Question for moms w/kids in day care

Re: Question for moms w/kids in day care

• drpayne member

  May 2013

  SummerMomma2Be:

  So my almost 22 month old son for the past month has been Mr. Cranky Pants after daycare almost daily. He recently moved to the older toddler room on April 2nd for kids around 2230 months. He wakes up at 7:30, goes to school from 8 am5:30ish. He naps about 22 1/2 hrs there. We try to keep him happy when he's home. We take him outside, try to play with him, feed him dinner by 6. He will just find any excuse to cry or whine or throw a fit, even if he is doing something he enjoys. God forbid you tell him he can't do something, all hell breaks loose. I am guessing he is just so exhausted from being kept busy all day that his behavior is just a reflection of that. So do I put him down for a short nap as soon as he gets home from school and wake him up for a later dinner? Or just suck it up, do our best for a few hrs and put him to bed around 7:30/8? I dont know what to do. I feel terrible because the few hrs we get to spend with him are more exhausting and emotionally draining than they are fun.nbsp;Any solutions?

  
  
  I could have written this. I'm chalking it up to age!

  

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• ladylisalt member

  May 2013

  My situation is pretty similar. DS is 22 mos and the only difference is that I get him at 3:30. He often fusses for me right away or clings to me and whines over every little thing. Usually taking him outside is my best solution but he can throw a fit over something small too. May be an age thing. Its nice to know there are other mom's in a similar situation. I feel like the more they can make sense of the world around them and communicate, the more they will be easier to handle. Maybe....
  

  

  
  

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• lindslalala member

  May 2013

  I wouldn't do a nap that late, I would maybe put him to bed a little earlier than whatever is his normal bedtime.

  

  DS born 3.12 

  DD born 7.14

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• Jenny952 member

  May 2013

  I agree with pp about maybe trying for an earlier bedtime.  Even 1/2 hour earlier could make a big difference.  It may not need to be permanent and once he's getting back to normal, you could try moving his bedtime back.  It sounds like moving to a new room is really tiring him out and he just needs to get used to the new routine.

  

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• MrsT2008 member

  May 2013

  if you think he's fussy because he's tired, I'd just aim to put him to bed earlier.
  

  AVT - 12.2.11
  
  
  LCT - 5.15.14 ~ 9lbs, 22.5 inches
  
  

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• dragon_chica member

  May 2013

  Aside from the fact that your LO is approaching the "terrible 2's" it's pretty common for children to behave in this manner after spending the entire day away.  Our kids spend all day following someone else's rules, socializing, and learning how to behave in a proper way.  When they get home they finally get to decompress and that's how they express it.  As adults we may drink a beer, play on the internet, etc to decompress from a day of work.  Our kids don't have those outlets so the only thing they can do is react to how they're feeling by being whiny, clingy, fussy, etc.
  

  

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• CariH20 member

  May 2013

  This is the same with my 18 month old. He is especially whiney and clingy with me after daycare as opposed to DH. He is so bad for me but an angel with his daycare teachers and DH. Ughh

  

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• Snow1010 member

  May 2013

  Your schedule sounds just like ours!  I would think that 12 hours of sleep and 2.5 hour nap is pretty good (but I could be wrong).

  Our DD is 21 months old and last week she was the same exact way...a bug grump when she got home.  This week, she's been fine.   I'd chalk it up to typical behavior for this age or maybe a phase.  
  

  

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• Dizzbomb member

  May 2013

  I would echo what others suggested with the earlier bedtime.  When our daughter switched to the bigger kids room she too would be just exhausted at the end of the day.  It was a race to get home and get a little bit of food in her before she'd be toddling off to her crib and practically begging to be put in (often gathering up her pacifier and water bottle and throwing them into bed first).  She went to bed a full half hour (plus, sometimes) earlier than when she was in the baby room at daycare.  This went on for a few months.  She eventually got used to it and now goes to bed at about 6:30/7.  It induced a lot of guilt though!  I felt terrible that she was so tired all the time. 
  

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• M&M227

  May 2013

  It sounds like the age.  Also is he teething?  My DD is the same age and is getting her 2 year old molars.  I would try for an earlier bedtime if you think he's that tired.  Maybe once he adjusts to the new room he'll be ok with a later bedtime.

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• SummerMomma2Be member

  May 2013

  Thanks ladies this was helpful! We do always give him a snack and milk while waiting for dinner..so that does help a little. Today I gave him a snack in the car too. I am definitely going to consider an earlier bed time. I guess it's just part of the process and like previous posters stated, it's how he expresses his exhaustion. So hopefully better times will come, when he is more used to this busy schedule at school. Btw we put him down usually around 730 and he sleeps 12 hrs every night. So I am thinking maybe try putting him down at 7 instead. Trial and error I suppose
  

   

  

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• meg1974 member

  May 2013

  I'm not sure it has to do with lack of sleep. It might just be an age thing. My DD has been cranky and fussy for a few months as well, and I've been struggling with trying to figure out why. Lots of people tell me it's normal for this age. 

  One way to tell would be to look at how he acts on the weekends. Does he act tired earlier in the day than when he takes his nap at daycare? Does he sleep longer for naps when at home? 

  
  
  
  
  

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