The nearly 3-year old in our house has had a hard time going to sleep lately, but is taking mega naps in the afternoons...we still put him to bed around 7:30, but he seems to lounge and talk and play a bit until 8 or 8:30 these days - sometimes even 9. We don't have blackout shades; I was thinking about going that route, but since he's napping so well (knock wood), I haven't. He is going on 3+ hours of napping right now. He usually does 2-3 hours when we have enough active playtime in the mornings, but they seem longer these days. Just wondering if others experience this in the summer - I don't remember last summer & he was such a different kid then!
The high-talking is just a little hang-up that I am having...in the last 2 days, he has started to use this higher pitched voice that sounds a little baby-ish to me. We do have a baby, but he's only 10 weeks, so not talking yet. His dad says that he doesn't hear it, but it's driving me nuts. This, too, shall pass??
About the high pitched baby voice....perhaps he is emulating you and the other adults around you. It is quite natural for adults to speak in "parentese" around a baby...everyone changes there voice into a higher pitched babyish tone when speaking to an infant. That is my guess:)
My son, is like that.
Meaning, he takes naps every afternoon for 2-3 hours.
He needs it, he is tired after an active day, and even HE will tell me he wants to nap. And he does.
If he does not nap, he turns into an overactive fussy Troll.
His napping, does not interfere with his bedtime though. He goes to bed around 8-8:30.
What time is he napping?
Before bedtime, make everything calm.
He needs to wind-down, BEFORE bed time. Not 'at' bedtime.
Put him to bed later. Not 7:30. What about 8:00?
His screeching will pass.
Its a phase.
With the naps I would shorten them if you want your 3 year old to go down at 7:30pm, or be ready to move bed time back to 8:30. Either way around 3 years of age my daughter napped no longer then 2 hours UNLESS she was sick then I let her sleep until she woke up. At age 4 nap went for 1-2 hours, around 4 1/2 we do 1 hr quiet time which sometimes she falls asleep other times she reads a book or plays with stuff animals quietly.
The high talking, I guess I never saw that with my little one but she is an only child. We did see the non-stop talking, which I think is very much her personality so we are just going at it from a be respectful, do not interrupt others and no need to repeat something unless it is extremely important like you or other is hurt or something bad/dangerous/unusual is happening. If she is whiny I simple say "I do not understand whining please your indoor voice." As someone else said it could be that your 3 year old is mimicing the way others are talking to the baby, as you know toddler are very much monkey see, monkey do phase (same goes for actions & speech).
voice: "I'm sorry i'm having trouble understanding you. can you use your billy (or whatever) voice?"
3 hr nap at 3. wow. my daughter goes to bed at 7/7:30 at 3 and she doesn't nap at all. so i guess just choose which you want, a break or nighttime to yourself!
Nap times are too long but then again they are nice.He must be going through a growth spurt plus the seasons have changed.Keep him on the schedule do your usual routine.The talking toddler no it will not pass it keeps getting better :)They have lots to say
My oldest gave up napping at age 3, and her younger sister at age 2 since it was more fun to stay up with her sister. They napped shorter and shorter, so it sound to me like you need to cut his naps short, just wake him up after 2 hours. Or you could try to keep him up a day and see how it affects his bedtime.
Shorten his naps by an hour or so to see if he's able to go to sleep at his regular bedtime. 2 hours should be the max at this age, otherwise it really interferes with night sleep. Most toddlers sleep 10-13 hours a day, so if he's sleeping 3 hours or more during naps, the most you can realistically expect him to sleep at night is not quite 10 hours, and waking between 5 and 6 am.
Toddlers need a bedtime routine from 15 to 30 minutes long to help them relax and get ready for sleep, so start around 7 and include calming activities such as a bath, reading a story, and listening to soft music. Then no lounging and talking and playing, it's lights out and bedtime. Don't allow the routine to become too long or too complicated. Allow your son to make bedtime choices within the routine like which pajamas to wear, which stuffed animal to take to bed, what music to play. This gives him a sense of control over the routine so he's a part of it and more apt to follow through.
As far as the higher-pitched voice pay close attention to what he's watching on TV, and those he hears talking around him. It sounds as if he's imitating someone. I was wondering where my guy, who's 26 months, was picking up a distinctive way of talking (not bad) and realized he's talking like Caillou on Sprout.
Maybe his naps are too late in the afternoon?
my sons about the same age. i got the black out shades last year, but didn't really need 'em, but DAMN, this year seems SO different than last in regards to putting him to bed. i was always straight up 7p bedtime for my DS, but now, it just kinda lingers around 8p, i try not to go past that. but it's light out until 10p practically so it's hard to go to sleep i'd imagine! plus, maybe just SHORTEN the naps. i'm w/you though girl, knocking on wood for them to stay as long as possible! but i think a good solid 2 hr nap is good, longer is cool, but i wouldn't let it go past 4p b/c then you still have to burn a buncha energy for bedtime, y'know? jmo! good luck...idk how you do it w/a 10 wk old baby! :)
