Weaned Toddler Now Asking to Nurse, Won't Nap...

Probably not the answer you're looking for, but is there a reason you can't let her nurse for a nap? I've let all mine (I have six) wean themselves when they were ready. As it is, my 4 year old still wants to nurse for naptimes and when she's sick/hurt. Of course, I'm also nursing my 18 month old.

Naps are extremely important for young children (even my 7 y/o still takes the occasional nap). If nursing is the only way to get her down right now, let her nurse. Tell her she can only nurse for 5-10 minutes, and then stick to that. Slowly cut that down by 30 seconds at a time until she isn't nursing anymore, but is just getting "cuddle time".

She's using you as a soother, or a lovey, so what I would do is replace the soothing behavior of nursing with something else. There's an empty "space" of need that still needs to be filled, so maybe a special physical lovey or a new behavior or both tied together can be added to her bed and nap routines. But you have to be firm and consistent about not allowing her to nurse any more. You can still soothe her in other ways, just not with your breasts. :-)

Don't give in to her. She can sit in her room for quiet time if she won't nap. She'll get back in the routine eventually. Transitional changes always make things a little off the first week or so. Instead of nursing, you can tell her she can have cuddle time.

Are you open at all to letting her nurse for her naps and only then? If not, then I would still lay her down and help her go to sleep. It sounds like she's used to you holding her. Can you rock her to sleep or lay by her until she goes to sleep? Then when she adjusts to that, you can start sitting next to her as she falls asleep, and then keep moving further away until she has it down? Transitions like this are tough! Good luck.

I weaned the last feeding of my 2-yr old by telling her that she could have "just a little bit." I would not let her on until she agreed that it would be "just a little bit." I would look at the clock and let her stay on for only 2 minutes, and then she knew she had to get off. Then after a few weeks, coincidentally, she caught a cold and because she was probably congested, she didn't ask for a quick nursing session. After 3 days passed, I knew we were totally done, and it was much easier to refuse her requests without a meltdown. Good luck!