21mo giving up all naps

[CurlyTop]

I need your advice. My 21 mo twin girls both fight taking a nap. DH has to drive them up and down the highway for 30 minutes to get them to fall asleep EVERY DAY around 1 pm.

Then at bedtime, they fight sleep and roll around trying to get out of bed for 60-90 minutes (8:30-9:30 or later).

So DH and I asked ourselves, why are we putting so much effort into their sleep? We stopped driving them around for naps - they stopped taking naps - and they fall right asleep at 7:30 pm and sleep through til 7:30 the following morning!

Except when they don't. Now DD#2 wakes up around 3:30 am and plays until 5 or so. She gets out of our bed and plays noisily offering us "tea" etc and keeping us all up. This has happened twice this week, our first week of no naps.

One thought is that she's not getting enough 1:1 time during the day? Twins with only one parent at home is pretty tough. Or perhaps she really does need the nap? I'm so tired & confused. Both girls are really happy and not fussy during the day except for when they whine for attention.

Help...

CurlyTop

[TeaBag]

Some thoughts. First, my oldest gave up naps completely at 22 months. He just didn't need them. I tried the driving thing, I tried walks in the stroller or sling. If I did get him to take a nap, then he would be up until 11pm or later, and I'm an early to bed kind of gal! He was killing me! LOL! So I just accepted the fact that he's one of those kids that didn't need a lot of sleep. I do kind of envy those who have 3 and 4 year olds that still nap....maybe one of my dd's will be that child! Maybe not! We'll see. But the idea of waking during the night to play. Since it's only happened a couple of times, I, personally would wait it out. It's likely just a phase and will pass. My ds did this occassionally when he was just about this age...starting to give up naps, some days took them some days didn't, it would depend on how much outdoor time he got, etc, etc, etc. Their sleep is so subjective. If not, I would take the waker into another room by myself. Just that child and myself, and just "play dead". "It's not time to play, it's time to sleep. Mommy's sleeping" and ignore her. That way, she's learning that she isn't allowed to keep the rest of the family awake, but her own sleep habits are respected. Eventually, this will pass, like all things with children, and you'll both get the rest you need!!! Good Luck!