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Sleep

Join our Sleep forum for tips on creating a sleep routine for your baby or toddler. Need more advice on your childs development? Sign up to our Ages and Stages newsletter here.

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Original poster

Nooooooo. 2 year old refusing nap. Baby 2 due in 2 months. Am seriously going to cry.

29 replies

Penguin13 · 03/02/2017 14:05

As above really. 2 yo has been having 1 hour naps for a while which can't go later than 2pm or 2.30 absolute latest wake or she takes an age to go to sleep and her bedtime is already 7.45 and asleep for 8 (wake up 6.30). She has always needed the lower end of the spectrum sleep wise but recently it has been a real struggle to get her down for naps although nursery say she still goes down for her 1 hour fine there. Am I clutching at straws to hope it might be a phase? Was seriously hoping to have at least a couple of months when both DC were napping as DC2 due end of March. Am so shattered today but mainly just desperate for the mental break that midday nap allows.

Anyone care to share their stories of surviving the newborn phase with a non napping 2.4 yo to entertain??!

OP posts:

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Mol1628 · 03/02/2017 14:08

Oh it could be a phase for sure. Back molars coming through? My 2 year old stopped napping just before his baby brother was born but then he did start again a few weeks later and napped till he was almost three. Sometimes I would even get them to nap together!

On the other hand, sometimes it's easier if they don't need to nap. You can go out in the afternoon to get the baby to sleep in the pram/sling and tire out the toddler for bed time. It's nice now I only have one nap time to work around.

IamWendy · 03/02/2017 14:17

Ok. So, I had a newborn and a very demanding toddler. It was hard, and like you, no break in form of naps. My honest advice is to get active! Being out means you don't feel like you are constantly being forced off the couch by stuff (I think trying and failing to relax was worst than not even trying tbh) so, groups, groups and more groups!

Somehowsomewhere · 03/02/2017 14:18

DD1 dropped her nap at 20 months. One week before DD2 was born.
Yes, get out and about a lot! It's the only way to survive.

Minty82 · 03/02/2017 14:22

Oh poor you - I had this! DD abruptly dropped her naps at 22 months; three months before DS was born. Knackering. But more because it would have been nice to nap myself in the last few months of pregnancy than because I felt cheated of joint nap times once the baby arrived - I can't imagine I would ever have persuaded them to nap at the same time!

LittleBearPad · 03/02/2017 14:24

I had this. It was fairly shattering. I sent DD to nursery three mornings a week.

Original poster

Penguin13 · 03/02/2017 14:28

Thanks all. Dd just did the most enormous poo so am kind of hoping that was causing her restlessness today but under no illusions about naps lasting for much longer so good to have some positive stories about how it can be done! Good point that the likelihood of synchronised naps was fairly slim anyway and that one day napper is easier to work around. Feeling more positive already

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DubiousCredentials · 03/02/2017 14:29

I think it's quite common! I used to have to take them both out in the car if I wanted them both to nap. Then I'd pull over and have a nap too. God knows what passers by must have thought

DubiousCredentials · 03/02/2017 14:30

Ds was 19mths when dd was born. I had ONE synchronised nap from them at home. ONE. Little feckers.

taxworries · 03/02/2017 14:40

Not pregnant but v gloomy my DS seems to be dropping naps! He's 27 months and a reliable 2hr an afternoon from about 1ish to 3.30 ish and then I'd have to wake him from a deep sleep. Past few days he's been finding it v hard to get to sleep so I'm wondering if it's coming to an end. I can't imagine what I'm going to do with him during this time! As we already have a busy morning doing stuff. He also doesn't watch TV (he just won't, we've tried). So, commiserations!

LittleBearPad · 03/02/2017 14:43

Taking them to the playground was quite good for zoning out a bit whilst pushing a swing with baby in pram.

Also TV, lots of TV - appreciate this doesn't help you tax but even without a nap DD still needed some quiet sitting down time.

LittleBearPad · 03/02/2017 14:45

Finally I also suggest the car plan. Once they went to sleep I used to find somewhere to park and read mumsnet.

Heatherbell1978 · 03/02/2017 14:56

I have a 2.5 year old and am due in 3 weeks. He still naps easily in the car and buggy and nursery but it can be hard to get him to nap in his cot during the day and getting harder. Once he's asleep he can sleep easily for 2 hrs though. No advice really other than it seems like a common age to drop it. If we need him to sleep we just chuck him in the car so that'll be my plan when baby is here. The drive thru Costa opening near me will be getting a lot of business from me!!

Original poster

Penguin13 · 03/02/2017 17:10

Gosh I am so envious of those still enjoying 2 hour naps at this age! DD would still sleep for 2 hours if I let her but I dread to think what time that would make bedtime

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SprogletsMum · 03/02/2017 17:12

You're lucky they lasted so long! My dd is 2 and 2 months and her naps went about 4/5 months ago. Dc4 is due in april and I'll put peppa on for dd while he naps and doze a bit myself.

Rachie1986 · 03/02/2017 17:18

As DD has started dropping naptime we do rest time. Box of toys and pile of books in her room. She can sit in bed or on the floor or a cushion and play with any of it but she stays in her room and doesn't call me up. Some days she doesn't nap at all, others she naps for 30mins or less. She stays in her room 1hr15.

Might be worth a try to still get a bit of time for jobs/a break/ mumsnet?!

foxessocks · 03/02/2017 17:25

My dd gave up her naps just as ds was born as well! She goes to nursery three mornings a week which helps as I can relax a bit then. The rest of the time we keep really busy because as someone else said upthread, I find it easier to keep going, if I stop and relax then I find it so hard to then have to get up to nappy change ,play with DD, make food etc! On non nursery days we get up and out and then home for lunch then sometimes out again. Nursery days we sometimes go out in the afternoon but if DD is very tired she watches TV and we all relax together for a while! My dd also has lots of toys she can play with by herself in the living room, duplo is good and her kitchen and and tea set.

Good luck it is honestly fine

Original poster

Penguin13 · 03/02/2017 18:37

Hmmmm. This independent play in her room could be worth investigating although she isn't the best at playing by herself unfortunately. I have been trying to work on it but with somewhat mixed results!

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Mol1628 · 03/02/2017 18:40

I started the rest time in his bedroom as well after he dropped his nap. It worked very well and he still does it now a lot at 4. Just gives me some space which I really need to be able to cope!

Toomanywheeliebinsagain · 03/02/2017 18:49

My daughter dropped naps at a similar age and I remember weeping with utter exhaustion when I was pregnant with number 2 as I so needed a nap too. I was also bloody jealous that all my friends children napped in the day and then went to bed at 7pm while I will still trying to get my eldest to sleep. In the early days of two children I did resort to several hours of CBeebies after lunch. I was exhausted as our baby wasn't sleeping at night at all and needs must. It was the only bit of tv she got. Do what you need to do is my advice

steppemum · 03/02/2017 18:53

mine all dropped naps at 2

But, they still liked downtime in the middle of the day, so we woudl snuggle in sofa and stick on a dvd, and I would get a quiet half and hour. About 3 days a week they would fall asleep, but even when they didn't it was a very zonked half an hour, and it helped enormously with needed a break.

InsaneDame · 03/02/2017 19:10

Mine tried to give up naps at 2.4 years but I took to letting him fall asleep in the car after morning activities and he slept for 1.5hrs and needed waking up after that time. He still naps in the car every other day now at 2.10 years. If we don't go in the car then he won't nap but does chill on the sofa with a blanket for a while in the afternoon.

Scrumptiouscrumpets · 03/02/2017 19:29

I second Rachie's advice, get her used to quiet time on her own instead of her nap. DS went through a phase of refusing to nap and I put him in his cot, sleeping bag on, with a load of books. He could fall asleep if he wanted or read his books.
He went back to napping though, thank God! Your DD might too, don't despair just yet!

beemay · 05/02/2017 23:27

I'd suggest that if she still naps at nursery she's not ready to give it up yet. Mine was same, started refusing nap when I had newborn, but I wasn't willing to let her give it up! We rebranded nap as 'quiet time' and let her lie on mattress rather than go in cot, and listen to an audiobook (Peppa Pig...) and she now falls asleep in minutes and sleeps for over an hour.

user1471446433 · 05/02/2017 23:33

Mine stopped napping at 23months, 18 months & 20 months.
Baby napped on knee while toddler was read to or ran off to dress up & came back to show me etc. Or baby asleep in wrap for a walk or playpark etc.
You'll be fine, knackered but fine!!

user1471446433 · 05/02/2017 23:35

Oh & on the really bad days be in toddler safe room lie down with baby by/across door & cat nap

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