Need 'back to basics' advice for 2 year old refusing naps

[SpawnChorus]

Since Christmas DD has been refusing point blank to have an afternoon nap (used to be a very predictable 1.30-3.30pm snooze). She really needs this nap. She's very tired and crabby without it and will fall asleep at the drop of a hat if in her buggy or the car.

I am at a loss as to what to do. Feel like I'm losing the plot and need to start from scratch. Has anyone had success with a similar problem?

I also have a 5 month old DS, so it's tricky leaving him while attending to DD a la supernanny (repeatedly returning her to her bed).

My DS did that too - I found that curling him up on the couch in front of a DVD (bad mother that I am!!!) during the usual nap time gave him time to recoup his strength. He used to get a spaced out kinda look, but never actually went to sleep. It did make him more bearable later in the day. Unfortunately I think your DD's lunchtime nap will now be a thing of the past....

She may have out grown it though , my DD stopped her naps just after she was 2, she was really tired every afternoon for about 6 weeks then she got used to it. She simply may not need it, its v difficult to force the issue, encourage some quiet time , on the sofa, reading or watching TV so she rests instead.

I really sympathise.

DS at 2.4 is now a total nap refusenik. Will still have a doze in a buggy or carseat but absolutely no chance of a proper nap. We have some "downtime" instead, sit in someone's bed (often the spare room) and read stories or do puzzles and laze about, or if I'm desperate stick a nice calm DVD on. He was a horror at first but its now working out quite well, and its had a positive knock on effect at bedtime ie earlier, quicker and even - sometimes - initiated by him.

My dd gave up her nap at 20 months!

Agree with others re quiet time and earlier to bed in the evening. You may find she does actually fall asleep, especially if she's watching tv or a video. ds falls asleep on the carpet about once a week - he's nearly 3.

My ds has just turned 2, he naps each day from around 12.30pm until 2pm, or sometimes later (he is still asleep now!) If he doesn't get it then he falls asleep at the dinner table!

If we go out then he doesn't sleep at all, but if this happens then I just put him to bed early, say around 6pm. This option is handy if I am off out for the evening and want him to go to sleep earlier or if I just fancy putting my feet up earlier lol!

Oooh - lots of replies! :-)

Thanks all - although the general gist of 'no more afternoon naps' is not what I wanted to hear

I guess I'll just have to gird my loins (where did that expression come from??!!) and hope that this transitional phase ends soon.

Earlier bedtime is tricky though, as we all have supper together when DH gets back from work (6pm-ish with 7.30 bedtime). Does that sound too late?

My 3 yo dd stopped sleeping for a couple of weeks after nursery started last term (she had been going before, so it wasn't a new thing!) as she seemed really wired when she came home. I have a 9mo ds too, and relish the coordinated sleeping times, so was determined to try to get her back into routine. I just put her down every day, closed her curtains, took toys in cot away apart from one cuddly cat, and told her she had to try to sleep so she would have lots of energy to play that afternoon. I persevered for 2 weeks, and she is now back to normal, sleeping everyday for 1 1/2 to 2 hrs. If you think your child needs it, I would definitely keep trying! One of my friend's little boys is 4 and still sleeps...

my 2.5 yr old dropped naps after her 2nd birthday but occasionally will nod off in the car which is fine today we were out she fell asleep at 11.45 must have been tired as actually managed to get her in the house without her waking. The only pain is I have to spend all afternoon trying to wear her out so long walk to the park lots of running around etc. She'll go to bed at 6.30 if no nap and will drop off befoe i hae finished story if she has napped probably wont go to bed till 7ish and not sleep till 7.30. Getting her to stay in bed after midnight and not cree into our bed is another story completley!!

excuse spelling and typos holding dd2 whilst doing this

Is she just 2 or nearly 3? Both my children have had the pattern you describe, eating about 6 and bed at 7.30, then up at 7. DD needs less sleep than DS at the same age. She will be 3 in May and does not always have a nap, but sometimes is grumpy on those days. This weekend she did not have one on Friday because I took her to a swim session that is 1-2, then by the time we have got dressed, come home and dried our hair it is time to go get DS from school (see extra problems with no. 2 ). Then on Saturday we went to soft play and I deliberately kept her awake in the car so she would sleep in her bed. She just messed about so I let her sit on her bed and look at books on her own. Then Sunday she had about 20 mins in the car. Then yesterday she had 2 hours in her bed. But she was needing to catch up by this point.

Maybe she doesn't need a nap everyday but does every few days. Maybe you could try getting her to stay on her bed with some books? I did this for a long while with DS.

ds is just 2 and over christmas has grown out of his naps really. Used to go 12-2pm every day but now can go without it and even though he is tired he just isnt interested in afternoon naps.

So maybe your dd has grown out of it

OH NO!! fear my 2yo ds has just grown out of naps too - was hoping it was just a phase and that he'd slot back into it but it looks like after reading this thread your not on your own Spawnchorus. mine too is a crabby little 'darling' all afternoon and virtually falling asleep in his dinner by 6.30pm. if all else fails I may try a mild sedative - I'll let you know whether they work.

ps- joke - the sedatives will be for me, not ds.