How long doyou let your child stay in their crib if they dont sleep at naptime?

Question

Sometimes, like right now for example, i will put my 10 1/2 month old in bed for naptime at 10am, and she will fuss a bit and then settle but stay awake, sometimes standing talking to herself and playing. if this ever happens to you, how long do youkeep them in there not sleeping? t he entire nap time? when she sleeps which is more often than not she will sleep from 10-12, and i try to get her in again from 2-4 but that is sometimes a stuggle. Im startng to think that maybe i should switch to 1 nap a day but she does get fussy for sleep around 10 and again around 2, and i think she might be too young for only 1 nap. what do you think?

Answer 1

If she is content with talking to herself and playing, let her continue playing quietly, and take her out only when she gets fussy and starts crying. It is good for her to have "down time, and she seems to have accustomed herself to it. You should just keep an eye on her more often, to make sure that nothing dangerous is happening with her(like cords nearby or other hazards) Try delaying her 10 nap a bit. (push it off by an hour) it might help sustain the fussiness at 2.  

Answer 2

Rubbish is what some of these answers are!  Sorry!  My son is almost 15 months and still having 2 naps per day.  However this is not to say your child should still be having two naps.  Usually babies dont drop down to the one nap until about 15 months so 10 1/2 months is kind of young...but as they say every child is different.  My son had been doing what your daughter has been doing recently so I just kept him up a little longer, he now stays up for three hours and when i put him to bed he goes straight off to sleep for his naps.  I think if she is staying awake she is simply not tired!!!  Perhaps try adjusting her naps a little and maybe keep her up a little longer in the morning - if she is up for 2 hours keep her up an extra half hour and see if that helps.  If my son is still not asleep after 20 minutes I get him back up for another 20-30 minutes and then try again.  Generally he will then go off to sleep.  If that fails we go for a walk in the pram or a drive and he has his nap then.  

Answer 3

Some days your daughter might seem like she only needs 1 nap. I am all about keeping the kids on a schedule so until you are both ready for that, I would still lay her down for both naps.

Personally, I think that even if she just plays quietly and entertains herself she is just fine to stay in her crib It gives you some time to recharge your batteries and she is in a safe place so you can shower or do a couple of household chores without worry.

Answer 4

Mine is a bit younger (only 6 months), but I generally will leave her in there until she starts getting upset.  Even if she doesn't nap she needs that quiet time (and I'm sure you do too!), during that time they work on different skills (standing, talking, etc).  She is learning to entertain herself, which is a good skill to have.  

After she starts to get upset I will go in and arrange things for a nap again (give her her lovey, kiss her, cover her up, give her a binky, etc).  Sometimes she will go right to sleep, she just can't self-soothe yet, she's still working on it.  You little one might be old enough to put herself to sleep if she's tired.

I think she is a little young for only 1 nap.  I would continue to put her down, as usual, and just let her have some quiet time if she doesn't want to sleep.

Answer 5

I have read somewhere to cut down to one nap a day around 1 year. My son started the one nap a day when he was about 11 months old, normally right after lunch so he had a full belly, and it was a good long 3 hour nap most of the time. Even if he spent the first hour playing and talking to himself, it is still quiet time, which my son needs desperately if there is alot going on around him. Just go with whatever works. If your daughter does better with only one nap a day, go for it. Every child is different.  

Answer 6

My son's nappy time is around the same as yours, 10 -  11 or 12 and 2 - 3 or 4. He doesn't fuss when I put him to bed (and when he does fuss he's out like a like in 5 mins) I'll let him play and talk to himself for the duration of his nappy, but he normally does fall asleep about 30 mins after I put him in his crib. As long as they aren't scream their little head's off I think it's fine.