https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 16 Apr 2026 07:35:08 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-nap-without-nurs-ing#post-2736832 Tue, 16 May 2017 21:34:38 +0000 Mrs. Goose 2736832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely don't give up the nap! I dropped nap nursing first and bedtime and morning after. But I would either try to replicate your night routine (I did try this briefly, but it wasn't working so I stopped wasting time) and I would make sure while you're dropping that nursing you get him super tired from morning activities and replace nursing with a cup or sippy of milk or water while you cuddle and explain exactly what is happening, e.g. "We're going to have a drink and read a story and then it's time for your nap". Repeat a few times for emphasis and understanding.</p> <p>He's old enough that he should understand pretty quickly that there won't be nursing anymore but that napping will still occur. So if he asks or cries for nursing and you're stopping you can also say out loud again that "we're not nursing (or whatever phrase you may use) but we're still going to sit together and have a drink and/prnhug before you go for your nap "</p> <p>I think it's important and good to verbalize things for children and then just try and remain as calm and quiet during the situation as you can if you know it's going to be tricky. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-nap-without-nurs-ing#post-2736816 Tue, 16 May 2017 20:28:35 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2736816@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Littlebit7: thank you! It was a challenge at first for bedtime, so I'll just expect it to be worth the effort for nap time too! </p> <p>@bees_knees: thank you, that's a good idea, which I definitely did for night weaning. </p> <p>@petitenoisette: great idea, our nap routine is usually very very brief with him often kicking and screaming about whatever he wanted to keep doing until he starts nursing! I think nap time is going to be my last session to quit for sure, so I have some time. I've been thinking that about when I go in to extend nap. </p> <p>@winniebee: thanks, and good point about the movie. I don't want to rely on that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-nap-without-nurs-ing#post-2736812 Tue, 16 May 2017 19:34:35 +0000 winniebee 2736812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bees_knees: I agree</p> <p>I would go with the third option and also to go back in to nurse him back to sleep. Try cuddling and laying with him. </p> <p>I wouldn't give up on nap! If you do decide on quiet time I wouldn't do a movie as that would be an equally hard habit to break! Plus movies will be needed for other times when new baby comes ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-nap-without-nurs-ing#post-2736801 Tue, 16 May 2017 18:30:33 +0000 petitenoisette 2736801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Trying to wean my daughter too right now who's 26 months. She gave up the bedtime one surprisingly easily and is at daycare/grandmacare during the week. But over the weekend she insisted on milk at naptime. I think bc our naptime routine is quick kind of like you describe so harder for her to separate from. </p> <p>I think in your case I'd immediately cut out the going back in to nurse midway through nap. If he doesn't sleep as long for now so be it. And then maybe add some stuff to your naptime routine with the goal that you can then cut out the nursing in a few weeks. It will prob take longer to get through for now but worth it in the end! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-nap-without-nurs-ing#post-2736783 Tue, 16 May 2017 17:19:09 +0000 bees_knees 2736783@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you talked to him about it? I would explain the new plan ("we're not going to nurse today before nap, we're just going to read a book and cuddle"), prep him a little before hand (like for a couple days) and big time empathize ("you're so upset, you want milk before nap. This isn't usually how we do it. It's so hard to change our routine") but stick to your guns. </p> <p>GL. It's so hard!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-nap-without-nurs-ing#post-2736782 Tue, 16 May 2017 17:10:03 +0000 Littlebit7 2736782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What do you do for the nighttime? Nursing?</p> <p>Nevermind. Just re-read<br /> I'd try the rock and cuddle combo. I personally wouldn't give up the nap. That would be my last resort.<br /> Do you have the room pretty dark for daytime? I might start there too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-nap-without-nurs-ing#post-2736771 Tue, 16 May 2017 16:29:13 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2736771@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hello creative bees! I need help thinking outside the box on ways to get my toddler (2.5y) to start napping without nursing. That's the gist, read on if you want all the boring details. </p> <p>I am trying to slowly gently/gradually wean him since I am 12 weeks pregnant. My loose goal was to wean by 20 weeks. We stopped nursing to sleep for bedtime months ago, and now we do a combo of cuddling and rocking to sleep. It takes forever and I just don't see that working at nap time. Now, I nurse him and he's asleep within 15 min. Then I sneak away and he'll sleep up to 90 min, and then I go back and nurse and cuddle for the rest of his nap (total of 2-2.5h). Not saying it's a great routine, but it works for me, and I get to nap or read my kindle. My house is too tiny to get anything noisy done anyways. </p> <p>He's rarely napped in the car all his life, and napped even less in the stroller. To make it even more tricky, 3 afternoons a week, he has school, and I need to get him up from nap and to school by 2 pm. </p> <p>My ideas:<br /> -Give up on naps, and start a quiet time with a movie or something, maybe he'll fall asleep<br /> -Do something crazy busy all morning after getting up early, and start trying either stroller naps or car naps (doesn't seem sustainable)<br /> -do the busy morning routine and just try lying down with him st nap time and let him work it out </p> <p>Ugh. Help!!! </p>