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I know parents with toddlers who won't nap during the day have quiet time, but I've tried to implement quiet time and just can't get my son to stay in his room and/ or play quietly.
I put on an hour long cd and ask him to stay until it ends, but he couldn't care less. He lasts about 10 minutes max and decides he's bored and comes to find me.
He will happily watch tv quietly until the cows come home, but I don't want him watching tv during the day, so what can I do?
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I don't think a toddler has the capacity to sit for up to an hour and have quiet time. We implement quiet time (reading, puzzles) for our DD prior to bedtime and it is a maximum of 30 mins & we are in the same room as her. Any other activities my DD dows during the day, she will still come and seek me out now & then (even if it is a DVD). I assume you need to rest/sleep when your DD is sleeping, hence the reason for the quiet time? Can you rest/sleep in the same room or on the couch so you are near your DS but he can do quiet activities?
We can get about 45 minutes quiet time. DD stays in her room, plays with her toys in there. She occassionally wanders out to get something, but then goes straight back in. She has a clock and knows that quiet time is finished when the big hand points down.
My DS is about the same age and has two to three days a week when he won't nap so on those days he has 'rest time'. I have made sure his bedroom is safe and I've put a child-proof handle on the back of the door so he can't open it. I tell him he has to have a rest or play quietly or look at some books if he doesn't want to sleep and that I'll come back soon and he can come out. He stays quite happily for about 45 minutes and if I don't come back, then he calls out to me or bangs on the door. It works quite well for us thankfully.
I have to tread lightly with his feelings because I've just had a baby. He was napping until she was born, but he doesn't want to be left out and he's acting out a bit, so firstly I don't want him to feel pushed aside but secondly he'd trash his room if I locked him in.
Also I'd be paranoid that he would get trapped in there if there was an emergency.
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I know I would be the same as you - I'd feel very uncomfortable locking my DD in her bedroom and I think this would cause her problems with sleep time etc.... I hope someone else can come in & help you out
Perhaps I am being unreasonable. I want him to have quiet time so I can have a chance to try and settle the baby who never sleeps. Also my son is tired and keeps crashing on the couch at 4.30PM when I start cooking dinner and it's impossible to wake up him for dinner and his bath, and if I do wake him up he's awake until 10.30pm.
It's a bit of a shambles and I haven't had a chance to figure out sleep with the baby, so she spends all day comfort suckling which makes my son even more jealous.
It's just a vicious circle and I'm trying to find answers.
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I know you said you dont want him watching tv, but what about if you put on something so the two of you can watch it together whilst you try and settle bub?
When DD2 was born, DD1 instantly gave up her day sleeps. I tried for weeks to get her to stay in her room and nap or have quiet time whilst I tried to settle DD2, and I found nothing that would work.
In the end, the only thing that would give her some time our was to put on a doco or an 'educational' program. But whilst this was on, we were all on the lounge, I would spend the time attempting to settle DD2, and at the same time chat to DD1 about what was going on etc. Some days the doco or program would put her to sleep, but everyday we had some special bonding time. Ok, the tv was involved but it worked. Actually it still works most of the time, and now that neither of the girls sleep, we have fun having some time out learning about random things. At the moment they are into monkeys and penguins, so its monkey and penguin docos airing here!
My two bigger kids usually draw or play in the playroom together while my toddler sleeps. If the baby doesn't sleep I just wear her until she falls asleep. My bigger kids are 4.5 and 3.
I also play hide and seek with them while wearing the baby, although I found out the other day that hiding behind a door isnt a good idea with a baby on the front......