Sleep Time Help

My son stopped taking naps just about that age, it might be time to try that. Also 730 seems early (which will lead to an earlier wake time). My boys are 20 months apart and also shared a room at that age, I always put them asleep at the same time and they usually slept together by choice.

sounds like you're expecting him to sleep way more than he actually can.

work with the toddler you have, not the toddler you expect.

cut out the nap, or move his bedtime back to something more reasonable.

when he started monkeying around yesterday he'd been in bed for almost 12 straight hours. he's only 2. he's not going to lie there and read the newspaper, KWIM?

khairete
S.

He probably doesn't need to sleep from 7:30 to 6:00 am every night in addition to his nap. If he has woken up by 6:15 and is turning on the light and turning off the fan, he's done sleeping. Maybe he isn't tired at 7:30 (that seems very early).

Remember, at 2 years old, what worked a couple of months ago (or even 1 month ago) may not apply any more.

Stop looking at the clock and watch him. What does your son's body tell you he needs?

You're hoping for ds2 sleeping 11 hours at night *plus* a midday nap?! No way!

Eliminate the nap and bedtime at 8pm.

Your son does not need to sleep as much as you think he does, and he does not necessarily need to sleep when you think he does.

Nap should not be at 12:40 because it's 12:40. Nap needs to be when your son is sleepy. Bedtime doesn't need to be at 7:30 (Wow is that early!!!) Bedtime should be when your son is tired enough to go to bed.

It's good to have a predictable routine, but you are really saying to him, "Ok, routine is done, now sleep." When he is not ready to sleep, you are thinking, "What's wrong with you? I did the routine, the clock says 7:30. Sleep!" Whether or not your son is tired doesn't even seem to enter your mind!

I'm sorry if I sound frustrated with you, but you are dealing with the exact same problem that you posted about in May and in June. Your question really is, "Why doesn't my son need to sleep according to the schedule I have randomly created for him?" My question to you is, "Why are you so opposed to allowing your son to sleep when he is tired and allowing him to get out of bed when he is awake?

All three of my kids stopped napping at two, much to my dismay. If we had a super full day they might drop off in the car (and I'd let them sleep) or sometimes lay down with me in my bed and take a nap WITH me, but usually mid day meant cuddling on the couch with a video. Maybe if you stop the nap and just have some downtime instead bedtime will be easier.

My kiddos all had different bedtimes because different schedules for daycare or if they were home with me - but ultimately, they went to bed when really groggy, so it wasn't too hard to just pop them in bed and they konked out at that age. I didn't have your problem. I did not drag out the bedtime routine. It was one board board, a kiss, into bed, lights off. They were asleep within minutes.

Mine did not share rooms at 2. Mine sometimes got up around 6 am at that age. I think that was fairly common if I can recall. They were usually hungry.

As for naps, some of mine gave them up around 2 1/2 or so. Or some did some days, but not others. I didn't have a set routine. I never would have returned them to bed. I don't think any of mine slept in bed for naps at that age. Crashing on the couch, or wherever was more the norm. I was kind of encouraging sleeping at night and just cat napping at that age - so they would drift as needed during the day - and often would with noise going on around the house.

I found then they would sleep very soundly at night.

We also got lots of activity during the day. After dinner (evenings) was gym time at our house. That could mean dad lay on floor and kiddos all piled on top of him - but it meant that they were active rather than watching shows, for part of the evening any how. Or they headed outside for a bit. That seemed to help too.

My son stopped napping around 2 I'm afraid to report. My daughter was a dream and napped until 5, but my son really bummed me out! It kinda sounds like maybe you're headed down that road. I know you don't want it and I know he probably still kind of needs it, but...

Nither of my kids would take a nap after age 2. bedtime was snack, brush teeth. Books, hugs, lights out. we turned the lights off at ceiling level (pull chain on the ceiling fan unit) we would put them in bed. And if they got up they were returned to bed. We were consistant. We were strict. We didn't make a scene with it just brought them back to bed and said goodnight.

I made them play outside as much as possible. Didn't let them have sugary snacks after dinner.. Occasionally we had to discipline them for getting out of bed too many times. But they quickly learned that toys were taken away if they got up to much.now they are older and have reading lights and are allowed to read after lights out. But if we hear them talking or making noise playing the book light is unplugged for the night.

How does he get to the light? He shouldn't be able to reach the light. However he's doing it, take away that ability. He shouldn't be able to make this choice.

If he's taking forever to take his nap, perhaps it's time for the nap to go away so that he'll need to sleep better at night.

You can require him to stay in his room without coming out. Tell him that it is quiet time and that he must stay in his room. Put two baby gates up if you have to in order to keep him from leaving the room. His room, of course, should be completely baby-proofed. Don't keep coming into him. The more you do that, the more he will misbehave to get you to come to him.

You are the one who should be controlling how long it takes to put him to bed at night. Little kids will draw out the bedtime routine forever if you let them. No more long routines. He will likely be very fussy after dropping his nap. But you require him to stay in the room without going in there. No light, no stimulus. If he falls asleep in the floor, fine. Children will eventually sleep where they are most comfortable, and that's the bed. He just has to understand that you won't come in and play with him.

Put your other son's bedtime to 8:30. That will give you some time to get him acclimated.

Around 3 in the afternoon do what you can to run him around outside as much as possible.
Getting him using his muscles in the afternoon really helps time him out for bedtime.
The other thing is to maybe get the controls for fan / light out of his reach.
Or maybe they need separate rooms.
Our son napped till he was 7 yrs old.