need nap help!

[oceanbaby]

nak

ds1 is super tired and acting horrible - whiny, throwing stuff, yelling, etc. he refuses to get in the car to go for a drive, and refuses to lay down. it's only 2:00 here - i can't take another 6 hours of this.

my dad is supposed to come over to see him tonight, but in this state it would just be a disaster. what do i do?

[4evermom]

My ds has been miserable to be around too, refusing to take naps, but still needing them (He's the same age as yours). If yours is like mine, either he'll be happy enough to see your dad that he'll be OK or it will be completely miserable. You could call your dad to warn him if you don't want to cancel. Sometimes, my ds perks up slightly once we make it past the napping hours, but he's still not pleasant company. Sometimes we chill with a video or a bath or a stroller walk to get some down time. My ds refuses all offers of food. He won't even tell me what he wants to eat when he's like this. He demands I guess, but I don't think he even knows. Just wanted to send you some sympathy.

[monkaha]

We have the same problems here. I try to enforce "quiet time" either in her room with music and a timer (can't come out 'till the timer goes off) or on the couch with a movie (laying down untill the movie is over) Sometimes she falls asleep, other times she doesn't, but at least she gets a little rest.

[ilex]

My dd has been acting like this too lately...maybe they're growing... I usually try to take her out for a walk, just going outside often helps, even just in the back yard. If I need to stay in I usually put on a movie for her as well, sometimes she falls asleep, if not she at least calms down for awhile. Or I try to play a quiet game with her, read some books, just something to focus her energy and quiet her for a bit. I also try to give her something with protein in it as this seems to help with her wacko ways. Maybe bring out a sleeping bag or play tent, set up a fort in the livingroom and have it be a special resting spot, put some books in there, a little flashlight, a couple of dolls...I know it makes it even harder that there is a little one to put down to naps and pay attention to as well. Good luck, hope this helps!

[oceanbaby]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll try to remember some of these the next time, which probably won't be too far off!

We made it through that day, but have had a few similar ones since. Today he was pretty tired starting at around 3pm, and from 3-8 was pretty whiny and sensitive. But both he and the baby had a bad night last night, resulting in nobody getting much sleep, so he was extra tired. They seem to both be doing well so far tonight, so hopefully tomorrow will be a better day!