My 28 month old has a really hard time falling asleep in the night. He is tossing and turning, kicking his legs (kicking M. and dad) until we get so frustrated that we end up taking him to his rocking chair and rocking him. Sometimes he doesn't settle down even in the rocking chair. He wants to sleep in the bed, but just doesn't settle down even when he is very sleepy. He is very active during the day. He takes a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon , I tried waking him up early from his nap but then he is cranky the rest of the day.
How much do kids his age sleep in the afternoon? Do they still need a nap ? And I am wondering why he tosses and kicks so much! He used to sleep in his crib but now he sleeps in our bed as we don't have a crib here. No point buying one as we will be going back home in a few weeks.
Any advise? What should I change in his routine? Thanks!
It's most likely time to say good bye to the naps.
He will be fussy and cranky for about a week, but once he adjust the evening will get better and he will go to sleep easier.
You have already made a change (location) and that's why he isn't sleeping well. It appears that he likes his crib and DOESN'T like sleeping with you!
Can you make him a pallet on the floor?
The thing is, if you make it so he LIKES sleeping with you, then in a couple of weeks there's going to be a post about how to get him out of your bed. You can't keep changing him back and forth and think that it's going to go smoothly. If you don't want him to sleep with you on an ongoing basis, you need to get him out of your bed now. I bet he'll sleep better because he's used to not sleeping with you/anyone.
Can you buy an air mattress to put on the floor next to your bed and see if he'll sleep on that?
It's possible he's restless because he doesn't have enough room to stretch his body out.
Oh, keep the nap! At his age it is still appropriate, but I would agree that co-sleeping, if it is new to him is way too stimulating. We tried to co-sleep with my daughter on vacation (17 month old) and when she woke to find us in bed she was flopping all over with excitement. We ended up on the couch the next night ;-) air mattress or cot is a good option.
I have just written about this on my blog. We had a Baby Whisperer when my eldest was a baby and within a day she was sleeping 7pm-7am. Really. Have a read and best of luck! http://theycallmemummy.com/2012/09/10/sleep-training
Kids need naps and they are restless sleepers. If he's taking a 2-3 hour nap I would not end his naps. I would buy an inexpensive mattress or air mattress and put it on the floor next to your bed.
put him to bed an hour earlier. He is getting overtired and that is why he can't fall asleep. When kids get overtired they get hyper and can't control their body anymore, exactly like you described.
Kids that age should be getting 11 - 12 hours at night plus a 2 to 3 hour nap for a total sleep of 14 - 15 hours.
We have the same problem with 23 month old. Its hell to sleep with him! I think all kids are restless sleepers!
