Your questions answered by Jo Tantum of Greatvine.com
My 2 yr old sleeps well at night, but refuses to sleep during the day and is often tired and cranky by late afternoon. How can I persuade her to take a nap?
It is very difficult to get an active toddler to have an afternoon nap. Giving your toddler an incentive to have a nap is the key.
- Set up a reward system for them. Each day they have a nap they get a sticker on their chart if they do it 4 days out of 5 they get a small gift.
- When it’s time to have a nap sit on the bed, next to the cot with them and read a story then snuggle them down and remind them about the sticker or present.
- Tell them that you are just going to do something and that you will be back in 5 minutes to see if they are doing well. Then return to the bedroom after 5 minutes for a peek.
- Try not to have a nap too late, after lunch is always a good time. Also always wake them after 2 hours or it will start to impact their nights sleep. Please continue this reward system for at least 2 weeks and you will soon be reaping the rewards.
Jo Tantum
Author of the best-selling book “Baby Secrets”, Jo Tantum is a baby sleep and twin’s specialist and the sleep expert for Prima Baby magazine. Jo’s own pioneering sleep technique, “Spaced Soothing” is a failsafe method that teaches babies to enjoy their sleep and empowers parents to understand their babies better. For individual advice you can trust, book a private phone call with Jo at www.greatvine.com/jo_tantum
* The information in these answers is not a substitute for examination, diagnosis or treatment by a Health Care Professional. If you are worried, please consult your HCP.
For help with sleep problems, speak with Jo Tantum and other parenting experts at Greatvine.com
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