Twins Will Not Nap

N.,

Do they have Pack-N-Plays at grandma's house? My Brycie would NOT nap when we were away from home (or go to sleep for the night, for that matter) until we got an extra Pack-N-Play to carry with us. He was "trapped", he got bored and took his nap.

Best wishes,
B.

My daughter did this same thing around that age. She's 3 1/2 now and does not nap while my 6y.o. boy napped until the day he went to kindergarten. I got tired of the struggle of getting her to sleep and just moved her bedtime from 9pm to 7 or 7:30 (which is conveniently when her brother goes to sleep). It's really nice to have some kid-free time in the evening. As for falling asleep in the car, she did that too and it seemed like we couldn't go anywhere in the afternoons for awhile. If we just HAD to I would bring along a snack and something super fun for her to play w/ in the car. You might have to get creative but imo it's easier than the fight of getting them to sleep at naptime. Oh, and they might be little hellions in the evenings if you choose this route! But they'll sure fall asleep fast at bedtime!
Good luck!

Hi N.,
I had this problem with my daughter (now 4). I would suggest doing an activity early in the morning, like running around at the park to tire them out. I also had to put a child cover on the inside of my daughter's door handle to keep her in her room at their age (her room was very baby proof). She figured out quickly she couldn't get out and would take a nap. My children have napped until the age of 4-5.

My 3 yr old twins stopped napping after we switched them out of their cribs. Now we put up the gate so they can't get out. Still they were not cooperative so I got black-out curtains. That has worked pretty good but still sometimes they won't sleep. I just make them stay in there anyway until it is time to "get up". Good luck!

i have twin girls meagan and morgan that are 7 so im speakin from experience and i feel your pain...i worked at at&t almost 10 years and my mom helped alot with the twins, she wanted to and tried hard, it got to be stressful,my mom had a slight stroke, the drs said she couldn't keep them because it was too much and she was jus gettin older...luckily she fully recovered because i wouldve felt so guilty...i tried a couple of other baby sitters but i never felt comfortable so eventually i quit...now im a school teacher because it allows me to"grab this bull by the horns:-)"after i quit i began to enjoy being a mom...our mothers want the best for us but its alot on them...u need help...theres a few diff solutions but u have to go with your heart...i dont know ur situation but they may never go back to napping, then what?is there family or daycare that can do 2 days a week n mom jus do 3 maybe those 2 rest days will help her. as soon as they turn 3 maybe u can start now gettin info on headstart/early childhood programs, theres alot that may be free...and i dont know the criteria but contact texas workforce for daycare assistance...its really not about the nappin its about the twins being a handful all day for your mom and my mom still puts up a fight when the twins spend time elsewhere or with the other granny so they dont give up easy but its for the better because if shes frustrated then you're frustrated its not good for the twins.

Hi N., I made up some little sacks that we called Nap Sacks that were to be played with only during quiet time. I told the twins they did not have to sleep but had to lie on their beds and play quietly. They had the opportunity to stay in the same room but diff beds as long as they were quiet, but if they started to laugh and get rowdy or active, they were separated. It was not presented as having a time out or punishment, but to continue having quiet time. I gave a small box of raisins, never candy, a book, a car, or handful of legos or such that when they played a bit and were still and quiet, would fall asleep. Of course a tired child is more likely to sleep than one who has been lying around all day watching movies etc. We ran and played outside, climbed at the park, a different activity, so that when it was time to rest, they were already tired. The napsacks had toys that were only played with during naptime so it maintained their interest. It always worked out better if the children were told that I didnt want them to sleep, just rest quietly. They nearly always slept because they were not fighting against sleeping. Reverse psychology in action. =) HTH

I used to work in day care and how we got the toddler to sleep was they napped on the floor (on mats or cots) and I put soothing music on and sat with them until they slept. Then I could clean up the lunch mess. IF I didn't just sit with them (and sometimes I needed to pat or rub their backs) then they didn't nap.

My girls are almost 7, almost 6, 4, 2 1/2. Only my 2 1/2 year old naps and I so wish that I could get the others to sleep too! Oh well. :)

S.

take all toys out of the room and use a baby gate to keep them in room. at a min they are getting quiet time. my 2 yr old daughter will play then get in bed and go to sleep.

You're not going to like hearing this...but my guys all gave up naps at about this time. They get up at around 7 or 8 and go to bed around 9. My current 2 1/2 year old is still napping, but it's getting harder to help him do this. The buggy or car ride isn't always working, and unless he's done something very physical like playing outside all morning, he too, doesn't want to go down until 4. He's up by dinner and follows a normal bedtime routine.

I'm trying to come up with a "quiet time routine" that I'd like to use with my older children as well. At summer camp my 11 year old had a time when they had to be in their bunks though they could read or write. I figure if the older ones do this, surely the little ones can stay in their beds with a bear or car or something. Maybe they'll doze off, but at least they'll have a rest. I'm going to try to have a story time at around 1:30, give a glass of water and then tuck everyone in quickly with something to do...(take a quiet time myself :) Wish me luck :) God's strength to your mom :) I've watched the Nanny just keep putting them back into bed. They are just trying to see if she really means for them to do this everyday. Just keep doing the same thing everyday in the same order and maybe it will become routine.

Hi N.
little ones that age still need a little nap- so I would have the person keeping them during the day to put them in different rooms if possible or seperate them somehow- give them a little book or toy to play with and tell them "do not get out of this bed" tell them- "you really don;t have to nap- just rest for a few minutes" I will tell you when a "few minutes are up" then you can get up and play some more......chance are they will fall asleep for a little while.
good luck and blessings.

If your mother wants to consider this, putting the twins in the car in their car seats and going for a drive will usually make them drop off to sleep! My cousin has twins, and this is the only way she gets some peace in the afternoons. She drives around till they drop off and they continue to sleep in the car for a little while when they get home!!!... Admittedly she lives in a cool climate, but it may be a solution...