Why is every now and then nap time such a struggle?

Question

My daughter is two years old and usually when I tell her it's nap time and we go to her room and tuck her in she will usually go to sleep and take a nap for an hour, but every now and then she won't go to sleep and she will spend an hour to two hours in her room in her crib playing. When this happens I'll go in her room yell at her to go to sleep and she will but occasionally she won't sleep period and I get so frustrated that I'll give up after two hours. How can I get her to understand that when I tell her to do something I expect her to do it. Most times she will look at me like she doesn't understand me and she look at me like I'm stupid. Please help...

Update:

She isn't playing with toys and the room is dark. I have taken every measure to let her know that her room is for nap time and bedtime. She doens't even play in her room when she is up during playing hours since her room is upstairs and her toys are downstairs. She will sit in her crib, kick the crib or wall, shake the crib, she will just about do anything but sleep.

? · Accepted Answer

I've always told my boyfriend that there is no 'off button' for kids. A nap is a chance to recharge and regain energy and to take a break from daily chaos. If she's sitting quietly in her crib, isn't that exactly what she's doing? If she needs sleep, she will. If she's quietly playing in her crib, count your blessings. Many toddlers cannot preoccupy themselves like that.

you wont like the answer · Answer

You cant take a two year old to their room and force them to sleep. If she is being quiet and she is happy in her crib then thats her down time and it doesnt matter if she actually sleeps or not.
Going in and yelling at her is cruel, and keeping her in there for an hour or two when shes not sleepy is mean, especially if she usually only have her in there for an hour nap and you trap her in there for 2, its too long for an awake 2 year old to be left to their own devices.
get her up and read to her is you feel she needs a rest time.

? · Answer

She is starting to realize that the world doesnt stop becasue shes napping and she wants to be apart of it. Tips to help this one. Clean her room/ put toys out of reach. If she can see them or cant reach them she wont be temped to get out of bed and play with them. Dim the lights or shut the curtins. That way she will know that its dark out or seem dark out. She will be more likely to lay down. I hope this helps

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Why is every now and then nap time such a struggle?

3 Answers