Grandchildren and naps

I must admit I'm shocked at the way DPs are dictated to as well.

If someone had offered to look after dd I'd have been overcome with gratitude, especially if it were free.

My DiL was very rigid about naps ( and everything else). I was dutifully putting my 2 and a year old grandson down for a nap every Thursday only to discover by chance that he had be refusing to nap for everyone else for months. Maybe he just wanted to get away from me?

I was one of the lucky ones who never had a problem with any of my children sleeping, at night or naps. The thing that always amazes me on this kind of thread though is the way grandparents are dictated to by their children as to how the day has to be mapped out. Ok to say if you don't want your child fed sweets, junk food etc, but to dictate to the carer, usually unpaid if a grandparent, regarding planning the day is just not on. I know I would have just been everlastingly grateful if my parents/in-laws could have minded my children whilst I worked FOC and I would have expected them to just get my kids to fit in with them.

I did that too Grannyqueenie. After lunch walk with the child tucked into buggy everyday that it wasn't pouring with rain. Always worked a treat and kept me fit. And the wee one was in better form for the rest of the afternoon.

I can remember walking for miles with a granddaughter, who was a reluctant napper, tucked up in the buggy. It wasn't exactly a break for me but not having an overtired toddler did make for an easier afternoon and a much happier teatime

GS2 went on having a nap after lunch until he was three. There were some days when he stayed awake, but it usually caught up with him by the end of the week and he would be passed out bt tea time. Luckily DD and I were in agreement and both just went with the flow. No point arguing about it, they will do what they will do.

Will he sit in his cot and play? One of mine used to do that while she grew out of naps. She would maybe have a nap every two or three days so I used to take advantage of her being happy to play with a few toys in her cot!

Its such a pity playpens are out of fashion!

My children never napped during the day after they were 12 months old . I envied other mums who had children who slept during the day mine just refused to do so .

Ah - the naps - I am delighted when DGS obliges with a nap, then I can have one!

Perhaps you could politely (try to resist sarcastically!) ask DIL or DD (not sure which) if you could pop round one day and see how she gets him to nap, as you need help as you are clearly not doing it right.

Our DGD refuse her afternoon nap this week too, both Thursday and Friday. She is 2 and 8 months and we're all hoping it's a temporary phase!
She has been great at going up to bed after lunch and we'd have an hour or two to catch our breath have naps ourselves before her next whirlwind adventure.

Might try out the driving next week!

I was going to suggest going for a drive too. That's if you drive, and have a car, of course..

Otherwise-playpen? Or are they considered outdated now?

My GD has never napped and looking after her for a full day has always exhausted me. When she was the age that your GS is, I would sometimes make her a bottle, put her in her bouncer close to the fire and rock it with my feet. She would occassionaly drop off briefly.

Sometimes I would take her for a drive just for some respite for myself. Apart from that the only other thing you could do is to put him down and let him cry it out.

I agree with what has already been said though. If your daughter manages to get him down, ask her what her trick is.

I let out a massive groan when dd dropped her daily nap.

If he's teething, could you dose him up with some Calpol? May help him sleep knock him out.

You can't make him, though. Could you put him in his cot with some toys for a bit? Give you some peace?

Well there is not a lot you can do if he doesn't want to sleep. As pensionpat says if Mum has a way of getting him off then maybe she should share it. Otherwise just have a quiet time with stories and a cuddle.
As he gets more active it will be become more tiring for you, perhaps you need to look at sharing the care.

It's a sad day when they give up naps! That was when I could relax a bit or catch up. They are different in when they drop them, and I could never make a child sleep when ut didn't want to. Your daughter probably feels the need to be a bit controlling because she can't be there. See how she gets on over the weekend. If the naps are successful for get she can show you the "off switch"