DS (he is 27 months old) usually had a nap between 1:30 and 2:30 or 2:00-3:00 but will not got to sleep at night until about 10:30. He fights us. He even fights me about taking naps. I mean if I left it up to him he would crash for a nap at 4:00PM/5:00PM every day.
Any suggestions? DH and I would LOVE to have him to sleep by 8:30 PM. We are expecting baby #2 in July and I'm getting nervous about this.
Thank you
Re: Suggestions on sleeping habits needed
how long is he sleeping at night?
If he's grumpy for a nap and night time, I'd assume he's overtired.
Thanks, I already know he is tired but wants to stay up and have fun, which is why is won't go to sleep:)
I would start making his room boring - you don't need to strip it down, but there should only be a few quiet options in his room - books and stuffed animals - so the only thing to really do there is sleep.
Then, you start slowly putting him to bed earlier - he'll protest of course, but that's because it's something new, not because it's bad or he's hurt or anything. If he wants to play quietly in his room for 30 minutes, that's OK, but bedtime needs to be bedtime.
This. If DSs room werent boring he would party all night. He only has books and stuffed animals in their
here is a wild idea, don't put him down for a nap!
sometimes when kids are growing they will go through phases of not wanting to nap to wanting to sleep for hours and hours.
i teach three year olds for a living-and trust me it will go the other way again, he'll want to sleep more.
but IMHO 10:30 is way too late for a 2.5 year old to go to bed. when are you supposed to have quiet adult time?
i would say, don't force him to nap, but instead, have him have "quiet" time, like in his bed or a playpen (whatever works for you) where you just let him be
HTH