My daughter who is just about 2 has always been a terrible sleeper. So in the early months of her life I was constantly exhausted and fell into a terrible habit. She naps on me...she will not nap in her crib. I've tried a few times to just let her cry in her crib for nap time & sometimes she would eventually fall asleep but for the most part I just gave in because it was easier & I was so tired.
So I'm wondering if she is too old at this point to get her into her crib for nap time. Even now she isn't sleeping throughout the night so it's definitely easier for me to just take that time to relax. But it would be nice to have that time to myself.
Can you lay with her in your bed or on the couch until she falls asleep then sneak away? It's never too late to work on something, it just might mean more work. She is in a routine, so it will just take work to break the routine, if that's what you really want to do.
I agree with the sleeping on a couch or bed beside her. That is how I put my 2 year old son down for naps, gives me a little relaxation time (or a short nap), and when I wake up, I can go do things while he is still napping.
Get her in her crib!!! If you don't work on this now, it will just get worse and will start affecting your marriage too!!!!
It takes 3 days to form a "bad" habit and it takes 3 weeks to break it. So you need to be commited for the long haul. Don't send mixed messages because it just makes the child more aggitated - stick with your plan. The Ferber method works great, but you may need to step into the backyard at times to take a break from hearing her cry. This hurts as a mom, but it actually hurts us more than our children. I found that a "lovey" like a blanket or stuffed animal slated just for sleep time should be given to the child at nap and bedtime - this is your signal to them that it's sleep time. Plus it helps sooth them..
Good Luck and stay strong.
How about trying a toddler bed? It might be the crib she doesn't like. I got one for my daughter at about 20 months, she loves it. She is 2 1/2 now, and even if she doesn't go to sleep right away she stays in bed. It probably won't solve all the sleep problems, but it's certainly worth thinking about.
I did the same for my daughter. She napped on my chest. I took my time and transitioned her in stages. I'd let her fall asleep then roll her off and snuggle with her so she could feel I was just there. Sometimes she would wake up, but I was right there so she'd fall asleep after some reassurance. Then I started her laying on the bed with me snuggling. Then it was holding her hand. It takes time, but it worked for us. There weren't any tears. I'd keep her company, reading or catching up on movies. More times than not, I napped with her. Honestly, that little pick-me-up really helped me get through the rest of the day.
maybe you could let her nap in your bed or a big girl bed and tell her she can hold your hand while she falls asleep. then you can attempt to leave by letting go of her hand instead of taking her off you. i do this with my 2 and 4 year old:) good luck naps can be such a tough go sometimes.
