Does your toddler do this? (Nap related)

[holothuroidea]

My 2 year old takes a 4 hour "nap" during the day.

She always gets tired around 11, and that's when we do a nap routine (which is snack, brush teeth, diaper change, snuggle time). By 12 she is ready for a nap.

The only problem is that she does not fall asleep for up to 2 hours. She sings and talks to her stuffed animals. I have tried to interrupt her a few times but she gets really upset, and acts cranky and tired. So after this 1-2 hour chat-a-thon she will actually sleep for 2 hours.

I suppose it's not really a bad thing, but it is hard to get things done when you have to dedicate 4 hours during the day to a nap. I've tried not putting her in her bed for a nap until 2 (when she actually falls asleep anyway), but she becomes inconsolably cranky and then when nap time actually comes she is overtired and cannot fall asleep.

Does anyone else's LO do this? I know a lot of toddlers talk themselves to sleep but 2 hours seems like a really long time!

[LadyCatherine185]

I only wish my DS did that! I would just go with it mama, you are really lucky.. plan your stuff for the morning before nap, or afternoon afterwards. And think about how great those 4 hours will be if she is still doing it when your new little one comes!

[marispel]

My DS could do this as well...but we go in after about 30 minutes and offer him a bottle. Funny, he doesn't need this at DC, but at home he does. When we start nap time, we read a couple books and then he goes in the crib where he typically preceeds to play, talk, jump and sing. I wait a good 20 minutes and then take him out of the crib to rock him while he drinks an 8 oz bottle. Most of the time he is out. We've tried not giving him the bottle and he will do as yours does and jump/talk/sing for 2 hours only to get really cranky.

[just_lily]

From time to time DD does this at bedtime, but almost never for nap. I keep some books beside her crib and she grabs them and looks at them if she doesn't feel like sleeping. Sometimes she will call me in to help her put them back, but other times she just falls right to sleep.

Maybe the stuffies are creating a distraction. Could you try putting them someplace else, aside from a special lovey or two? Or maybe try splitting the difference and trying to put her down at 1?

[2timestrouble]

Originally Posted by holothuroidea

The only problem is that she does not fall asleep for up to 2 hours. She sings and talks to her stuffed animals. I have tried to interrupt her a few times but she gets really upset, and acts cranky and tired. So after this 1-2 hour chat-a-thon she will actually sleep for 2 hours.

My daughter does the same thing (not for 2 hours) aren't those chat-a-thon the cutes?!
I normally let her be, she normally sleeps within 30 minutes, but sometimes if she is taking to long or if we were out and we are running late for her nap, I just go there, sing her son while I kiss her, this almost never fail.
I was a little scare to do this because I worry that if I did it once I will have to do it all the time and she will not be able to put her self to sleep.
But she goes sleep at night all on her own and sometimes at nap time, so she figure out that this is just for nap time.
PS: Have you take a video of her chat-a-thons? I keep forgetting do it this and I am hope she doesn't stop before I take video of it.

[holothuroidea]

Originally Posted by YoviC

My daughter does the same thing (not for 2 hours) aren't those chat-a-thon the cutes?!
I normally let her be, she normally sleeps within 30 minutes, but sometimes if she is taking to long or if we were out and we are running late for her nap, I just go there, sing her son while I kiss her, this almost never fail.
I was a little scare to do this because I worry that if I did it once I will have to do it all the time and she will not be able to put her self to sleep.
But she goes sleep at night all on her own and sometimes at nap time, so she figure out that this is just for nap time.
PS: Have you take a video of her chat-a-thons? I keep forgetting do it this and I am hope she doesn't stop before I take video of it.

I can't really go in and help her to sleep, if I interrupt her she gets really upset! I can't even walk in her room, she'll start crying.

I don't think I'd be able to record it, although that would be so cute! I can't think of a place in her room to put a camcorder where she wouldn't be able to reach it. Besides, she'd probably know her privacy was being breeched.

[tangledblue]

YES, my DD does this (not for quite as long, but has def. gone to 45 minutes quite frequently). Don't mess with it--read a book, watch a movie, do the laundry! If you want it to be shorter, maybe make the room darker or limit stuffed animal access to one or two. Love the idea of making a video, but can't think how to do it without her noticing.