my son is two and doesn't take naps?

Question

he hasn't taken naps for awhile, he wakes up around 9 am and if we are in the car around 1 he falls asleep, if he are at home he is awake until 8:30 9 pm. He refuses to take a nap, he has separation anxiety, but a lot less from before. He just screams and cries, and we had his sister in march when he was 17 months he stll didn't sleep then, but I can't deal with him and then try to take care of the baby ( it takes about an hour to get him to sleep) I tried to dim everything and it doesn't work, should I just let him be? He is not tired at all, and runs around plays a lot, and has a normal childhood, is this okay? Is there any other people with children at 2 that do this?

i've tried almost everything, even laying with him, I can't catch a break

Answer 1

None of my boys have been keen on Nap Time. My 2nd son stopped napping just past his first birthday, he just didn't want or need them, was busy playing or looking at books and went to bed well because he had a full day. I also thought I was home free this year as my four year old was starting Junior Kindergarden in the afternoons and I might get some things done while my youngest, who turned two in August, had at least an hours nap. Wrong Again! He's also "Scrapped the Nap" as he is just too active to sleep. I figure as long as he's not wreaking complete havoc I'm not going to stress about it. At bedtime he goes to sleep great too. I encourage them to do "quieter" things in the afternoon which they will usually go for as opposed to everyone getting upset over their reluctance to lay down. The way I figure it, you can't force them to sleep if they are just not tired. ;)

Answer 2

All kids are different. Both my kids stopped at about 17 months. And now that they are 6 & 8 they have heaps of energy and can have the occasional late night without getting moody etc. So it's a good thing. I have a friend who can still get her 5 year and 7 year olds to have a sleep on the weekend etc... and if they are tired they are sooo moody and wingy. I prefer my kids anyday. My 2 are 15 months apart so i know how you feel because I have no family where I live so I didn't get a break until my first one started 2 days a week at pre-school at 3 years old!

Answer 3

My boys gave up naps early too. My daughter needed a nap in kindergarten.

With my boys we had what we called a rest time.....they layed in their bed, with books and maybe even some music playing and a couple of favorite toys. Leave the door open so he doesn't worry that you are gone.

Encourage your son to close his eyes and rest them . He just might ocassionally take a nap. Set a timer or alarm in his room to tell him when to get up. This is a quiet time. And even if he lays with you he needs to let you have a quiet time. He he is'nt quiet then he has a consquence. Two year olds are major manilupators. Even if you put a blanket on the family room floor, so he isn't off in his room, he needs to pertend to be camping and can't get off the rug. Make sure he has a sip of water before he lays down. Stand firm on your boundries with him/

You all need the rest.

Good luck

Answer 4

I asked a similar query the different day - I actual have a daughter that grew to become 2 on New 12 months's Eve and abruptly she stopped taking naps. the final consensus grew to become into many little ones end taking naps at this age and it particularly is totally regularly occurring. you ought to continuously lay him down and if he would not doze off interior 40 5 minutes or so a minimum of he have been given a relax. he will make up for it at night time. My daughter is taking a snooze approximately 0.5 of the time now. whilst she would not nap, she actual sleeps extra helpful at night and for an prolonged time.

Answer 5

My kids are 18 months apart and I had the same problem with my daughter. I put her on a routine. Give a warm bath with Johnsons and Johnsons Lavender Baby bath. It works wonders for calming them. Plus give him the big boy talk they understand this believe it or not, all kids have the instinct of wanting to be the big kid. One other thing that I learned was that try to give them a little alone time with you because he may just be wanting some mommy time and I know it is difficult when you have a baby. Find a movie or cartoon that they like and put it in after giving them a bath make sure it is something that will keep him glued to the tv and calm. Hope something here will help

Answer 6

have you tried a bed time routine? it may take a little while for him to get used to but if your strong he'll settle down alot earlier than 9pm you and your hubby need some quality time this will help when your little girl is older too. It's as simple as dinner, then a big deep bath lots of bubbles and fun, then from then on it's calm time (no TV maybe soothing music) cuddles on the sofa warm drink couple of stories when he's nice and calm off to his bed room read a couple more books night light on hopefully sleep. if he gets out of bed just say bed time and put him in bed be nice and calm you will have to have a strong will and may have to put him in bed 25/30X's but once he knows your not going to give in he'll fall asleep (and yes they will be lots of tears) but once you get the routine going you should get him a bed asleep for 7 if you do it now with your daughter hey an evening for what you want to do, he may not sleep during the day as he's getting all his sleep at nite time which should be around 14h a day kids love feeling secure and loved the best way is to have a routine and lots of boundaries start now and you'll have very happy kids i promise i've been a nanny for yrs GOOD LUCK

Answer 7

My son didn't nap at two either, and was fine with it, but when he started going to care at age three, he began napping then with the rest of the group and now he really does need it, he is very cranky without it. It's just that he's even busier now than he used to be. I still can't get him to nap on the days when he is home with me though, and I wish I could. But you can't force a child to sleep, unfortunately. So I suggest unless he is obviously exhausted at afternoon time, then he's fine and let him be for now.

Answer 8

I have a little sister who is three and she hasn't taken naps since she was a little over a year...she would take them when she was two only if someone would lay with her, but she seems to be just fine now...He knows when he is tired and he will sleep eventually.

Answer 9

I thought I was the only one!!! My daughter does this too. She will be 2 in January, I found a trick though....it's all about the timing. If I miss that small window where she will go down, then she wont go down at all. As soon as she makes her afternoon poopie it's bedtime! If I don't put her down immediately after that, she wont sleep. You know they do say kids that don't sleep as much during the day are smarter. :)

Answer 10

Many kids stop at 2 or even before. My kids didnt nap at that age either.