We recently extended Lucas’ preschool hours from three hours each day, three days per week to six hours each day, three days per week. It has been four days so far with Spring Break in the middle.Β
Lucas will be three years old in June, he loves going to school, we felt he was ready and we are struggling with nap time at home. It’s bad, people!
Like most children, when Lucas doesn’t nap, he is a nightmare! A long afternoon becomes longer and dinner, bath and bedtime are dreadful. Lots of tears, kicking, screaming, you get the picture.
So, how is Lucas doing with nap time?
Wonderful, he was the first one asleep today!
Really?
And he slept for two hours.
Wow!
While I am pleased that Lucas is sleeping at school and I know at some point all children give up their naps, this conversation with Lucas’ preschool teacher made me insane seeing as we fight for him to rest on the days he doesn’t go to school. He goes so far as to tell me that he won’t nap HOURS before nap time. There is nothing more infuriating than a 2 1/2 year old bossypants.
I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I stick to the school schedule, give fair warning, lay down with him, read him dozens of books, rub his back, sing to him and then end up letting him cry it out, which I absolutely hate, so after about 8 minutes, I give up and we forgo nap. Again.
My husband likes to joke and say Lucas won’t nap for me because he likes me too much.
That just can’t be true.
Any advice?
Please!
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I have no advice because I have the same problem. Except it is my husband they will sleep for and not me!! I gave up. Now we have quiet time. They are to play upstairs without coming down for one hour every day. This way I get a break and don’t loose my temper by suppertime.
We also do quiet time on days when naps don’t happen…except here it’s 90 minutes
Fortunately, Monkey does nap, for at least 90 minutes to 2 hours. He’s a creature of habit (just like his Mama!), so he’ll nap when he’s told to. Though when I do it, I have to lay down with him, and he’s asleep in 10-15 minutes. When his dad puts him down for his nap on weekends, he walks out of the room after a minute! So yes, I like to think it’s because he likes me and likes cuddling π
As for advice, I don’t have any, Monkey has been on a once a day nap for a year – we just know he needs it and apparently so does he. Maybe you can ask Lucas’ teachers? Good luck!
We actually have the opposite problem. I have to pick J up 2 hours early and bring him home for naps. He refused to nap at school (too much going on I guess). So maybe be more boring like me! π
When I was a preschool teacher I would see the same things from the kids. They would nap at school, but never at home. I think the different environment and the constant activity had something to do with it.
Layla gave up naps months ago and she’s not 3 yet. She had other plans for her day. I have no advice for you but I can tell you I feel your pain.
Eddie still naps for us, but not NEARLY as long as he does at daycare. I really think it’s the “mob mentality” coupled with the exhaustion from playing with other kids.
I never want him to give up naps. Never ever.
We have the same problem! My little guy doesn’t like to nap with me, but will go down easily on weekends when the hubs is home. Maybe I’ve blurred the job of SAHM too much and he thinks I’m more of a buddy than an authority figure? sigh I love naps.
my children sleep for 2hours+ in daycare, on the weekends..NO GO, NO WAY (unless we put them in the car!!! then they are OUT) Put him in the car???
I always laugh when the teachers at school tell me what great sleepers my sons are, how good they are at getting themselves ready and putting themselves to sleep. HA I say….only for you.
good luck sweetie, I know it’s a battle, but eventually you’ll win. xxoo
Jake naps so much longer with me then with his parents. I honestly think it’s because we have this routine and he knows that with me, we have a pretty well laid out schedule with set times and everything. We never deviate from those nap times hours. Maybe that’s why… i don’t really know though…
Hank, at 5, still naps. There was a period of time around 3 when he went on a nap strike, but I persevered. I would use quiet time too. I would go through the same ritual (but I only read one book!) and leave the room. I would tell him he didn’t have to sleep, but I was setting the timer for 45 minutes for quiet time. Most days he would fall asleep. Now, he grabs his blanket after his one TV show after lunch and just heads upstairs.
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