Name: Cilla

Bellingham, WA

Number of kids: 1

Ages of kids: 4

Problem: Since she was 3 I have not been able to get my now 4 year old to nap reliably. At this age I simply want her to remain in her room for 2 hours after lunch, for a quiet rest time. "Disciplining" her into it is not working; any other ideas?

Solution submitted by "Mom of Two" from Cambridge, MA: Give him/her a stack of books (10 to 20) that he/she hasn't seen in a while. Make the room quiet and fairly dark. My 3 yr. old "rests" this way for one hour every afternoon from 2:00 to 3:00. With an older kid you have to let them nap a little later than "right after lunch." About 5 days a week my kid is tired enough to fall asleep this way. Our rule is that she has to stay in bed for one hour and be quiet but she doesn't have to sleep. If she is loud or climbs out I take away the books. If she is loud again I take away her teddy bear. The third time "mommy gets very angry" but it rarely comes to this. Spell out the rules carefully for the first few days and don't mention sleeping (although my daughter will often fall asleep with a book on her face and sleep two hours!) Good luck!

Another solution submitted by "Pam K." from Federal Way, WA: Cilla, Instead of calling it naptime. Suggest that your daughter take a rest. Give her some books to read or puzzles to put together, any thing she can do in her bed quietly. My sister has even put on a Disney movie during rest time, she makes her girls lay down and watch until it ends. Even if your daughter doesn't sleep, she gets some down time as do you. My sister has found that a lot of the time her girls do fall asleep. Your daughter is probably growing out of the needs for naps. I hope my suggestion helps.