pre nap chaos

Hi Ladies,

I need some advice about how to keep our nap routine calming. My boys are now in toddler beds at almost 2 1/2. They seem really good just before naps and tired and then we either try to do stories together or go into their room to read and it becomes a huge party. I get frustrated because I want to have a nice cuddle and read and get them off to sleep and sometimes it's a struggle. I have used sticker charts and tried reading in other rooms first, but the same thing usually happens. Does anyone else have a better way to read to them and get them relaxed and ready for naps.
Thanks a mil,
Jennifer

 

Are they getting each other worked up or is it just them working themselves up? If they are working each other up maybe read to them one at a time. Let one play for a little bit while you read and lay him down and then read to the other one and then lay him down. I never read to mine before naps only before bed. I give a warning that nap is coming 10-15min before hand and then again at 5min. Then when nap time comes I announce it again and then bring them to their room (I give hugs and kisses once they are in bed). My son will tell me no every time I tell him but when nap time comes he goes in his bed and will whine a little but will stay in bed and eventually go to sleep. He will sometimes babble a little but does not get out.

 

Not sure if it's an option, but I used to walk them home from the park in the stroller. The stroller was a good way to calm down after a morning or even just an hour at the park. Usually one or both was asleep in the stroller by the time we arrived home.

I also remember sitting in their room reading my own book (to myself) while they lay in their beds with their eyes closed. If I left, they started jumping/playing, so I resorted to sitting in there and reading a couple chapters until they drifted off.

 

QUOTE(Becky02 @ Dec 16 2008, 04:24 AM) [snapback]1112248[/snapback]
Are they getting each other worked up or is it just them working themselves up? If they are working each other up maybe read to them one at a time. Let one play for a little bit while you read and lay him down and then read to the other one and then lay him down. I never read to mine before naps only before bed. I give a warning that nap is coming 10-15min before hand and then again at 5min. Then when nap time comes I announce it again and then bring them to their room (I give hugs and kisses once they are in bed). My son will tell me no every time I tell him but when nap time comes he goes in his bed and will whine a little but will stay in bed and eventually go to sleep. He will sometimes babble a little but does not get out.


Hi Becky,

Thanks for the advice. I think that sometimes they get each other worked up and sometimes it happens all on their own. I like the idea of reading to them one at a time, I have actually tried it and then one who is "playing" tends to get out of hand and the one reading doesn't like that the other one is playing. I like reading b/c sometimes it seems like a good settle down time, when it works. We usually watch some kind of short show right before nap too, to get things done like diapers and teeth and such. That helps some too.

Thanks again,
Jennifer

 

QUOTE(Ellen Barr @ Dec 16 2008, 01:01 PM) [snapback]1112851[/snapback]
Not sure if it's an option, but I used to walk them home from the park in the stroller. The stroller was a good way to calm down after a morning or even just an hour at the park. Usually one or both was asleep in the stroller by the time we arrived home.

I also remember sitting in their room reading my own book (to myself) while they lay in their beds with their eyes closed. If I left, they started jumping/playing, so I resorted to sitting in there and reading a couple chapters until they drifted off.



Hi Ellen,

The park and stroller idea is good, but most days we are home for lunch so getting them to sleep for nap happens past any stroller ride. I do like your idea of reading a book of your own while they fall asleep. I have resorted just sitting in their room while they fall asleep. Did you use a book light or something so that you could read?

Thanks,
Jennifer

 

Is it an option to let one sleep in your room so they don't have the ability to excite each other when they're supposed to be sleeping? I always separate my boys for naps.