Toddler nap/bed time help please

NorcalLinds

I'm feeling really defeated these days in the sleep department! I can't tell if its what i'm doing or its the age and we just need to get through it.

1. Bed time: Lasts about 45min-1.5 hours before he actually falls asleep, not counting bath, books etc. He has been having a lot of trouble setteling himself down. I have tried early bed time, later bed time, not going in at all for 45min, not giving into his demands for more milk, water, lovey, paci, dadda, books.

2. Nap time: today it was 2 flipping hours before the kid fell asleep. I had to resort to bouncing him on the exercise ball for 30min. Fu** I just can't do it!

Wonderful, hes up. That was a 30min nap today. Woo Hoo!

My.ABC.Life

I assume its not a quiet 45 min to fall asleep?  It takes our little guy a while (sometimes an hour) to tune down too... but he's just taking etc... so we let him.

2bearichards

Remind me, how old is he?  Is he still in a crib?

NorcalLinds

My.ABC.Life:

I assume its not a quiet 45 min to fall asleep?  It takes our little guy a while (sometimes an hour) to tune down too... but he's just taking etc... so we let him.

he kind of alternates between whinning/crying/screaming/talking before I go back up there. He just keeps getting up earlier and earlier, so i wonder if hes so over tired. this morning it was 5:30am

I just went up to get him and he was hysterical for dadda.... maybe this last long trip really screwed with him

NorcalLinds

2bearichards:

Remind me, how old is he?  Is he still in a crib?

hes 17 months and still in his crib.

futrkingsley

NorcalLinds:

2bearichards:

Remind me, how old is he?  Is he still in a crib?

hes 17 months and still in his crib.

Both issues sound about right for that age from other stuff I've read as well as living through it with C.  He was previously an easy to bed kid and suddenly just would fight going to sleep.  Since then it gets better and worse periodically but overall is about the same -- takes longer to settle at night and he goes to bed later. 

Eighteen months is also a time when lots of kids have sleep regressions.  So he could be early or it could be missing daddy like you suspect.

I hope it gets better soon.

My.ABC.Life

Perhaps its an age thing... but I might try changing up his bedtime routine.  Bedtimes started getting difficult for us a couple months ago... so in addition to bath, book, milk... we walk around the house saying "good night" to things - the cat, pictures, the TV, the fan, etc.  Andrew waves and says goodnight as we go along.  By the time we get to his crib, he says good night to us and is off (well... 30 min of talking later).

2bearichards

I was thinking it might be early 18 month sleep regression, check out this link

https://moxie.blogs.com/askmoxie/2006/04/qa_18month_slee.html

 

teambaumer

Z is 20 months and we were/are having sleep issues here as well.

Bed Time: We moved up her routine from 6p to 7p. That has seemed to work. AlsoI have kept things in her crib to keep her busy if she isn't ready to fall asleep. The last few nights she has been talking to lovey and other toys she has hanging on her crib.

Nap Time: That is total different story. So I came to the conclusion that morning naps are now out of the picture.Up to about 2 weeks ago she would grab my hand in the morning and ask for nite-nite. Enter last week and she is hysterically crying during the regularly scheduled nap time. So I decided ok, no more am nap. That has worked. Now usually at 2p she is out. I started by starting nap routine at usual time and when it didn't work moved it up an hour. Hence, 2p nap that has been working for the last few days.

She was freaking me out because she was throwing tantrums and screaming (she is not usually a screamer). Let's see how she does. Good luck Linds!

teambaumer

My.ABC.Life:

Perhaps its an age thing... but I might try changing up his bedtime routine.  Bedtimes started getting difficult for us a couple months ago... so in addition to bath, book, milk... we walk around the house saying "good night" to things - the cat, pictures, the TV, the fan, etc.  Andrew waves and says goodnight as we go along.  By the time we get to his crib, he says good night to us and is off (well... 30 min of talking later).

Oh, this worked for us too. She says good night to everything (even for nap) and we let her turn off the lights. Also, in the last few days I have just looked her in the eye and talked to her. For example, today for nap she was ready to kick and scream, so I told her: "I understand that you do not want to go to bed right now, but you do need to rest. Please give mama 5 and rest. If you are not tired or sleepy just call mama." Yes!! I reasoned with a 20 month old. She was out in 3 minutes flat! I have used that technique with other behaviors as well.

NorcalLinds

thanks ladies! what the heck would i do without the bump?? I will try the good night to everything and i will check out that link, thank you so much. He is just a couple weeks away from being 18months, crazy talk.

Hes been really dadda obsessed lately, i feel bad for him. Dadda is not home much and i don't think thats changing any time before dadda retires!

 

My.ABC.Life

NorcalLinds:

Hes been really dadda obsessed lately, i feel bad for him. Dadda is not home much and i don't think thats changing any time before dadda retires!

Any chance part of your bedtime routine can be a quick (1 minute) call to Dada to say goodnight?

NorcalLinds

My.ABC.Life:

NorcalLinds:

Hes been really dadda obsessed lately, i feel bad for him. Dadda is not home much and i don't think thats changing any time before dadda retires!

Any chance part of your bedtime routine can be a quick (1 minute) call to Dada to say goodnight?

I have thought about that a lot, but i was worried it would confuse him or make it worse. Its worth a shot though, worse case scenerio we don't do it anymore!

NCSW

NorcalLinds:

My.ABC.Life:

NorcalLinds:

Hes been really dadda obsessed lately, i feel bad for him. Dadda is not home much and i don't think thats changing any time before dadda retires!

Any chance part of your bedtime routine can be a quick (1 minute) call to Dada to say goodnight?

I have thought about that a lot, but i was worried it would confuse him or make it worse. Its worth a shot though, worse case scenerio we don't do it anymore!

I think the call and saying goodnight to everything are great ideas. The "saying goodnight" routine has really helped Maddie (esp. for nap time).

risysmama

NorcalLinds:

My.ABC.Life:

NorcalLinds:

Hes been really dadda obsessed lately, i feel bad for him. Dadda is not home much and i don't think thats changing any time before dadda retires!

Any chance part of your bedtime routine can be a quick (1 minute) call to Dada to say goodnight?

I have thought about that a lot, but i was worried it would confuse him or make it worse. Its worth a shot though, worse case scenerio we don't do it anymore!

We incorporate that into our daily bedtime routine.  DH is usually at work so we'll call his cell, listen to his voicemail and DD will leave a message.  We even take pictures to send to him so he's included in the bedtime routine as well, lol.