My daughter is 2years 8months. She has always been a good sleeper and very easy to put down (until now). About 6 weeks ago she changed her normally 8pm bedtime to 9pm. This seemed fine to me as she was still waking at 7am and was happy. The last 4 days, however, she is still climbing the walls at 10pm. Last nite we even put her in the car for a drive at 10 and instead of falling to sleep like normal, she was up counting trees and cars til 10:30pm. She is also not staying asleep (waking at 4-5 am ready to start the day) and crabby all day long. Her naps have become difficult too...she fights it for over an hour, then sleeps from 1-3 hours. If she doesn't nap, she's falling asleep sitting up around 5pm, then staying up extra late at nite.
HELP. I can't cope and I know this is not enough rest for her. Is this a normal phase or something worrisome? Any idea how long this might last?
I know what you mean!!! I was referred to some sleep help items that kids just love and it has made them excited to go to bed and calmer for sleep! the sleep sheep makes a sound machine noise that calms the babies and kids. I got all 4 of the sleep-help items and they have been a DREAM!
C.
I had the same situation with my now 4 year old son.
Here is my advice: Cut out naps entirely unless absolutely necessary. Up your childs activity. A structured physical play time for one hour per day as well as several hours of unstructured play. Physical activity. Running, throwing a ball, chasing bubbles. And put that kid to bed at 6pm!
We fought with naps too, thinking he needed one. After struggling for too long, he'd fall asleep and sleep for hours, which made us think he really needed that nap. But then nighttime was awful. Way too much energy at night for a decent bedtime.
We cut the naps, realized that he needed some more physical activity. Here is a fact, kids do not get enough physical exercise by just being a kid and tooling around the house between blocks, Sesame Street and Little People. We listened to his cues, and if he needed to be in bed by 5:30pm (rarely) we did it. But a goal of 6pm bedtime is our rule and it's worked for our now 2 year old daughter as well. She doesn't always nap. If she falls asleep right away great, but I don't fight her on it. If it's taking her an hour to get down, then no nap and early bedtime.
Don't think an earlier bedtime means an earlier rise. Our kids sleep until 7 ish regardless of the time they go to bed.
It may take some time to get it right for your family schedule, but reading your post just screams cut naps and early bedtime with more activity. So reminiscent of my old situation. And if she's on her way to three years old, you need to consider maybe she's done with naps. It was so sad to realize that on my end...I needed him to have nap time! But when we really opened our eyes to what he was telling us, it all smoothed out and it was great.
If you're not ready to cut naps entirely cold turkey, try some good physical activity early in the day with a nice full tummy and then an early naptime and up by 1:30-2:30pm. With the second half of the day with a planned physical activity and your bedtime routine that includes an early start-that may work as well.
Good Luck
The only thing that comes to my mind is molars... I know they should have them by now but my daughter was a late tooth-getter so maybe yours is too? Mine slept horribly when her molars were coming in, with no other indication of pain or anything. good luck!
I am late answering this but only came across it today. I agree with one of the other answers that your situation "screams" get rid of the naps! I KNOW this is hard, and seems strange at such a young age...BUT both my kids (now 13 and 10) dropped their naps before 3 (mostly...sometimes on trips or when sick they still napped). My daughter was the worse...sounds like what you are going through. She would be literally climbing the walls at 11 p.m. if we let her nap even for 20minutes during the afternoon. We started putting her for "quiet time" (books music cuddling) in the EARLY afternoons but NO SLEEP. Then bedtime was about 7-8 and it was SO EASY getting her down. She would sleep till about 8-9 the next morning. I have friends who have kids who kept their naps till 5 years old, but many who dropped them prior to or about 3 years old...and all had similar issues with bedtime struggles. It is hard to get into the swing of it, but good luck and stick with it for at least a week to see if dropping all naps helps!
I feel you. This is phase. There were night where I'd put him down at 7:30 and he'll roll around, talk to himself, and kick his crib until 9:30. Then the separation anxiety kicked in, and that's another issue. This went on for like a month. After that, he didn't nap for SIX STRAIGHT WEEKS. I was about to give up on the nap. But I kept putting him down around the same time each day because he desperately needed it, and eventually it came back. The waking up early is part of this phase, too, and it could also be related to the fact that she's falling asleep so late (you know what they say, late bedtime, early rise; early bedtime, later rise). If she doesn't nap and gets sleepy around 5, I'd feed her quickly, give a quick bath (if you do it every night), and get her down for the night around 6:30. I know it sounds crazy early, but my son went to bed around 6:45 when he wasn't napping and then was getting up around 7. Good luck!
I would keep the naps but limit them to 1 hour and if she fights it for more than 1/2 hour forget about it and try again maybe later.
My 2 1/2 year old used to nap from 12-2:30 but the she started doing the same things, fighting the nap then sleeping too long and being up real late.
I pushed her naps back to 1 or 1:30 and she only sleeps for an hour. Then she is fine the rest of the day and she goes to sleep at 8.
Hi
I suggest you consult with a physician who is certified in NAET. My suggestion to you is that you visit NAET.com, order and read the book "Say Good-Bye to Children's Allergies." If you want to do more research on the subject, you may also want to go to narfnet.org (Nambudripad Allergy Research Foundatin). There are now over 9000 NAET certified practitioners world wide. I go to Dr. David Karaba in Fullerton and absolutely love him. His phone number is ###-###-####. One of the wonderful things about NAET is that for children or the infirm, they can be treated through a surrogate, i.e., you. Here is the description paragraph from the book information.
"Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies
By - Devi S. Nambudripad, D.C., L.Ac., R.N., Ph.D.
Paperback-1st Edition 2000
350 pages, 8.5’ X 5.5’ X .75’
ISBN: ISBN: 0-###-###-####-8-4
In Say Good-bye to Children’s Allergies, Dr. Devi S. Nambudripad, the developer of NAET®, will help you understand your child’s illness and will assist you in finding the right help to achieve better health for your child. This book will show you how certain commonly used products in your foods and environment can cause health problems in your child; how you can test your child in your privacy of your own home using the Nambudripad’s Testing Techniques described in the book. This book will educate you how your child’s health problems can relate to allergy, a traditionally under-diagnosed or misdiagnosed condition; and, how allergies can manifest into myriad symptoms that might seem unrelated. The author also provides remedies for mild conditions of common childhood ailments arising from allergies and how to find help in assisting your child find the right help for serious problems such as, asthma, hay-fever, common colds, sinus problems, milk allergy, peanut allergy, sugar allergy, hives, gastritis, vomiting, colic for newborns, ear infections, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, bronchitis, drug reactions, and many other conditions. Dr. Nambudripad explains how allergies are often the underlying causes to pediatric problems and how NAET® testing procedures and NAET® treatments can offer relief from these allergies. The book is supported by NAET® practitioners’ testimonials and patients’ success stories."
This is SO wild, all my friends have 2 year olds and this is the third or fourth story I've heard about the sleepless 2's. I wish I could remember where I've read about this but apparently around this time children start to realize they are there own person. Separate from Mommy and Daddy and it kinda freaks them out. What's been suggested is setting up a blanket near your bed. Sounds crazy but all the 2 year old wants is to know you are close. If you start co-sleeping again you might have a problem getting her back into her own bed. It's worked GREAT for two of my girlfriends, they tell their daughter that's she's to big to sleep in Mom & Dad's bed and that she can laid down until she's ready to go back to her bed. Kinda gives her the choice of floor or her nice big girl bed. I think the choice thing is key as it's apart of the whole I get to decide because I am my own person thing. Sorry I can't think of the right words to explain, hope this helps.
Dear A.,
Unhum, we had that very same problem with my gr grand daughter at two years old.
Just make sure that she goes to her bed as soon as lunch is over, and stays there for at least an hour, I turned the tv on, but some people don't like to do that. Maybe soft music in the room too. Books, dolls, but no getting down from the bed. Make her comfortable with sheets exposed and pillows abounding - that is one of the things that makes me comfortable - and then when it gets close to 2:30 - she HAS TO GET UP. No sleeping later than that. Then to bed early - after a warm bath and warm milk (with a bit of sugar in it).
Keep close to this schedule and you will be happier, and so will she. Good Luck, C. N.
She is probably overtired and needs to go to sleep at 8 pm..don't let her nap so late either. If she starts to get tired early, just put her to bed around 7. Just my thoughts.
