HELP! Why does my toddler nap at nursery but no longer at home?

[MrsMerryHenry]

A few months back, my DS (age 2.4) stopped napping. Full stop. At nursery and at home. Then he recommenced naps at home but flatly refuses to sleep at home, despite getting tired around lunchtime. We have had battles over this, and surprise surprise I always lose.

This morning I took him out the park to run around and exhaust himself, then have just brought him back home after lunch. He was mostly quiet in the buggy all the way home (for almost half an hour - that's a long time for him to be calm and quiet) but never fell asleep, even though I reclined the buggy seat and covered him with the hood so he could see very little of what was going on outside.

By the time we got home - still wide awake. I've now put him in bed, keeping everything quiet and dark, story and lullaby, and within 2 seconds of my leaving the room he called out for me and has been doing so for the past 10 minutes. I had even told him that if he slept he could watch his favourite programme afterwards (we don't often resort to bribery so you can see how desperate I am!).

It's SO frustrating! As I'm sure you'll all understand, I need those 2.5 hours in the middle of the day to do a million things - including working on my business. At night he still goes to bed at the same time so it's not like he's catching up on missed sleep elsewhere. I just don't know what else I can try.

Bump!

To be perfectly honest it sounds like he's dropped it and there isn't a lot you can do. It was always going to happen at some point. At 2.4 he's certainly old enough to do that. He's just following the pack at nursery, but it sounds like he doesn't need to nap, even if he is tired. If he was that tired, I think he would have dropped off in the conditions you described with him in the buggy. I'm sorry I know thats not what you want to hear. I hope someone else can come up with some positive suggestions for you. I'm actually very jealous that you got 2.5 hour naps.

DD is the same - sleeps at nursery but not at home, no matter what we try. She's 2.5 but has been like this for months. I think she's more likely to nap at nursery because they have more of a routine there and like lynniep says she's following the pack; perhaps it's the same for your DS?

Sorry, not much help I know!

Yes, the end of the naps is nigh I'm afraid. DS stopped at a similar age but also kept them going longer at nursery - because they all napped together in a quiet darkened room and he just went with the flow I think. Now, he only sleeps in the day if on a car journey. So if you're desperate you could try a car ride? But be warned, if DS sleeps during the day now, since dropping the regular nap, it's then hard to get him to sleep at bedtime.

Could you work in the evenings, or is nursery an option? Soon you'll have state nursery provision which should help.

Two and a half hours! I would implement a rule of "you don't have to sleep, but you do have to stay in bed quietly. You may read this book."

My dc's all stopped naps well before they were 2, just accept it and move on.

My ds2 is 2.3 now and there's no way on earth he would nap in the day if he didn't want to. 99% of the time he doens't nap at all anymore, only if he's ill. Just accept they don't need the sleep anymore, none of mine did and they're not grumpy at all during the day. Dd is 7, ds1 5 and ds2 2, all have been the same, you just have to do things during the evening. Don't assume he needs the sleep, I'm assuming he doesn't as he doesn't miss it.

Oh and it's been months since he napped during the day, at least 6, same with them all at that age.

(this is the sound of a woman in mourning)

I can't believe this has come already; none of his friends has dropped their nap - even the older ones.

Good suggestion ches, re staying in bed. I'll try that asap.

(this is the sound of a woman in mourning)

I can't believe this has come already; none of his friends has dropped their nap - even the older ones.

Good suggestion ches, re staying in bed. I'll try that asap.

(oops!)