Toddler moms: need help on winding down time

maribel922

DS has always been a good sleeper (or shall I say, he has since we
Ferberized at 7 mo).  I digress.  He used to go to sleep pretty easily.  He'd maybe wind down for 15 minutes or so and then it was out for the night.  The past month or so, however, his wind down time is like an hour or more.  He's not being bad.  He's in his bed, having a little party with himself, chatting and singing and the like.  Instead of sleeping for like 12 hours like he used to, it's more like 10.5 hours, because he's going to bed later and getting up at the same time.

Does your toddler do this?  I am assuming it's okay.  The only other thing I can think of to do to curb it is put him to bed earlier... Thoughts? 

lilrunner

My daughter is in her room / bed singing to herself as I type.  I figure as long as she is happy, I'm fine with it.  (And same thing - dropped from 11 hours to about 9 hours.)

She does the same thing at naptime.  If she hasn't fallen asleep after 2 hours, I go get her (and call it "quiet time" for that day).  Yep...I wait 2 hours b/c she's happy the whole time.  Running around playing with her dolls and reading books. 

kimbiebride

W does this too.  If we put him down earlier, he just talks longer.  Unless, of coure, he's absolutely worn out from lots of mommy-induced activity that's absolutely meant to wear him out.

mcgee

Do you have a consistent bedtime routine? I found with Meredith that a consistent wind-down routine really helped. A relaxing bath, dress for bed, had a small bed-time snack (something with protein to keep her from waking up hungry during the night), brush teeth, snuggle in bed and read stories together, and then lights out with soft music playing is what we do.

Doing this means that if we want her in bed by, say, 8pm, we may have to start all of that by 7 pm. We also try to limit her evening play to more quiet activities like drawing, reading books, playing with her inside toys, etc. instead of running around outside or riding her trike. That was a big adjustment for DH, because he was used to coming home and chasing Meredith around the house, playing tickle monster, and otherwise getting her totally hyped up... and then getting frustrated when she didn't want to lay down and go to sleep.

maribel922

mcgee:

Do you have a consistent bedtime routine? .

 

  We do have a consistent night time routine that he's had since he was itty bitty (bath, books, milk), but I wonder if perhaps starting a little earlier, like you said, might be a good idea.   Lately, he has been playing with the kids in the neighborhood after dinner, wherein I'm sure it's wearing him out a little more, also means we are rushing the nighttime routine.  Hmmm

lilrunner

maribel922:

mcgee:

Do you have a consistent bedtime routine? .

 

  We do have a consistent night time routine that he's had since he was itty bitty (bath, books, milk), but I wonder if perhaps starting a little earlier, like you said, might be a good idea.   Lately, he has been playing with the kids in the neighborhood after dinner, wherein I'm sure it's wearing him out a little more, also means we are rushing the nighttime routine.  Hmmm

We have a consistent routine too.  However, no matter what time we start...she still plays for a long time.  In fact, sometimes she ASKS to go to bed before we are even ready.  I suspect so that she can play.