Day time sleep-my 16 month old flat out will not sleep in the day...

[scootermum]

...She gets really really tired (and increasingly cross) but will not go to sleep during the day, unless very rarely she will sleep on my lap..but as I am expecting a new baby in 4 weeks or so-this is not ideal..When I have tired to put her down to sleep in her cot in the day she has made herself sick with crying, even when she has been practically asleep before being put down..She is a happier girl when she has had a little nap and I am certainly a happier Mama...She goes down fine at night and sleeps pretty well mostly..Anyone have any advice?

(should also mention that when she was at childminders before I was on mat leave she went down like a lamb in the travel cot reportedly and slept for an hour or so-have tried travel cot at home to no joy)

Hi,
Well, as I've just posted a message about my 15mth old not sleeping at night so you might not want to listen to my advice regarding daytime sleep - I'd understand
However, my DD does sleep during the day so maybe I can help.
Not sure what you are trying, but what helped me, was to introduce a nap ritual similar to bedtime. I pull her bedroom curtains, change her nappy, leave her top on but take off trousers (so she's not too warm/cold), put her in her sleeping bag and put her in her cot with teddy. Sometimes I put on a lullabye CD.
When I first started this I had to give her some milk as a cue but gradually she took less and less and now doesn't need any. At first I did have to go back and forth and give her a cuddle but even if she didn't actually give in and sleep I still repeated the process so after only a few days she started to cotton on to what was happening. She started off with 30mins but now regularly naps for approx 90mins, sometimes longer.
Another HUGE improvement was for me to know when to try to put her down for a nap. I was always doing it too early or too late! I did a poll of my friends with babies the same age which helped. If it helps you, my DD now being 15mths needs a sleep approx. 5 hours (give or take 30mins) after she's woken up (doesn't matter what time that is). This normally works out to be just after lunch.

I can't believe I'm actually able to say this now, but it was a huge problem for me and now I don't even have to think about it.

Maybe you could ask your childminder EXACTLY what she did and where the cot was....?

Good luck x

I will give it a proper go I think with the bedtime thing in the day..I have just been putting her down when she looks sleepy but maybe if she is a bit more in the bed mindset it will help..
Chidminder said she just put her down and that was it..so she is just playing me to a certain extent maybe..

Thanks for the advice anyway-even just half an hour would be great so if we manage that I will be singing your praises all over MN!

I used to put DD down in cot and run away hoping for the best - in hindsight, she probably kicked off because she felt I was leaving her. Going through the motions of sleeping bag etc is something she's familiar with i.e. bedtime, so knows I will come back.