stalling before naptime -- how do you deal with it without losing your patience?

I feel HORRIBLE. I'm trying to not lose my patience and not yell at my kids. I don't want to be the yelling mother but they test me all day long -- I guess that's what 2 1/2 year olds are supposed to do, right?

Anyways -- my daughter loves to stall right before naptime. She isn't potty training anymore but of course she asks to sit on the potty before naptime, I'm cool with it...but then she sits there for 5 minutes (plus) and I tell her that she needs to either go now, or if she sits there longer there will be no books before naptime. I shouldn't care, right -- but I guess I want to take a shower and get some things around the house done so I want them to go down when they are supposed to go down...without stalling.

So how do you deal with stalling? I just got mad and yelled at my daughter, and she was crying -- of course I apologized, gave her a hug, and explained to her that she needs to listen to me better. That when it is naptime it is naptime....

suggestions?

 

You're not alone. I honestly give them the choice, either they go to their room or I take them there... most of the time I take them there. Once in the room, if they want a kiss they have to go to bed, or I just leave and close the door (they usually fall asleep either way).

I figure, they're small, I'm big, if they don't comply I can make them, lol. Still very frustrating at times!

 

We have stallers and the only thing that has really helped is putting them down sooner. Then by the time they get down then they are actually asleep at the right time.

The thing that helped us with the potty stalling was not paying attention to them while their on it. I just say "tell me when you're done" and walk out of the room. I'm just around the corner but it makes them want to get up and be done.

Good luck!

 

I agree with the leaving them alone on the potty. It is so frustrating sitting on the edge of the tub waiting, when I know they should have been in bed ten minutes ago, but if I walk out and say call me when you are done, I can at least pick up the kitchen or something while I am waiting.

Otherwise, I too get very frustrated, so I don't have any other suggestions, other than I try to just take a deep breath and remind myself that it doesn't really matter, they will get to bed sometime!

 

I hate the way I have been raising my voice, lately. It seems like I have to ask/tell them to do everything 5 times before I get any response, and then it's after I've REALLY changed my tone. I do agree that leaving them alone while they're pottying is a help...if only it were that easy.