3 year olds & naps | ExpatWoman.com
 

3 year olds & naps

169
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 March 2011 - 20:31

Hi

I have a 3 year old who for the past couple of weeks has refused his daytime nap. By about 3pm he gets so grumpy and it deteriorates further from there and I seem to spend most afternoons dealing with tantrums. He just gets so overtired.

It has really affected his mood that he does things that I abhor - hitting/pushing other kids, throwing things in a temper etc -which he has never ever done previous to all this. I feel it is also affecting my relationship with him right now as it is a constant battle and it is getting both of us down.

Does anyone have any experience trying to encourage napping at this age? Any techniques? Or maybe just one-on-one quiet time routines?

Thanks in advance from a frazzled Mom!

169
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 13:59
Thanks everyone for your advice. I am pleased to say that at this very moment my little guy is fast asleep! Talked to him about quiet time every day, which means resting in his room or reading books in his room. Anyway, after a few attempts and me suggesting we lay down together, he nodded off (and so did I!). Hopefully we can keep the momentum...
426
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 March 2011 - 01:57
When DS insisted on dropping his daytime nap we had to make bedtime much earlier to avoid afternoon meltdowns. If I know he's going to have a late night I give him plenty of advance warning that he'll be going for a nap which seems to do the trick (along with the threat of withdrawing the afternoon activities if he makes a fuss and doesn't sleep ;)). <em>edited by BrownEyedGirl on 31/03/2011</em>
183
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 March 2011 - 22:11
We're sort of going through this just now with my 2.5yr DD, she resists her naps but gets grumpy late afternoon and can be a nightmare to deal with. What I've been doing is still putting her down to bed, read her a story and she usually takes the book into bed with her and as I leave the room she is usually lying down 'reading' the book to her teddy. Some days she will eventually fall asleep and other days she just chatters away to herself. About 75% of the time she does fall asleep though might take a good 30mins of chatter but I don't go back into the room unless she is crying. On the days where she doesn't sleep she is ready for night time bed a little bit earlier but doesn't get as grumpy so I reckon her just having some time out in a quiet, darkened room must give her some rest. I try not to do anything too noisy during this time (hoovering etc) so that she isn't thinking that there is more exciting stuff happening in the house :)
743
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EW GURU
Latest post on 30 March 2011 - 21:31
I agree with the quiet time in their room. More times that not my 3 yr old was passed out when I went to check on him.
357
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 March 2011 - 20:45
Hi redleaf, My daughter stopped napping at 18 months, but then again she did get a long night's sleep (12-14 hours). How long is your son sleeping at night? Does he wake naturally in the morning or do you wake him? Perhaps if he sleeps later he will be able to skip the nap without grumpiness. Friends of mine in similar situations have used a mandatory "quiet time" ("you don't have to sleep but you have to lie down with a book or cuddly toy for a little while after lunch")... during which the child may or may not nod off. Soft music and parental cuddle could be added as well. I think sometimes they don't want to miss what is going on in the daytime while they nap (that was definitely the case with mine)-- the quiet time can show them that nothing is going on anyway, so it's OK to have a sleep. Could be a good test to see if he still needs the nap. Good luck!
 
 

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