What do you do before nap time to calm your toddlers?

I have just recently weaned from breastfeeding my daughter and though she goes down for her naps very nicely with a song and snuggle. I definitely don't want to start some bad habit.

I was wondering if other moms just put their toddlers down by themselves or they sing a song, read a story-- what ever it may be before nap time. Mandy is in a regular bed, not a crib, anyone else?

well, for my 3 and 2 year old i usually tell them that it's almost nap time about 1/2 hour before i want to put them down. i tell them we can watch a 15 min movie or i'll read to them and have a small snack (milk, cheese, yogurt, fruit) before the nap. i've been doing this for almost a full year now and it works the best with them. i find that they get really upset if they are not forwarned. hope i helped! :D

Hey Renee,
I have always played music for my kids naps...since the day they were born! I have Lullaby music playing in their rooms when they go to bed. I let them know it will be nap time, they get changed, their favorite stuffed friend and blankie...then off to beddy by! It has worked with both kids and they love their music! They will be 30 and still have their lullaby music!!

Thanks moms!

I love the music idea,- now heading to cabiniet to get out CD player for tomorrow,- great idea thanks Tracy!

I play a short DVD (e.g. BabyFaith or Elmo), it gets her sitting in one spot, so she is calming down to prepare for a nap. We do the same thing at bedtime.

Um, I can't remember...I just say "quiet time" and everyone knows where to go and what to do LOL

I have though, read a short story. We sit all on the couch or chair, I read a short story or two then say "Ok, quiet time, off to bed" and that's it. They go.

I've never had a child who gets up and wreaks havoc during naptime. I have those who sit up in bed, will get extra books from their drawer or grab a few toys, but no jumping on the bed, bouncing off walls, running out of the room kind of stuff :)
So, I realize, I've had it easy.

I just say "do" and they do. (for the most part) *thus far :roll: :lol: *

With my babies, I usually read to them..(not usually baby books per say...more like Little House on the Praire kinda thing)..till they fall asleep....may be a bad habit later, but I love it....lol....I also play quiet music in the back ground, classical usually...

Thanks moms, I found "the message" radio station on our sat. dish and that works great and a book, she falls asleep on her own. I enjoy the few minutes I spend with her to calm and bond with her, its special to her and I. In a family our size its important I find one on one time with each of the children.

Now I find she is taking too long of naps, oh well can't complain though I just can snuggle her awake too :)

After lunch, Grant and I will snuggle a little bit on the couch then go into his room and read 1 book of his choice and then I put him down for a nap. I usually read 4 books at bedtime, so I figured 1 at naptime was enough. LOL! :D

My toddler is 17 mos. old. I have a sound machine and I put on a lullaby cd, I sit on the bed with him and have him in my arms and rock him a little until he gets calm and then I put him down. It is a nice calm time and I enjoy having him lay his head on my chest.

Normally, I just get her involved in a calmer activity, to get her a little more prepared for napping. Then, at naptime/quiet time, I tell her, "It's time to go to your room." She knows that she doesn't necessarily *have* to sleep during naptime, but she has to play quietly by herself. I've found that trying to force her to sleep usually gets her all wired.

I take her to her room, turn off the light and set her on her bed, but I don't go in there if I can hear she's up and playing. She usually puts herself in bed within half an hour to an hour (naptime/quiet time is from 1:00 to 4:00). She knows when she'd better get a nap in or she's going to miss out on getting any rest.

She *was* pushing her boundaries, refusing to nap for awhile, which is when I gave up on trying to make her nap and decided to settle on quiet time instead. After a couple of days without a nap, she started napping as part of the quiet time. Getting those few hours of peace is priceless to me. It gives me time to get a little housework done, play with her sister, etc. I guess I'll switch it to just straight quiet time when my girls are too old for naps. Make it reading time or time to work on schoolwork (but separate from the homeschooling stuff we'll be doing earlier) or something...

Ds is pretty easy about naps...as long as I catch him just before he gets over-tired. I just let him know that its naptime and he can pick out which toys he wants to bring to bed, and he tosses the toys in the crib to play with until he falls asleep. Once in a while he puts up a fuss, but not too often.