Ahhh! I so do not like these kids today!

So I have one problem napper. She has been a problem napper only the last few weeks and I have posted about her before. She turned 2 in Jan. Today she was being so disruptive in the nap room I took her out and have her in a PNP in my bedroom (she normally sleeps in a cot) with a humidifier on full blast. She got the other good sleepers all riled up downstairs before she left that they are now misbehaving (yelling, getting out of cots) and she is being a terror in the PNP, bouncing it around, scratching the sides, banging...anything to make a ton of noise. I don't get what's going on.

I have spent the last 30 mins going from room to room redirecting and I am fed up! I think I will have some ice cream and try and ignore the behaviour for a bit...see if it dies down on its own.

Oh no!! I hope they settle down quickly for you and their sake!

Enjoy the ice cream :)

OK, I'm really at a loss as to what to do. The kids downstairs settled 15 mins after she left and I spoke to them. The problem napper is screaming "nah nah nah poo poo" and smashing her crib on the floor somehow. I sat in the room for 15 mins and read (didn't even look at her) and she was a bit better but not much. She keeps upping the ante so I have to engage with her (tell her to stop banging/screaming). I would take a crying/screaming transitioning baby over this behaviour to be honest. Do I ignore, redirect? What kind of consequence do I put in place after nap time to teach her this isn't acceptable. Normally I just leave kids for nap time for example if they are crying but I haven't experienced anything like this.

Can you give her something (a favorite stuffed animal etc) and tell her is she is noisy you have to come take it away. Take it away if needed and tell her you will bring it back to her once she is still and quiet?

This will only work for some kids...some could care less and will use it as a chance to be disruptive for attention.

Do you have a foam/rubber mat (even a yoga type mat) to put under her playpen to muffle the noise so you can then leave her?

If you think it will become habit for her and she doesn't nap at all today I would be tempted to put her back down for nap once everyone wakes...make sure she knows she is missing a fun activity. She won't sleep, but she will be in her playpen away from the kids and fun. Then tomorrow you can remind her that this will happen again should she chose to be disruptive and not nap.

Get out your serious voice!!! Lol.

Sorry I have never had that sort of behavior before. My kids know I mean business!

I guess at snack this afternoon she doesn't get the same treat as the rest. I usually give rice cakes to those who are not behaving and make a point of giving the others something delicious. Or do a fun activity and the ones who didn't behave don't get to participate.

My own 2 year old daughter (almost 3 soon!), had been giving me trouble at nap time for a long time. She would not settle down and kept getting out of her bed, even though she was tired. The only thing that worked was to warn her that if she didn't lay down quietly and go to sleep that she wouldn't be allowed to watch a cartoon when she woke up. The only time she gets TV during the day is after nap, so after a few times of missing out on cartoons she doesn't give me trouble anymore.

So I would use some type of consequence for after naptime if she doesn't settle down at nap time quietly,

It's weird, it is like she doesn't give a flying "you know." I have never had a child that doesn't smarten up after using my "mean mommy" voice, heh heh.

We are long past removing stuff animals. She lost the books and stuffed animal while she was still downstairs. I did place a comforter underneath the PNP, my house is really old though and I can hear everything which isn't helping me at all.

I will try having her in her cot while everyone is having free play before snack...this is similar to my usual consequence though as anyone who misbehaves is last to leave their cot while the others play but I like the idea of framing it as a "nap time." I have a special activity I will do too that works out because I know she would love it but her mom wouldn't want her doing it any ways (using fruit loops to make a rainbow for St Patricks) as she doesn't allow her any sugar/processed foods. An activity like this I see as an exception to that rule but she is their first child and I guess I was stricter with my first.

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Originally Posted by torontokids

I sat in the room for 15 mins and read (didn't even look at her) and she was a bit better but not much.

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I always read aloud to the kids till they are all asleep. It works for me. However, I have had those times when a child is new and transitioning or maybe just having a hard time. (One in particular, for 3 months of night terrors at nap. Yikes!) Good for you, torontokids, I have been there too. Trying to read despite the screaming, kicking, loudness. It is the most nerve-racking. frustrating thing to do. Luckily, my others can fall asleep through the screaming and reading (and, also the white noise.) It never ceases to amaze me!!! If you think this is something you could do, keep at it. I was read to at bedtime when I was a kid and it is one of my favorite memories. I like to pass that on to the kids, because, frankly, there are a lot of them that I suspect don't get any reading at home.

But if the reading isn't for you... is it feasable to keep her in the PNP in your room every nap time? Does she climb out? If she'll stay in it, that may be your only option. If she is banging it and jumping around for 2 hours, thats gotta tire her out, you would hope.

I've had that lots. What I find works well with me. Is that they are being loud to probe us to say something to get attention. So I sit in a corner on the other side of the rm and every time they make a noise or say something. I say shush very loud and short sound. They'll shush but then be loud and I'll say shush again! If they stand up I say firmly....down. I only ever use those two words and never look them in the eye. Lol. Works well for my group. Now if I hear them. I just yell from downstairs shush, down. And they listen. But don't make it gentle like shhhh for a baby. Make it kind of harsh, short sounded. SHUSH. LOL. And if they r over two they get a time out after nap before snack.

[QUOTE=kindertime;747 64]I always read aloud to the kids till they are all asleep. It works for me. However, I have had those times when a child is new and transitioning or maybe just having a hard time. (One in particular, for 3 months of night terrors at nap. Yikes!) Good for you, torontokids, I have been there too. Trying to read despite the screaming, kicking, loudness. It is the most nerve-racking. frustrating thing to do. Luckily, my others can fall asleep through the screaming and reading (and, also the white noise.) It never ceases to amaze me!!! If you think this is something you could do, keep at it. I was read to at bedtime when I was a kid and it is one of my favorite memories. I like to pass that on to the kids, because, frankly, there are a lot of them that I suspect don't get any reading at home.



I read to all the kids while they are having their milk. We read probably 4 stories, change diapers and settle into bed. Never had any really big issues that a firm "no talking" or removal of stuffed toy didn't solve. When I read in the room it was not aloud but my own book to myself. I didn't/don't want to give her any additional attention as it seems this is what she is looking for

Thank you all...I was starting to feel like I was going to snap

It would be a big IGNORE from me. Lights out, blacked out curtains, and walk away until nap time is over. You're right, she is trying to engage you and push your buttons...if there are no buttons around to push, she'll give up ;)

Normally I think ignoring would be the way to go except I have never had her in a PNP and she would climb out of her crib at home so I wanted to make sure she was safe. Plus my room admittedly wasn't really set up properly for her nap as it was a mid nap decision so I don't have a camera in that room. Tomorrow I will be more prepared!