For the past month, it's been difficult to put DD down for a nap. She will be two in March so I'm guessing she might be needing shorter naps. The routine is have some milk and then rock her to sleep. Lately, she's been very squirmy, talkative, etc., all signs of wanting to stay awake. I feel that forcing it is more exhausting than anything else. Today it took 40 minutes, so I just took her out and am going to see what happens.
Could her naps be ending and is it worth the struggle of squirming for 30 minutes? I'm pooped and also am having a very bad period day :-)
I would cut out the milk and rocking. I just put my 17 mo old in the crib and leave the room. She usually squirms, wiggles, and babbles until she falls asleep. Sometimes it's 1 minute and other times it's 10. Either way, she gets to sleep on her own.
Kids go through lots of phases. I doubt this is the end of naps for her, so you might try some new things to get her to sleep before you give up. There's nothing wrong with rocking your toddler. Your days of her wanting you to rock her are short-lived, so enjoy it. I still rock my 25 month old to sleep at nap time and night and did the same thing with my older 2 until they were just past 2. They both eventually preferred to lie down in their bed with me nearby for naps before not needing my presence at all. You might try reading to her after you give her milk. My youngest loves 4 or 5 short books before he is ready to sleep. You also might try music while you are rocking as it also relaxes them. I sing to my kids, but if you don't feel up to it, you might try a calming CD. I understand your frustration for I have experienced difficulty with all 3 of my kids getting them to nap or sleep at night. The older 2 are now 3 1/2 and 6 1/2 and they are so easy to put to bed now. This too will pass....I promise. Remember, the days are long, but the years are so short.
Put her down without the milk and rocking, darken the room, close the door and leave. If she needs something to drink give her water in a sippy. She needs to learn to go to sleep on her own. And even if she doesn't go to sleep have a rule that she stays in her bed quietly for an hour, and 9 times out of 10 she will probably go to sleep. And lay down yourself while she's in her room ; )
I am not a fan of the rocking /snuggling a child to sleep. I totally get why we as Momma's want to, but for the kids I say dont' do it...my experience is as a daycare provider..and with my own child (who I will admit has loved to sleep since day one...add to it now being a teenager, I am lucky if she EVER gets out of bed!)
But at least for my daycare kidlets (right now I have 6 kids age 4 and under asleep in my house)...we eat lunch, change diapers/go potty (and the 10 mos old drinks his bottle while I get the others doing that..he holds it himslef and lays in a crib, lights on as we move around him). Then its everyone to their bed, very dark rooms with a radio on. Thats it. No discussion, no nuttin!
Everyone sleeps at least 90 minutes, but today is problaby a 3 hour day (we played out in the snow earlier).
Best wishes!
You could just give her quiet time in her crib. Instead of rocking her to sleep, rock her for 5-10 minutes and then put her in her crib with a couple of toys/books and leave. If she's tired she may fall asleep on her own. If she doesn't need to sleep she'll play quietly which will help her recharge and give you some quiet time.
