urghhh...
I cannot get my tired two year old to take a nap! Uuuugghhh! It's so frustrating.... I get her worn out playing outside, nurse my 11 week old, get all the diapers changed, lay everyone down for their naps and I have to keep getting up to discipline her. It's exhausting! After the third or fourth time of tying to take a nap myself I give up.
( Read more... )
2 year olds are so into their world and what's going on around them. They want to be part of everything that's going on so they don't want to close their eyes, even for a minute.
I think that because of that, spending a good 30 minutes or so winding down, (reading books, rocking together, singing soft songs), would really go a long way to helping her relax. If this is the same every day, she'll get used to the idea that she needs to wind down. It'll also give you some special quiet time with her alone.
The other thing that I've learned is that kids can get over tired and have a horrific time falling asleep. Their bodies don't know how to turn off at that point so they need a little help. Heck, I get that way sometimes.
But above everything else, you can't really force a kid to turn their body off and sleep. You can enforce quiet time and you can make sure that they're "resting", but you can't tell them they have to sleep and expect that they'll do it. They don't have that kind of control over their bodies.
I would be firm, but avoid making it a battleground. Tell her to stay in her bed, shut the door, and go out. Give her some books or quiet toys and tell her it's rest time. I think you might be surprised and she might sleep some days after all if you make it a non-issue.
And if she does, it's just a fact that some kids just grow out of naps everyday (though many continue with a few a week up until age 5 or so). Maybe expecting that she'll only nap a few times a week will help your stress level a bit.
I know she's probably a mess on the days she doesn't nap... but think back when you transitioned from two naps to one... those were rough days too, weren't they? And they pass. Put her to bed a bit early maybe, (for your sanity's sake).
I hope this helps a little... It all comes from reading and experience on my part. And trust me, there are LOTS of 2 year olds who don't nap... Just don't stress out about it and don't get frustrated as much as you can control... it may pass, or things just may be different now.
Either way, you're a great mommy and you have great little ones. :)
Reply
Leave a comment