like too much hassle. We are at home at lunchtimes as DD2 is 3 months, and likes to nap at this time, so staying out and about and just having a buggy catnap isn't really an option, I want something that can be built into our daily routine.

Lots of people talk about just having 'quiet time' at the old nap time, but I'm interested to know what this might consist of? After weeks of too much TV / iPad when DD2 was born I'm trying to limit their use. And DD2 often needs re-settling during her nap, so we'd get interrupted if we lay down together to read books or relax together. She wouldn't have the concentration to do something like colouring or read by herself for longer than a few minutes. Any tips?

When dd dropped her nap she would sit on my lap while I read to her or sang nursery rhymes. It was the only way to keep her from running around. This slot became dp's nap time instead .

If you have a new baby I would feel a strong need for some gentle TV programmes as you need to rest as well - tape "the bedtime hour" from CBeebies or similar and use that? If you are doing stories etc you will never get time for yourself. (Or you could alternate TV with stories). Though you may find she falls asleep!