Putting My 15 Month Old down for Naps

My daughter is 16 months now and stopped letting me put her to sleep when she was 12 months. I used to rock her to sleep an just one day she was pushing me away and dove in her crib. The only way for her to sleep now is on her own. The car doesn't even put her to sleep! So I agree with the other moms, just put him down in the crib an let him learn to put himself to sleep. My daughter sleeps with her fan on, she won't sleep without it on. So whatever will help him fall asleep I would use!! Good luck!!

Oh my goodness... i was in your same exact position with my first toddler. I can't tell you how many miles I drove to get her to nap during weekends, until i finally realized she napped just fine for daycare. I finally got so fed up I put my foot down and in my most serious voice told her she WAS taking a nap, and that was it. The first 2 days she tested me pretty fiercely. And then magically she gave up. Then I kicked myself in the butt for the next month for being so silly as to drive her around to sleep when all i had to do was be firm with her. HOPEFULLY this approach might work for you. If not, could I recommend some good books on tape or language lessons on tape for your 4 year old to enjoy? (seriously, no joking!) It's a very tough thing to endure but eventually you will find your solution.

Don't create that habit of him needed someone to always rock him to sleep. You have to give him the confidence that he can put himself to sleep when he is tired. That way if someone babysits him, it'll be easier for someone else to put him down.
With me second child I learned to establish a strick nap time and now he is 23 months and he loves to go to sleep when he is tired. There are sometimes i will notice that my son is really quiet, and i'll check in his room and he will be asleep in his bed.
When it's nap time, tell him "ok hunny, it's time for you to take a nap, your getting tired", put him in his bed, give him kisses, tell him you love him and leave. He most likely will cry the first couple of days untill he realizes this is nap time and mommy is not going to get me. Allow him to cry for 15 minutes , check on him and tell him again, it's nap time you need to go night night, and that you are going to be alright and mommy loves you. Then allow him to cry.It will get easier with much patience. Try keeping yourself busy, like doing the dishes, if you sit there and listen to your child cry, you will want to give in. Remember, crying is normal ecspecially if they are tired.
Also try and see if you can get him a blanky or a stuffed animal that he likes to give him the comfort he is looking for. My son was breast fed also and I gave him a blanket and always laid him down with it and he grew to love it, which made up for the comfort he looked for in breastfeeding.
You can get through this, just stay consistant and be strong!

I agree with the other mamas about just putting him in his crib with some soft music and tell him nite nite softly. He will sleep:) He may give you a good testing, but he will do it. Now I do remember that I would try to plan my outings or errands around nap time with my first son, so if you need to go grocery shopping, I see no prob with doing at a time you know he will be sleepy when you leave, but I wouldn't make it the rule to put him to sleep. Good luck!!

Do you have a similar sleeping routine for his nap as bedtime (minus the feeding)? That may work otherwise I recommend you check out these suggestions:

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/search/nap?utm_campaign=the...

Try everything that works. At this age my son, was so tired he would take a nap.............that is until he turned 22 months. He rarely takes a nap now. Ugh.
So now, I have to try different measures: drive etc.
But at your babies age maybe just putting him down in his crib and sit in this room with him for a moment with a book for yourself.
At that age he would fall asleep easily in his pack n play (I made it a different place for naps than for going down to bed which is in his crib.)
At his age he should be tired. Hang in there and try EVERYTHING. :)

My baby wouldn't take naps. I started just laying him in his crib at nap times. If he cried, I'd get him after a few minutes of fussing. I'd do this every day. Soon he'd fuss slightly and go to sleep. Then he'd start napping longer and longer. Today, he took two naps. It was a step by step process to teach him how to nap. He's six months old now. Good luck!!

What I would do is get him really tired by doing some exercise (age appropiate). You could also get on those little gyms and go to a mommy and me class. My daughter and I go in the morning and she falls asleep in the car and when we get home I just put her in her bed or even in the sofa for her nap. Or just go outside and go for a walk and see if he gets tired, he even might fall asleep on his own.

you're the only one who can change this....so it's up to you to be firm & in charge. Use soft music, dim or no lights, a fav blankie.....& walk away. It's hard, but if you stand firm...in a couple of days - - hopefully, all will be good.