Playful Sleeper

She is in control of the bedtime situation...you need to take that control back. Tell her it is nap/bedtime, do your usual routine, read a book, sing, etc... then lay her in bed and leave the room. If she gets up put her back. The reason she is putting up the fuss is b/c she's learned that when he does it she gets her way. After she realizes she is no longer in control she will stop the fussing. I also have a 2 year old daughter and have been threw this with her. Be consistant...good luck!

Bedtime battles? Put childhood bedtime problems to rest
Want your child to go to bed without a fuss — and stay there? Start with a predictable, calming bedtime routine.

You're past middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes, but a good night's sleep is still elusive. Maybe bedtime has turned into a battle of wills, or you're struggling to get your child to stay in his or her bed all night. Worse yet, these bedtime battles may be leaving your child tired and cranky during the day. Consider these simple strategies to put the most common bedtime problems to rest — starting tonight!

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/child-sleep/CC00020

Hi M.,

Your daughter sounds like my son! He also loves to play instead of sleep. I have started giving him quiet time instead of naps and if he falls asleep within an hour then I leave him until he wakes, if he has not fallen asleep I take him out and he goes to bed early that night. On the days he does not nap his bedtime is moved up by almost an hour and he is out asleep usually within 10 minutes.

At 2 while naps are convenient for us, not all children need them.

Hope this helps! Good Luck!

She gives you grief because you allow her to give you grief. For nap time - explain that she needs to rest for a specified amount of time. Set a timer. Tell her she does not have to go to sleep- but she has to stay in her crib. So what if she plays there. If she is tired - she will fall asleep. then - do not go back in there til the timer has gone off. If she cries - she cries - so what.

At nightime - set the desired ritual, ie: bath, brush teeth, storytime, bed. Clearly explain this is the pattern - and once the ritual is complete - put her to bed - and leave the room! The more you keep going back or trying to talk her into going to sleep - is just reinforcing her behavior - she is obviously pulling the strings on her puppet - which is you!

If you are ci=onsistent - she will get the message. good luck!

About me - a working mom of two grown kids, married 31 yrs.

My oldest daughter went through this as well. I tried everything to get her to nap, but she was really through with naps before she turned two. For bed, I had a very strict routine and would just read to her until she fell asleep. The pediatrician also told me that some people are more nocturnal--not what you want to hear. Make certain she gets enough exercise every single day 45 minutes to an hour minimum. Good Luck!

I have two suggestions. First get a cd player and some classical or new age music. Find a song or two that she really likes. For our oldest daughter it was a song by rascal flatt that she called "the teardrop song" we would put it on repeat and it would put her right to sleep. The thing that works for my son is for me to read. I have older girls and read outloud from Beverly Cleary books. He enjoys the stories, but the sound of my voice puts him to sleep. I have to dedicate at least 15 minutes to reading but walking out of there not dreading the constant popping out of bed is worth those few minutes. I have also grown to enjoy this quiet time with the kids. Good luck.

Hi Moriaz. Try to cut her afternoon nap a little shorter. She may not be tired when you put her down. Also try to keep her from getting too wound up before bedtime. Bath and a bedtime story and that's it. Off for the night. Won't work immediately but with time I think you may see a difference. She may be the type of child that does not require alot of sleep (nap time). Good luck.

L.

I just got done making the cutest little "Bedtime Routine" poster for my daughter. I took pictures of her doing things that she would do befor bedtime. Ours includes Going potty, brushing teeth, getting a drink, putting on chapstick, changing to jammies, reading a story, jumping into bed and getting sweet dreams. She loves it and thinks it is so much fun to follow the chart to bed time. We had some "reprograming" to do after a 3week visit to Oma's house. I put clear contact paper over it and posted it in the bathroom. (I made one for her scrapbook too.)

My daughter was going through this as well and I finally gave up one night and HAD to get some sleep! It took about a week, but I did the cry-out method....except she never really cried. I would put her in her crib and cover her up and then walk out the room and shut the door. She would whine a bit and I would go back in and lay her down, turn around and leave and shut the door. But for a bout an hour afterwards she would still be up singing and playing in her crib, but eventually she would fall asleep and sleep all night!! But it was a process, but it worked. Now I do that every night and she just turns over when I put her in and falls straight to sleep. She understands that it's time to go to sleep. Hope that helps a little, good luck!!

My daughter's the same way. I would try to tire her out throughout the day. Long walks swimming. My daughter is much less energetic at bedtime after our more active days. So am I...