How to get my 17 month old to nap

[daisycleo]

Anyone have any suggestions for me? My 17 month old son has stopped wanting to nap in the last 2 weeks. I have tried everything- laying down and nursing him, rocking him, playing soft music- nothing works. He finally passes out from exhaustion usually around 3 pm (naptime should be 12 noon) and sleeps until 5 pm, which is messing up his bedtime (used to be between 8-9 pm, now is closer to 11pm). I am tired, he is soooo tired but I have no idea what to do. We co-sleep at night, and no matter how often I try to lay down with him during the day it does not work! Help!

[elmh23]

you might not be able to change it, but have you tried taking a ride in the car around noonish (run any errands you have at that time.)

[daisycleo]

Driving in the car always works, but he will wake up as soon as I get home. I hate to do that because his nap time is my "break time" too, and the on chance I get to spend alone with my 7 year old daughter. Plus, I am 7 months pregnant, and try to use the nap time to sneak in a cat nap myself.

[annettemarie]

Moving to the toddler forum

[Luke's mama]

ds turned 1 in may and around june (13 mos) we got a stroller and discovered by accident that that put him right to sleep. Most days when we felt it was time for nap we would put him in there an 95 percent of the time it worked--sometimes you only had to go a hundred feet, others it would take 20-30 mins, but usually about 5-10 mins. we did that for several months and then the weather got nasty which left me really worried, but I found that holding him close and walking/swaying while singing to him in a quiet, non-stimulating place would get him to go. Now everyday I can get him to go that way. Sometimes DH lies down with him but I feel like that takes too long. He has lately liked reading his bedtime books before nap so I have been doing that too. Another thought--could you have some routine similar to nighttime, tell him often that it is time to sleep, and then insist that he lie down--keep putting him back down each time he gets up, and then sit near him, on the bed or in chair, but not engage or look at him, until he goes to sleep? I have been doing this at night since ds got too heavy (i can hold/rock him at nap because it only takes a few minutes, but since it takes longer at night, I have to put him in the bed and try the other tactic).

[Megamus]

No suggestions, just wanted to say that my 17 month old DS is doing the EXACT same thing. Doesn't nap until 3 or 4 or sometimes 6! It blows. I assume this is step 1 in dropping his nap. Huzzah.

[daisycleo]

Thanks Luke's Mama (my son's name is Luke too!) I will try the stroller idea. I could use a walk everyday too!
Megamus- I really hope my DS is not deciding to stop napping- I NEED his nap!

[LadyCatherine185]

What time does he usually wake up in the morning? Maybe try waking him up earlier?