2.5 Yr Old Suddenly Not Wanting to Go to Sleep at Night

Check out Mary Sheedy Kurcinka's book, "Sleepless in America." She really helped me with my boys, and she might have some tips for you. One thing I know she would recommend is to stop watching a video before bed even if it seems low key or relaxing. There is something about the lights from screens (computers) too that have a physiological effect on the brain and can interfere with sleep. Mary told me no TV, computers, any type of screen after dinner when my boys were little. Good luck.

I wish I had some good advice for you, but all I can say is I am in the exact same situation! My son is also 2.5 and the last few months, bedtime has been a nightmare. He has really stretched out the routine - we used to be able to just read a couple of books and then sing one song before putting him down. Now we have to read, sing 3 songs, and stay for 5 minutes, and he still usually cries!

Anyway, if you think of a solution, please let me know!!!!

K.
http://www.discoverytoyslink.com/karenchao

I hate to tell you this....BUT...he might be ready to lose his nap. When my daughter stopped going to bed well we cut her nap out and it helped. Kids go through a sort of transition phase with naps. They still need them during the day but then don't go to bed well at night. With a nap our daughter went to bed at 8 and when we cut it, she was falling asleep at dinner but then sleeping through the night. So we cut the nap, made dinner earlier and a lot of nights she was asleep by 6:30. Now that she is older (4.5 years) she can make it through dinner and is ASLEEP by 7 pm. If you try this, don't be surprised if you go through up to a year of transitioning. Some days he won't make it through the day without napping and some days he will. Some days YOU will need him to nap (I miss nap time!) and you'll just have to plan on a later bedtime. Good luck!

I agree with a few posters that it may be time to cut the nap, but it also could just be a phase. Our 3 year old is just getting over a bedtime phase where he has to have the door open, or he wants a glass of water, or he needs a kleenex, etc. We remained consistent with his routine, told him it's time to close his eyes, and he's gotten much better. I considered cutting out the nap, but it doesn't seem he needs that yet. It doesn't sound like your son is having any real issues besides maybe wanting more time with Mommy and Daddy. I think that's what our son was after. When he learned he wasn't going to get it that way, he's gotten better. Good luck!

Yep, same thing happening here with our 2.5 year old. It's gotten a little better, but bed times are not very easy around here. Naps aren't very easy either, but when he does take one, it lasts 3-3.5 hours. I would suggest doing what you've always done, and not dragging things out. Our son keeps trying to get us to "snuggle one more time", go potty one more time, etc. I know it's all just to prolong his bed time. We also just switched to a "big boy bed" about a month ago. Although he loves it, and does stay in it at night, it seems to have happened right about the same time as all the fussing. Hang in there and be consistent. If he truly does not seem tired, then maybe it is time to skip his nap every other day and see how that goes. I wouldn't lose them completely until you see how he acts without one or two. My guess is he will still need them, though maybe shorter, or more sporadically.

Good luck!
T.
Barefoot Books Ambassador
www.ReadandGrow.com