when did yours drop day sleeps?

[TwoBlue]

Hi all

Samuel (just 2) has only recently moved into the big bed due to "cot escape"
He has always had a good day sleep but since in his big bed no matter how many times i go back in to him he wont go to sleep in the day... night times has been no issue.

Is he dropping his sleep or do i just need to persevere?

Any tips to get him to go to sleep in the day?

What is a normal age to drop the day sleep?

When did yours drop their day sleep?

and finally What on earth do i do with him ALL DAY !! :o

Any advise is appreciated
Thanks guys :hugs:

[the_queen]

Hi Tracey!

Mine didn't drop hers until she was nearly 4, I orchestrated it because she was about to start kindy (afternoon session - and her nap was always in the afternoon). But each child is different, yours may well be getting plenty of sleep overnight.

To get him to sleep in the day, you could try taking him to the park/playground etc, and tire him out. Or take him for a big walk around the block or something like that. Some kind of activity where he's using heaps of energy.

What to do with him all day :D have you ever had any involvement in childcare etc? I say that because, that's where I get my idea's of what to do with Vallerie. I studied child care a bit before she was born, and I've worked in child care in the past too. So I just kinda look at our day from that perspective. Painting, playdo, chalk drawing, story time, music time (better known as: Put a hi-5 cd on and mum gets to flop on the couch while kid dances), visit to the library (ours has a story time once a week), help mum get lunch ready and then take it outside to have a picnic. Etc etc etc. I can't think of much more off the top of my head. Kids thrive on structure and routine (I'm sure you already know that!) so just get into an "activity routine" every day.

This age is so fantastic, they're no longer babies but not quite "kids". Have fun!! :thumbsup:

[cwsmum]

My DS hasn't had regular day sleeps since he was about 18mths old. The days he is at daycare he has a sleep when the other kids do. He will sometimes have one at home, if he has been playing outside all morning, but it is often too hot for that...or raining like today...If he isn't tired enough to sleep I usually just get him to lay on the couch and watch a dvd, usually Nemo :rolleyes: That doesn't always work tho, he is ment ot be doing that now but instead he has decided to go outside and play in the rain...oh well, at least he'll sleep well tonight.

All the other things I was going to suggest have already been said...I have DS toys packed into small-ish boxes and only have a few out where he can play with them. Every few days - week I swap them around, there is always something he hasn't played with for a few weeks that keeps his interest for longer than 2mins.

Oh, forgot one thing DS has always loved is cooking :) I have a really easy choc biccie recipe and DS gets to put sprinkles, smarties, etc on the tops of some before we cook them.

[Chickadee]

We also moved Chloe into a big bed just after she turned 2, and she immediately started resisting her afternoon nap. She hasn't dropped it totally, in part because she'll sleep with the others at daycare, but when she's home for the day she often won't have a nap. I do try to get her exhausted with play in the mornings but if I don't get the timing of her nap just right then she seems to get a 2nd wind and won't sleep.

You could try laying down with Sam or sitting in the doorway of his room at naptime, but if you start that it might become a necessary thing for nighttime as well.

If Chloe won't sleep at all then she'll have a quiet time for 45min to an hour. Usually she sits on her bed with a pile of books and looks at them by herself or reads to her dolly. Very occassionally she will fall asleep on the pile :rolleyes: Sam may not be that interested in books but maybe another quiet activity he can do on his own? If all else fails I put a DVD on for her and she'll lay down on the couch for a while.

Keeping him busy... Chloe loves her sandbox and will happily play in it though she wants mum or dad to play too. Water stuff is always a hit - washing plastic dishes or toys, a wading pool, watering the flowers, painting the house with water, etc. Every week or so I find a new park to take Chloe to, usually somewhere on the way to or from shopping. Just having new equipment and surroundings gives her a bit more interest. Maybe there is a toy library near you where you could find a new thing for him each week?