Lovely new baby - but now our toddler won't sleep during the day

[TashW]

We've just had our second boy and have already got a wonderful 22month toddler. But ever since the baby was born, our toddler just refuses to sleep during the day. We imagined some disruption in the first few weeks, but it's nearly 2 weeks now and it's getting desperate as he's very difficult if he misses his nap.
We're tried leaving him for 10, mins then 15 etc, but he just cries and cries. He can keep this up for 1 1/2 hours which is pretty awful for everyone to live through.
Any other tips or stories that wil keep us perservering?

would he lie down with a blanket and rest in front of tv - something calming. It could give you a break.

Hi - congrats on your new LO . I have just gone through a similar thing, my youngest is now 8 weeks and DS 1 is 25 months. He dropped his daytime naps almost immediately after she was born, which was a nightmare come 5pm as he was then far too tired and was a complete grouch. I tried to give him 'quiet time' but he doesn't do quiet very well. I've found getting him out in the fresh air works wonders. If we go for a walk to the park I try and encourage him to walk as much as possible on the way back. He will then drop off easily when we get home. Alternatively we get out in the garden and run around a bit - anything to tire him out!... Interestingly he still wont go up to his room for a nap and has started to go for a nap on the sofa - something he has never done before. (I think he is afraid of missing something tbh!) It took about 4/5 weeks for him to get back into napping and it is still a bit hit and miss. - One other tip that works with my ds is to put the baby down first, if she isn't demanding my attention he seems a bit more comfortable with the idea of going to sleep.
Hang in there Tash.

Do persevere - try and have a rule that if he doesn't sleep, he has to do a quite activity/use the television or music maybe in his room. Think Penelope Leach emphasises making after lunch a quiet time.

DD did this for a while, but in the end she realised that she wasn't missing anything and ds started to have a reliable afternoon nap too, which was bliss.

Also echo advice about trying to make sure he's properly tired. It's difficult with a new one to get out to get the older one tired at times, but well worth it for the peace in the afternoon.

Oh - what baggybelly said. I always put ds down for a nap first while dd pottered in her bedroom. Then I went in to tuck her in when ds was asleep (or at least quiet and I pretended he was asleep ).

She'll be 4 in July and still regularly has a good 2 hour nap in the afternoon, as does ds (18months).

Hello All, thanks for all the advice, today I tried all going to sleep in our bedroom as I was so tired. DC2 didn't sleep but did lie still, every time I opened my eyes to peak to see if sleeping he was staring at me and no crying. But, hurrah feels like a little break through. Feel a lot more positive today.