Nap time issues

[His butterfly]

I am needing some advice on what to do at nap time when your kiddos absolutely refuse to take a nap. Mine are 3 and almost 2 and we have a nap time routine where they eat lunch and go down for their naps at 12. I have been consistent about putting them down but they are not always consistent about staying down. Sometimes they will go to sleep and then other days both will fight me for hours before either they fall asleep or I cave in and let them stay up.

I have tried taking their loveys away and a couple of spanks when they get out of bed. They don't care. I have tried having them come sleep in bed with me, nothing. I have even tried letting them stay awake but they have to be in bed resting. I am at my wits end trying to figure out an effective method for dealing with them when they are like this. I hate caving in and I want to be consistent and I hate spanking. I really want to try something that works. This is really a rare occasion but when it does happen we always seem to end up with 3 miserable females.

What are some things that you do?

[PianoMama]

We have had a few nap time struggles. Mostly it's when ds poops in his pants and doesn't want to tell me. So, he's uncomfortable but won't ask to be changed. Aside from that, (not to get technical or controversial...) but how are you spanking? When I spank ds for direct disobedience, it stings. He knows it's not going to be pleasant. :-( I have told him that he can lay in his bed and rest but no toys or books or anything stimulating. Also, I always put the same calming music CD on for him. It kind of signals his body to key down.

Hope you find something that helps!

[kalihi76]

Do you put them in the same room for naps? If you do, maybe it would work better to have them in different rooms.. I remember me & my sister would never nap together, we'd quietly play with our dolls, but would never fall asleep.

Are you sure both of them are tired? Are they showing signs of tiredness at noon?

[kim]

Do you put them in the same room for naps? If you do, maybe it would work better to have them in different rooms.. I remember me & my sister would never nap together, we'd quietly play with our dolls, but would never fall asleep.

Are you sure both of them are tired? Are they showing signs of tiredness at noon?


Ditto that. Mine will absolutely NOT nap in the same room. (2yrs and 3 yrs -although the 3yo doesn't nap all the time anymore) Something I might try in your situation is putting them down for a nap later...around 1-2pm and see if that helps.

[Cheeseburger]

are they sleeping in at all on these days they wont' nap? I've found it's impossible to keep naptime normal if I let my kids sleep in even an hour later than normal. We have to be up by 9 if we expect to be napping by 2. If we are up at 10, etc, well, there's no telling... LOL

Also consider how much sleep they are getting during the night and how long you are allowing their naps to be.... ? My DD was refusing to go to bed until 12 or 1 am because her afternoon naps were too long (up to 3 hours), so I've seriously cut back and only let her sleep an hour and a half to two hours... now she goes to bed around 9-10 and it's much more pleasant :) It's nice when kids sleep, but, we can't expect them to sleep all the time I guess, so, naps need to be proportionate depending on how long they sleep at night... :)

[Beth]

I was going to ask also, if they nap in the same room or not. My son goes to daycare 3 days a week and when he is there they all nap in the same room and give his babysitter no problems. With me, he may take one nap every two weeks. My rule is that it is quite time. He must be in his room and he must not come out until I come to get him. He also goes to bed earlier at night if he does not take a nap.

On the days that I am home, the only time I get to do any work outside is during nap time. so he knows he is not to come out at all.

I also take the monitor with me and he knows I can hear him, so if he tries to come out, he gets busted. I don't think he has figured out how I can hear him, he just knows I can. Supermomma, huh? :)

You may want to try that they stay in their rooms and have 'quiet time'.

Often, my son will lay down and cat nap if he is really tired. Although he is four now.

[NZMummy]

I would try having naptime a little later. I was putting dd down for a nap at 12 as well. But now at 20 months she usually isn't tired enough at that point (unless we have had a particularly busy morning). It wasn't worth fighting her because we ended up with a wasted afternoon and still no sleep. I now put her down for a nap a bit later in the day and she usually settles well after a brief protest.

[danou]

I would seperate them and perhaps offer the three year old "quiet" time- reading, puzzles in her room, no interaction with you. If s/he is bothering you about "is it done yet"- put on a timer then when s/he asks- "have you heard the timer yet?"

[marezee]

my boys all grew out of their naps by age 3.
maybe they are just not tired at that time.
maybe the 3yr old doesn't need a nap anymore.
i would try what others have suggested...putting them to bed later and separately.
if that doesn't work, perhaps discontinue the nap altogether.
if you do this, they will probably have to go to bed earlier in the evening.