It was a rough day. LO's nap was interupted by visiting family yesterday and he didn't fall asleep in the car during school pick-ups. Then, the big kids had evening activities that kept him up until 9:00. By then, he was to the point that he could not go to sleep.

On the way home with the big kids at the end of the day he was crying "Sleep" in his carseat but was unable to doze off. We got home and rocked and read and rocked some more. He could not fall asleep. He was miserable.

Finally, I asked: "Do you want to take a walk in the stroller so you can go to sleep?" He gave that little desperate laugh that means "that's a great idea". So, I had to put his pillow in the stroller and cover him up and walk him up and down my street last night. He finally fell asleep!

I felt sorry for the little guy. He REALLY was trying to go to sleep!

I cannot express enough the importance of naptime if you want an easier bedtime.

I totally agree, FunnyMummy! Especially when they are babies and toddlers. And even now, we know we're in for a rough night when my 3 yo misses his nap.
Hope your LO has a better day (and night) today!

He's asleep now! LOL

I don't understand when I hear people say that they are trying to keep their child awake so that they would go to sleep earlier. I had a friend that would do this. It just doesn't work that way... a least not in my experience.

I know! It's never worked that way for me, either, Fm. My sister's two boys were the same way. It just seems like the tireder they get, the harder it is for them to actually fall asleep.
What time does yours usually nap, though, and for how long?
I've got to time my LO's nap just right - he usually sleeps about 2 hours, and if he's not asleep by 1:30ish (at the latest!), We've got trouble!

Until about a month or so ago, he was an early napper--between 9:30 and 10 he'd go down for 2-2 1/2 of hours and had a late lunch. Now, he tends to nap after lunch. This is much better, since I can feed him lunch at a reasonable time (11ish). Like you, I like to get him sleeping by 1:00.

Today, obviously,is an exception. He's been asleep for about 2 hrs now. I don't hear any stirring yet. I expect a LONG nap! Finger's crossed.

Now my LO's making me eat my words on this topic.
He refused to nap that very afternoon & did not nap the next day or the next, either, yet he's been sleeping WONDERFULLY at night. I mean, for 12 hours in a row!
He's almost 3.5 now, though, and missed naps always meant trouble when he was a baby and a young toddler. So I don't think I'm wrong on this (I'm NEVER wrong - right?! ).
I think he's just trying to phase out the whole nap thing (and I hope it takes a while, because I'm gonna have trouble living without it!).

Yeah, somtimes when they're finished with napping phase, it's like they give them up cold turkey. My older son did that... about at that age, if I'm remembering correctly.

Too bad they don't all have the same instruction manual. Like this one:

My eldest didn't take regular naps (and really didn't have any kind of regular schedule, either ... I wasn't exactly the world's greatest mom back then!), so I have no experience to base this on.
But I'm (sorta) glad to hear that your eldest did something similar (even though it means this is probably the beginning of the end for my long-cherished naptime break).

But I couldn't open the link on your post,FM - and your usual picture (the one of your LO) isn't even showing up under your forum name today.I think something must be wrong with my computer!

I'm not seeing any pictures either... so it must be me/my uploads.

Now I see your pic, FM. That's Hilarious!