Refusing afternoon nap
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: Toddler Times
Forum Description: Is bubs growing up and getting into everything? How do you train them to use the potty? When do you start feeding solids? Share your tips and advice here!
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Topic: Refusing afternoon nap
Posted By: cuppatea
Subject: Refusing afternoon nap
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 2:32pm
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Over the last 2 weeks Spencer has only had an afternoon nap maybe 3-4 times and has refused every other time. I'm not sure what to do as he appears tired, rubs his eyes, gets tantrummy, whines, doesn't eat properly and is just generally unpleasant to be around. He also has massive dark circles under his eyes. We haven't changed his routine at all but as soon as I put him in bed he just screams and screams and screams until in the end I give up and get him up (one day last week I left him for 2 hours, so def not gonna go to sleep if left). Have tried getting him up again and then putting down later but he still screams. Just tried that again today and about to go get him up again as he is sounding like he is gonna make himself vomit.
I'm wondering if he is wanting to drop this sleep, so for those that have dropped it how long does the afternoon over tired tantrum phase last? and how on earth do you ever get anything done? ------------- 
 
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Replies:
Posted By: arohanui
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 2:57pm
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Is he having a nap in the morning? ------------- Mama to DS1 (5 years), DS2 (3 years) and... http://alterna-tickers.com" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 3:23pm
If he is having a morning nap is it possible for you to drag him out till a little later for it? When Sam dropped her afternoon nap we adjusted her morning nap to late morning. That way it was more the middle of the day which saw her through to bedtime. She was still tired at the end of the day but stopped being impossible. In saying that we do have to put her to bed at about 6.30 otherwise she is a nightmare!
 ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 3:25pm
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No sorry should have said, he hasn't had a morning nap since about 12-13 months.
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Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 3:33pm
Oh no! Well then I totally sympathise because Samantha has just started doing the same thing to me in the past few weeks! I put her down for her nap at the normal time but she won't sleep. I do leave her in there with some books etc for about an hour (just for a mummy break) but in saying that she isn't crying thank goodness.
In regards to getting things done, I just let her come help me, or she plays with her toys, watches TV etc while I am doing what I need to do. It doesn't seem to be too much of a problem but does mean nothing is every truly clean with a tornado following me around ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 4:22pm
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Would "quiet play" rather than having to be in bed work? The kids I've worked with have generally been a little bit older when they dropped their day sleeps but during that transition their parents introduced quiet play which means the kids have to be in their rooms and doing something quiet (puzzles, playing with dolls, reading books) until a certain time.
Some days they would put themselves to bed, others they would fall asleep on the floor! And sometimes they just played (and sometimes they complained about it lol). Not sure how easy the concept would be to explain to Spencer but might give him some down time if it works..? ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 4:28pm
| is he still in a cot? Tom will sometimes go to his cot with a few books and be happy.....sometimes he even drops off. In saying that Tom still has his sleep most afternoons but on days where we miss it (ie he fell asleep for 5 min in car so thinks hes done it) I pop him in with some books. at least its time out for me. |
Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 5:14pm
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Yeah he is still in a cot, I'm not sure if he would be happy with books, he generally doesn't like to be shut in anywhere. So he's happy to play in his room or in the lounge by himself if he can come find me when he wants. I might put him in there tomorrow with some books though and leave the bedroom door open and see if that keeps him happy.
Failing that I might take the sides of the cot (it's one that turns into a junior bed) and see if he wants to just play in his room and then have a sleep if he chooses. He's actually been really good this afternoon and hasn't had any tantrums and doesn't seem that tired......was really hoping he wouldn't completely drop napping this young but oh well, can't force him to sleep. -------------
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 5:40pm
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Have you tried taking him for a drive or a walk in the buggy when he is tired but refusing to sleep? I know if won't give you a break - but at least if he has a small nap he might be easier to deal with for the rest of the day!
Apart from that, I can't help sorry -- Jake never refuses his nap ..... even if he grizzles for a few mins every now and then. ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: AN E
Date Posted: 14 April 2009 at 8:02pm
I hear you! Laura only ever sleeps during the day in the car.  . I think she has learnt bad habits from being at daycare - she can sleep up to 1.5 hours there, but from what I understand its pretty labour intensive work - rubbing her back and singing to her.
I can't even get Laura into bed at home (ie my other post!), so I usually just try and time it so I am out in the car around lunch time - and she usually nods off. Just remember to take a book to read. Sorry - it doesn't help with the housework side of things
It's so frustrating!!!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 15 April 2009 at 3:40pm
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Well I put him to bed at 1.30 and he is still there. I think he is doing a catch up nap every 3-4 days. -------------
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Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 15 April 2009 at 7:24pm
Oh how stink I'm not looking forward to the time when Dom drops his nap, it is my midday sanity time.
Have you considered having his ears checked? If there is a build up of wax or an infection it might be hurting to lie down. I was going to suggest a later nap but I'm sure you've tried that. edited for spelling |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 15 April 2009 at 9:56pm
this was going to be suggestion too... i remember toby refusing naps so i thought he didnt need them but when we started taking gabriel to kindy he would fall asleep in the push chair, sometimes for hours... |
Nikki wrote:Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 16 April 2009 at 2:56pm
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Leah stopped having sleeps in December, she has quiet time but that normally consists of her watching a dvd on the couch in the hope that she will sleep, very rarely does she actually go to sleep though. She is normally in bed at night by about 6.15 which as Joel is in bed at the same time, means our nights are our own, but late afternoon is very fugly most days. -------------  
 
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Posted By: cuppatea
Date Posted: 16 April 2009 at 7:57pm
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Today I tried putting him in cot with some books after Dh had unsuccessfully tried to get him to have a sleep, didn't work he just screamed then tore his bed apart and threw everything out of the cot. We then went swimming and by the time he had dinner he was practically asleep so I put him to bed at 6.15 and he went down without a peep.
If he refuses his nap tomorrow then I will give the buggy a go and see if he sleeps in that. He will sleep in the car sometimes but wakes up as soon as the car stops. He had a big nap yesterday though so he seems to be missing it for 3-4 days then having a catch up nap. I think he is just not 100% ready to drop it but doesn't really need it most days. The earlier bedtime is quite handy and I think if he has something to distract him in the afternoons when he doesn't sleep, like the swimming today, then he hopefully won't get too feral. -------------
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Posted By: Babe
Date Posted: 21 April 2009 at 10:05am
Maybe hes going through a growth spurt and getting overtired? Jake does that and I have to pull his sleep back by half an hour otherwise he gets hysterical and won't sleep when I put him down. Early bedtimes rock  Jakes in bed by 6.15-6.30 and its so nice having the evening to ourselves!-------------   
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