Ds (who will be 4 in April) has gotten to the point that he will not always take naps. This is to be expected, I know, but what to do you with him to keep him quiet so that he still rests and so he doesn't wake up his little sister and so I can get a break too?

I would get him to Cuddle up and rest with books and maybe music in his room or I have heard of using this a movie or his show times!! my only ideas!!

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Kelly mom to 3 great girls A Peanut, a monkey and a little burrito.

It is a tough. I created a playroom in the basement. I put most of their toys there. That way my daughter can play and not bother my younger daughter. I try to give her things to entertain her while I get a quick chore done. I get out play doh, aquadoodle, markers and dot-to-dot or maze books. She plays games on the computer on NickJr, PBS Kids, Webkinz and Noggin. She also uses her Leapster TV system. I don't get much of a break but at least I keep her from waking her sister. I play games with her like Candyland, Dora ABC, Diego's treasure hunt, Hungry Hippos, Chutes & Ladders. We do puzzles and crafts too. Something that she doesn't do while her little sister is awake.

This happened here at my house. My ds is now in afternoon pre-k during naptime he's 5. But at this time of day I used to give him play dough or crayons or a game. Most of the time activities he can't do when his sister is awake. Or I would have him help me dust, prep dinner or bake. Sometimes I will let him have computer time or just spend some one on one time with him he hasn't gotten much of since his sister came along.

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"Before I was a Mom I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body." ~Anonymous

My son is 4 1/2 and he shares a room with his 2 1/2 year old brother. I obviously don't want them playing thru naptime so the 2 year old goes to his room where he almost immediately falls asleep while my 4 year old has a rest time on the couch. He was falling asleep about 2-3 times a week but the rest of the time just lays there. I check on him frequently and make sure he's not being too loud. I just realized this morning that I think he's gone all week without taking a nap and has been pretty good at night too. Usually he's crazy at night if he doesn't get his nap. So today since he's been laying quietly on the couch for a while now, I finally gave him his leap pad to look at while he's laying there. He knows to lay there until his brother gets up. He's being VERY quiet in there now and just playing with his leap pad notebook thing! I think I may continue this. Make him lay there quietly for half the time - because sometimes he does fall asleep, but if he doesn't fall asleep about half way thru the 2 year old's nap, then I guess I'll start giving him something - leap pad, a book, something he can do while laying still! At least he's getting quiet time to himself! HTH!

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Stay at home mom to my 3 boys... ages 5, 3 & 1!

I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

DS is almost 3 and is phasing out his naps about 3 days a week. He still takes a solid 2-3 hour nap on Tues and Thurs after preschool. On the days that he doesn't nap, I still put him in his room for 1-2 hours of quiet time. I tell him he can play with his toys or read a book, but he needs to be quiet (my 9month old DD takes her second nap at the same time in the room across from his) and stay in his room until I come get him. The reason he can come out of his room is to use the potty. We have one of those cheap removable wood gates that I put up in his door way. He can easily climb over it or take it down to go to the potty. But that lets him know that I mean business and he usually stays in there for at least 1.5 hours.

Sandra

My problem is that ds is into the "hitting" stage where he likes to be loud hitting his toys together etc. etc. AND his room is right next to dd's. So sending him to the basement play area is not an option b/c of how loud he is and it is not insulated very well. I am just gonna have to get creative. I dunno...:

Quiet time never worked in our house. Ds always thought he was being punished. Eventually *I* got used to it, but it took a long time. I'm always insanely jealous of the moms that say they put their kids in their rooms with books and have them have quiet time for an hour. Ds would run out every two minutes asking when time was up and it used to raise my blood pressure! I would return him to his room over and over for a few weeks and just finally gave up. He had just turned 3!

Movie or tv time will get my kids to all sit and relax awhile.

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~Happiness is a large family~