Gah. Evading nap.in cot. How long do I leave it?

[Sparrowlegs248]

I've posted about this several times. Ds won't nap in his cot at home (will at GP'S)

I neeeeed to crack it. He's in the cot, he's ready for sleep. I'm.in the other room. He's babbling, shrieking, bouncing up and down. The last few times I've tried have failed and I feel he knows if he holds out long enough ilk take him.out.

No crying atm. He's 20 months old and has never consistently. napped in the cot. If I take him.in the pram he'll asleep in seconds, or car. But I have ds2 5 weeks and can't always do it. He already naps better and I don't want him to get into the same habits.

Ds1 starting to complain now. I'm.not keen on cc. Bedtime is fine and easy just these bloody naps.

He seems to.know to.poo when he's in the cot too. Doesn't do it in the pram. Ugh.

It's gone quiet.....he might be asleep. Don't really want to check in case I disturb him!

Nope. Varying between singing and complaining. No crying or sleeping though. He's been in his cot well over an hour and hasn't had lunch. So I'll have to give up again, give lunch then later pram nap.

I have to gently hold DS down on his front when he's like this. Whinges for a minute or two then goes to sleep. If I leave him he'll be wandering round the cot laughing.

I can't lay him down, or hold him down anymore, he'll fight like hell cry and stand up then the whole idea is screwed. Sadly. But yes to the laughing, and bouncing up and down.

I've just checked, he's asleep. But it's taken over an hour and a half. I guess I just have to do this as many days as I can.

I would give him an early lunch before nap so you don't have to worry about how long it takes him to sleep.

What time is he waking up in the morning and what time are you putting him down for the nap?

I agree with giving an early lunch and then do the nap afterwards

Would he sleep if the pushchair was parked in his bedroom and rocked back and forth a few times?

He was up at 6.15am. He had a good snack at playgroup so wouldn't be hungry if he went to sleep in good time.

He went in the cot about 11.30. But pooped so out and back.in again.

He won't asleep.in the pushchair unless I walk him. He slept for nearly two hours though so good going, eventually!

At this age 11.30 is too early. I would aim for 11.30 lunch and a 12.15 bedtime

I agree. Early lunch then nap.

Further to the post above... or an 11am lunch and 11.30 nap, if he needs to go to sleep earlier.

I would probably aim for a 12pm nap though, with an 11.30 lunch ideally.

I mostly vary between these two with my 2 year old. If she was awake in the night or up early, lunch moves to 11am and nap straight after. But on a normal day, following a normal, good night, lunch is always 11.30 and naptime 12pm.

Leaving lunch for after naptime isn't a great way to encourage sleep.

Thanks all. I tried 11.30 as he was tired on the way home from playgroup, and I have had best success previously if I don't leave it too late. I'll try later next time. It's difficult as we go out a lot as I find it easier than being at home with two under two!

Could you take a packed lunch to playgroup next week, for him to eat on the way home?

Then he can still go to sleep as soon as you got back (if lunch hasn't given him a mild second-wind) if needed, but he's had lunch.

I'd just say I've never been able to put a baby or toddler down and expect them just to fall asleep, even at that perfect tired but not too tired moment. With motion in the car/pushchair they'll go off on their own, but otherwise I have to help. So patting/shushing/white noise/light display/audio book/singing or some combo of the above

He had a big snack at playgroup, 10.30 ish. Grapess, a satsuma, oaty flapjack thing, some baby crisps. Few mini cheddars and a couple of cheese cubes. So not dissimilar to an early lunch. He'd had weetabix, then yogurt with blueberries, and sone of my porridge for breakfast (eats well!)

I don't expect him to just fall asleep immediately. But at all without me caving in would be good! I read stories and he had the radio on low (works at Mil)

I used to run our local playgroup, so there were a few of us who had to stay half an hour after then end to clear up. We all used to sit our toddlers at a table with a pack lunch sandwich and whatnot as we tidied up.

It made life easier once home, because it would be straight up to bed.

Yes they do all sit round a table with their snack. Ds sits for half an hour and is often the only one left at the table, still eating..... He has a good appetite. Doesn't like sandwiches though, oddly.

So here we are again. Napped in the cot at Mil yesterday. Two hours. Resisted pram.nap the day before, eventually had half an hour at 4 pm.

Definitely tired, had small lunch (not really hungry after playgroup snack) put him.in cot at 12, read story and left him to it. He's complaining and bouncing about the place.

Annoyingly, I've come downstairs with cds2 asleep on my shoulder and realise his bouncy chair and sleepyhead are both upstairs.

It's gone quiet......

Not for long. Argh. I'm not cut out for this. And he's up and bouncing again.

At that age I think he really needs a later nap - before he starts to transition out of it all together! I think dts were going 1-2 by that point and I always had to wake them by 2 or they wouldn't go to bed regardless of what time the started the nap at. That's a whole new merry hell in itself though sorry!

He sleeps froom 11.30 at Mil. I usually do 11.30/12 if in pram. Or if in the car at that time he'll nod off. He goes to bed fine regardless - Tuesday he slept 4-4.30 and was fine at bedtime. Thank God for small mercies..

Didn't say, he was asleep by 1.

My toddler hardly ever naps! Yours might not need one! Why so desperate for him to nap?