sleep havoc

[mamahood]

Hello Mama's. I'm just losing my mind a bit here. My two and a half year old has begun fighting me over taking a nap. I would let it go except if he doesn't sleep during the day when he's tired he: hits me, whines excesively and doesn't sleep well that night which leaves us both with limited resources. So it's important that he gets a nap. Plus, after these struggles he sleeps for longer than usual which leads me to believe that he's overly tired to begin with, but he won't go down before that.  I'm a big fan and participant of attachment parenting and would say overall I've been able to parent with love. This is stretching me, though. I've tried laying with him, but he hits me. I've tried leaving him to go to sleep on his own but he just gets up and plays. I've tried sitting nearby in a rocking chair while knitting or reading but he refuses to stay down. I've tried threats, "You can't do such and such if you don't lay down" to which he's at first been upset and then agreed not to do such and such.  I've tried holding him down but this was horrible and felt much too controlling. However, this is the only one that has worked so far. I'm feeling at the end of my rope, any suggestions?

[MsFortune]

The Supernanny routine. You do your bedtime / naptime routine. Kiss goodnight, close the door. When DS gets out of bed, you go grab DS's hand and guide him back to bed. No words. No cuddles. No anger. Over and over and over. Until DS gets that he has to stay in bed.

The first few times it can take hours. But eventually he will get the hint.

[mamahood]

Thanks, I can say that thought didn't cross my mind. Good back-up for this sleep thing.