Sleep issues

[TayNRobbiesMom]

How do you deal w/ a 2.5 yo that refuses to nap??

She was up and down last night and the night before, so i know shes tired (with only an hr nap yest). We're in a cycle of no nap bad sleep at night. Along w/ her waking be scared b/c BOTH nights her night light went out!

Ideas? between her and my 3.5 mo im dying for sleep. DH doesn't help at night b/c im a SAHM...Ideas?

[whitnessforhim]

Well I am not sure this will work for you but you never know.
My DD is the most stubborn thing when it comes to naps and sometimes bedtime. Its like even at this young age she's afraid of missing anything so she's got to stay awake. When she doesn't fall asleep with nursing or bottle (with daddy) we always can resort to what we call "Def Leaparding" her. It does take my DH for this cuz I just don't have the arm strenght but it NEVER fails...He turns on the Def Leapard (im sure u could find something different your DD would like) and makes her dance and 3 songs is all it takes...she's out!! It NEVER fails!! I gotta get some video of it too cuz it is pretty halarious. I guess your gonna have to find something that might work for her. Our DD loves music.
I'm sure others might have better ideas :)

[Jacksmommy]

At 2 1/2 if my child didn't want to nap then he didn't nap. Period. He'd go to bed at 5 pm(because he'd just fall asleep then - not any sort of punitive action on my part) and usually sleep through the night and still be cranky the next day, but it would get worked out in a day or so. Refusal of naps was rare for him.

[madelsmama]

This was a short-lived stage for my oldest daughter.

I started laying down with her in bed, reminding her to be still or close her eyes as needed, until she fell asleep. When that was ineffective for a short time, she was allowed to "read" books in her bed during nap time, until I called her to come downstairs. At some point, she starting napping again. At almost 4 years old, she still naps for 2 hrs every day.

[RedheadbyChoice]

I don't mean to be terribly bitchy, but just because you are a SAHM doesn't mean that DH gets a pass on the night time parenting. Sure, the SAHM tends to have more down time during the day (snort, some days!) but he doesn't just get to check out on the parenting issue at night. Your rest is valuable as well, sugar, no more than his.

[TayNRobbiesMom]

LOL, would you mind calling and reminding him of that as a matter of fact, he woke this morning to say "how the hell did we end up like this? (meaning 2.5 yo in bed w/ him, me and Ds asleep in a chair in his room). "i had no idea any of this went on til i woke up this morning and realized it was Taylor sleeping on my arm and NOT you!"

I could have STRANGLED him...grrr

[RedheadbyChoice]

Do you mind DD in bed with you? If you do, I wouldn't worry about it. If you do, though, or DH does, then he's going to need to step up to the plate and help out a bit. That could be taking DD back to her bed, sleeping with her elsewhere, or rocking her to help parent her back to sleep.

It's not safe for you and DS to be cosleeping in a chair, though, momma. If there's not enough room in the bed with DH and DD, then something needs to change....a chair just isn't safe for you and babe.

[SingingMom]

I'm with Red again.

DH should be helping out. And when you get yours going, come and help me with mine. He says he'll help at night, and then he turns into the grumpiest bastard during the day. So it's easier to handle nights myself, grrr.

Some kiddos have a really hard time settling down for naps. (One book I read suggested that this is often a trait of really bright children- FWIW, at least it's a bright spot, right?)

So for those kids, some need a really rigid nap routine. Soothing music, lights out, book time, whatever works for you and her. I try not to fight with my kids over sleep issues, so I'll let them "play" in bed at naptime and they usually fall asleep pretty happily. Or they have a little stack of books they read in bed. Same deal.

But some of my kids can and will keep themselves awake. If they're willing to read quietly in bed for an hour, I'll go with it.

Remember, too, momma, that this may be temporary. Maybe your kiddo has something physically bothering her- a slightly runny nose or something. Sometimes these nap disturbances are an early sign that a kid is growing or coming down with something.

So maybe tire her out as much as you can and see if she'll settle. Good luck!