When your toddler fights naptime

Our 2.5 year old still very much needs to take an afternoon nap, however being a toddler / a-hole means that she promptly refuses to go down for one. With three children about I don't have time for naptime fights or to sit with her in her room till she's fallen asleep. Some days I can't be bothered trying to make her sleep at all, something both my husband and I regret immensely once it's late afternoon.

If I'm out in the car during the day I can usually convince her to shut her eyes and drift off for at least a cat nap to see her through the day. But on days we're at home it's a battle to say the least.

I remember our eldest fighting naps at this age too but back then I usually had the time to be with her till she settled and so I didn't have to troubleshoot the problem.

The way I get around it with our head strong middle child is giving her an option of where to sleep. To begin with she was happy with staying in her own room and just going for a nap in her big sister's bed, but the novelty has worn off somewhat...

Nowadays I tend to give her the option of sofa/our bed (depends a bit on what I hope to achieve in the living room although she does sleep through most things anyway) or her own bed. Her bed becomes the threat if she doesn't just close her eyes and TRY to sleep, because I know full well if she just gives in she's so tired she WILL sleep. Instead of trying to get her to stay in her bed and fail for the best part of an hour, usually resulting in no nap at all, our new method usually only takes 5-10 minutes.

Today she decided she wanted to sleep in the travel cot we have out in the living room as a safe contained area to dump the cheeky baby in if we need to leave the room (mostly used so I can go for a pee). Pick your battles and if you want to win accept that you might have to compromise with the household tyrant!