[veggiepatchfamil...]

DS 1 stopped napping just after 2 years, it started by having all sorts of problems getting him to sleep then we found when he didn't nap he started sleeping through the night, so we were happy to let it go.
Now he will only ever sleep in the car in the arvo if his very tired.

His behavior is getting worse (I know its probably just terrible/hideous threes) but I also think he is tired.
Has anyone ever successfully got their non napping child to nap again? Did it help them?
If so, how?

I tried to talk to him about it this afternoon and said his been tired/grumpy/sad and I thought if he had a little rest he might feel happier but he just clenched his fists, stomped his foot and said 'no thanks mummy!'

TIA

EFS

This post has been edited by veggiepatchfamily: 21/01/2013, 12:17 PM

[dejoey]

I'm in a similar situation. She needs a sleep I think, but if she does now she is awake to all hours. I had a lot of trouble getting the day sleep in last year, with half day kindergarten, school drop off and pick up etc. I thought I would just ride that out and begin again in 6 months (now). It is not working for me, so am interested in the replies you get.

[lozoodle]

Yes I did. DD2 didn't nap for a few months when she was about 2.5 because it was just getting impossible to get her down. In hindsight I think if I'd persisted it would have been fine but I had a baby as well and just couldn't be bothered with the battles.

The thing I noticed was she was grumpy and a pain in the bum (overtired) and her night sleep was also really restless.

I reintroduced the nap and have her go down by 10/11am (we get up at 6am usually) and make sure she is up no later than 2pm (she's usually awake by 12/1 and then we have lunch). Its worked really well, she is so much happier and she also goes to bed a lot easier of a night time, around 8pm at the moment (though would go earlier if I got my act together sooner and got the girls bathed etc in time). But her night sleep has improved massively now, she is no longer restless of a night and the only time she gets up at night now is if she needs to go to the toilet.

I would most definitely recommend trying to bring it back. I'm happy for her to stay up all day but if she's up and miserable and cranky and tantrumy and tired, that is a sign that she still needs it in my opinion. She is now 4 y 1 m and still naps.

The key for us was keeping the nap, but moving it a little earlier in the day and making sure she was getting up earlier too.

This post has been edited by lozoodle: 21/01/2013, 12:24 PM