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How do I get my son to go to bed earlier?

mrsbookwormmrsbookworm member
in Toddlers: 24 Months+

If your toddler goes to bed early (7:30 p.m. or before), does he/she nap at all during the day?  If so, for how long and around what time?  My 2 y/o son naps for between 2 and 2-1/2 hours starting around 12:30-1 and never wants to go to bed before 9-9:30 p.m. He wakes up around 7-7:30 a.m.  I'm trying to figure out how to get him to bed earlier so I can have some quality time with DH in the evenings.

 Some have suggested taking him outside to play to tire him out in the evenings, but we have a 45 minute to 1 hour commute and don't get home until almost 7 p.m. so he has to eat dinner then bathe when we get home.

Heeeeeeeeelp!  Any advice is welcomed...

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Re: How do I get my son to go to bed earlier?

  • mrsbookwormmrsbookworm member
    Oh, and BTW, it seems like his evening bath energizes him.  As soon as he is out of the bathtub, he starts running around like crazy.  Half the time I can barely even towel dry before he's running away in a playful manner.  Could the bath be keeping him up?
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  • brittneycc1982brittneycc1982
    That's about the time M goes to bed, sometimes earlier.  Since you get home so late that seems about right to me.  You might just have to stay up a little later for your DH. ; )
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  • jen5-03jen5-03 member

    If you're getting home at 7, is dinner ready when you get there? Or do you still have to cook so dinner is not until 7:30 or so? I'm not sure that any earlier than 8:30 is realistic.

    I do think the bath can be keeping him up, can you give him a bath in the morning?

    I would just work at getting him to sleep 15 minutes earlier and once you get there work on moving it up anothe 15 minutes.

    Just be warned that he might get up earlier and earlier. I'd be thrilled if my DD slept that late! She goes to bed at 8:30 and wakes up at 6:30.

     

     

    - Jena
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  • moroccojademoroccojade member

    DD was napping around 1 pm until recently.  She'd sleep for 45-120 minutes (really depended on the day.)  She didn't fall asleep at night till somewhere between 8:30 and 9:30.

    Our life is changing in a big way this fall-- she's going to preschool in the afternoons.  No way we'd be able to nap earlier, so we've cut out naps with great success.

    She's in a good mood all day.  Has a bit of quiet time in the afternoon.  She's a bit drowsy at dinner (5-ish)...   we give her a bath at 6:30 or 7...  falls asleep between 7 and 8.  

    It might be worth experimenting with nap length -- and even cutting it out altogether.  Kids all react differently to such things.  Give it a try, you might find something that works better...

     

    Or perhaps not!  You might just have to deal with that late bedtime if shortening or cutting out the nap  turns your little one into a bear.  ;)

    Daisypath Happy Birthday tickers
    Lilypie - (C6hS)

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  • cjtcccjtcc
    Have you tried lavender baby wash? The scent is calming- works wonders on TJ. He gets a bath at 6:30 and he's in bed by 7.
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