Naptime

Try a naptime routine that is similar to a bedtime routine. It doesn't have to be extensive, just consistent. My 2 year old daughter has a cup of milk while we watch an episode of Teletubbies (they actually make me a bit sleepy!) sitting on the couch togther. I'm not crazy about watching lots of tv, but they're calming and it keeps her in one spot for 30 mins. After that it is diaper change and in bed.

Give the little guy some cues and tell him naptime is coming. If he gets into a routine, he'll get used to sleeping/napping at your house.

Good luck!

Any way possible to put him in a sling and carry him around until he falls asleep? My 20 month old, when he's fighting sleep will sleep once he's been in his sling for about 10-15 minutes. Then I can lay him down and he can rest and I get a small break!

I agree with whoever said you should try to mimic his nighttime routine. Speak to his parents.

DO NOT let the child cry without speaking to his parents to see if they are ok with that. If I found out my daycare provider did that without talking to me about it, I would yank my child from their care in 2 seconds flat!

This is a new experience for the little guy, so he's going to have to change some habits. Dumping him alone in a strange room to cry for 15 minutes at a time is not the best solution, IMO! You'll need to work with him to ease him into this new situation.

A.,

I have a 19 month old and I also watch a 19 month old on occasion for a friend. This is what I do...I change her diaper, dim the lights, put her in her pack-n-play, and tell her it is time to sleep. Sometimes she cries and I can hear her standing up and jumping, so I just go back in, lay her down, and firmly say it is time to sleep. Sometimes she screams for 30 minutes, and sometimes she goes right to sleep, but she knows who is boss.

My daughter is used to a sound machine so I just turn that on and she is conditioned to know it is time to sleep. I think that you may have a rough week or even two, but eventually this little baby will understand how you expect naptime to go at your house, and act accordingly. Be patient and firm and he will get it. I don't recommend rocking him or holding him to get him to sleep...that is not something you want to be doing all the time...just get him used to falling asleep on his own now, and you'll be glad you did.

D.

Hi A.,
I used to watch children in my home, too. You said that you can't always go for walks, but could you rock him in the stroller in your house? I have learned how to rock my son's stroller with my foot so that my hands are free to get things done (work on my laptop, cook dinner, etc). Some strollers allow you to lock the front wheels which makes it easier to rock it back and forth. I would be reluctant to let him cry it out for 2 reasons. First of all, it should be discussed with the parents beforehand - some people are totally against it! Second, would letting him cry affect your own baby? We can't let our son CIO for naps because the 5 or 6 times that we did, he screamed for over an hour, then napped for only 15 minutes, leaving us with a more tired, more cranky baby. Will excessive screaming upset your baby? You mentioned that he won't snuggle with you, but if he's used to falling asleep in a carseat (alone), then maybe snuggling isn't for him. You also said that this was how the grandma got him to nap. I would assume that on the weekends he is home with his parents - did they tell you how he normally naps at home? I would definitely discuss things with them, because they could be at their wits end taking an exhausted, cranky kid home with them everyday. Whatever you decide, best of luck to you! And congratulations on your new baby!

I would suggest keeping him awake all day

he should fall asleep early

then tomorrow put him for a nap at 1130-12pm

Carry him to the room and say OK your tired time to go to sleep

Put him in the play pen with a pacifier.or a bottle

he will cry, but thats ok, after 15 minutes, go in and don't talk, hug him, kiss him and lay him back down again.

Leave the room

and in 20 minutes return to the room if he still isn't asleep

again kiss and hug him, and lay him back down to sleep.

Eventually he will fall asleep.

I have never known a child to cry for more than an hour LOL

when he awakens hug him , kiss him and say what a good boy he is. ask if he had a good nap.

repeat this step the following day,

I would say he should accept this routine in less than a week

M