DS out of control at nap- OMG!

[jojosmommy]

My own son is terrible at nap. He wont nap, wont stay in his bed, wont stay in his room, wont even stay quiet with "nap boxes"- quiet non stimulating nap time activities. He was sneaking out to go potty. Now potty is in his room so he has other excuses to sneak. This is really my only time to place ads, return calls, research my DD food issues etc. Not negotiable.

SO, do I put him in bed, rinse and repeat over and over again until he gets it or what else do I do? My DH says to take away all his toys in his room, or remove all treats until he shapes up at nap. I am ready to do that if necessary. We are a very firm household and this nonsense is making everyone crazy.

He needs to nap, cries ALOT when he doesnt nap. This has been an issue for more than just a little bit BUT has gone from irritating to down right naughty for about two weeks.

Should I put him on a cot in the dc room so that he can't play me for a fool?
Should I do that in the office so that I can keep one eye on him?

I feel like he is better than this and needs to get the point.

[Blackcat31]

How old is he?

I hate to say this but I think you are right about the rinse and repeat until he knows you mean business. Usually that is the ONLY way to get the head strong ones to do what you say.

[cheerfuldom]

you know he needs a nap so really, it doesnt matter how old he is. you are the mom, it is up to you to decide what is best for him and not give up just because he is being difficult right now. its going to take awhile to get back on track now that he has developed a bad habit.

what are your options of places for him to sleep? can he sleep in his own room alone with no other kids in the room? If so, i would remove all distractions and not give him an option to leave the room (gate at the door or close the bedroom door). you can put a small potty in there for his use unless you think he would make a mess with that.

other than that, i would not offer any other alternative but to lay down and go to sleep. it could be a full week of sitting outside his room and making him get back in bed 100 times before he gives up.

sorry, no easy solution here.

[jojosmommy]

Hes 3. I dont so much mind him resting quietly but his behavior later tells me he needs a nap.

And right now he isnt resting quietly anyway. Its the obvious diaregard for others napping which is making me the most crazy. He has no toys in his room now.

[DCBlessings27]

My dd had a few problems with nap. She had been napping in her room while the other kids napped in the living room together. My dd started napping again once I let her nap with the other kids. She apparently just wanted to be like her friends.

If the no toys approach doesn't work, then I would definitely do the rinse and repeat option. I'm finding age 3 to be a difficult age, and we're working to crack down on the attitude and disobedience. It doesn't help that 3 of my 5 daycare kids are 3. They all seem to be in a disobedience stage right now.

[CrayolaKids]

My ds was the same way and we did the bedtime technique of putting them back to bed without saying a word until they stayed there and understood that when it is naptime/bedtime, you stay in the bed and go to sleep. It only took a few days of this rinse and repeat routine (with each time getting better and better) for him to realize that I meant business and he now sleeps like a dream! He is almost 3 and generally sleeps for 2 1/2 - 3 hours happyface. In all reality, though, it is your child and if doing this doesn't feel right to you then try something else. It definitely isn't easy to listen to the cries for mommy, but I knew in the long run this was the best thing for him. Good luck in whatever you choose!

[jojosmommy]

My dd had a few problems with nap. She had been napping in her room while the other kids napped in the living room together. My dd started napping again once I let her nap with the other kids. She apparently just wanted to be like her friends.

If the no toys approach doesn't work, then I would definitely do the rinse and repeat option. I'm finding age 3 to be a difficult age, and we're working to crack down on the attitude and disobedience. It doesn't help that 3 of my 5 daycare kids are 3. They all seem to be in a disobedience stage right now.

I thought about this. I am tempted to have him nap with the other kids just so he has a better understanding that he isn't missing anything and that they too are resting quiet if they choose not to nap.

I do think that all the "special" I have afforded him- treating him NOT like a daycare kid may have contributed to this attitude of "I do what I want". I think a reality check is in order. He will be a daycare kid for the entire next week and we will see if that reminds him that fair isn't always fun.

And he did actually nap an hour and a half. After everyone else woke up due to his antics. I just kept putting him back in and back in and... finally he got the point. I think he can tell when I am busy and he plays that for all its worth. Daddy did give him an early bedtime tonight and "mom is too exhausted tonight to read you an extra story. Tomorrow if you are the helper we know you can be she will probably have a lot more energy for extra reading "

[cheerfuldom]

I thought about this. I am tempted to have him nap with the other kids just so he has a better understanding that he isn't missing anything and that they too are resting quiet if they choose not to nap.

I do think that all the "special" I have afforded him- treating him NOT like a daycare kid may have contributed to this attitude of "I do what I want". I think a reality check is in order. He will be a daycare kid for the entire next week and we will see if that reminds him that fair isn't always fun.

And he did actually nap an hour and a half. After everyone else woke up due to his antics. I just kept putting him back in and back in and... finally he got the point. I think he can tell when I am busy and he plays that for all its worth. Daddy did give him an early bedtime tonight and "mom is too exhausted tonight to read you an extra story. Tomorrow if you are the helper we know you can be she will probably have a lot more energy for extra reading "

hope things get better! have you considered the rest of his day? is he getting enough active time to get him worn out in time for nap? is he having some sort of wind down time before getting tucked in? any other parts of his routine that might have changed recently?

i do agree though that sometimes our kids do see how distracted we get with the number of kids in the house and then take advantage of that.