Nap/bed Time

Hi T.~
My son is 32 months old and definitely still needs his nap. I have found with him, that he really does sleep better overall if he is well rested. At nap time/rest time and at bed time he has started saying that he isn't sleepy. I tell him that is fine, he doesn't have to go to sleep, but he needs to stay in his bed. We moved him to a twin size bed within the last couple of months. At nap time he will sometimes play on the floor, sometimes playing for a while and then getting in bed and going to sleep-other times not napping at all. This doesn't bother me either way-as long as he stays in his room and isn't crazy. Bedtime he must stay in his bed, but sometimes he does take a while to fall asleep.

It definitely sounds like your son needs his nap, so I would just put him down. Sounds like he has a build up of being overtired. I'd give him some books to look at and let him know that he doesn't have to sleep, but that he must stay in bed and rest. And if he is climbing out of his crib, I would put a gate in front of his door-mainly so he doesn't hurt himself if he climbs out while you are sleeping.

lol,its not funny but it is, i have a son who is 6 now and i remember that no nap issue like yesterday. I thought i was gonna go crazy. Not only are they not sleeping but you lose your break time. I would try keeping him up a little later like 9. He is prob used to 10 hours of sleep you just need to move those 10 hours. Going to bed early will cause him to wake early. He probably wont sleep more than 10 hours, with or w/o a nap. Good luck it wont last forever! :)

My son goes through these phases. Some kids can drop a nap at this age, but the way he is acting is telling me that he can't. It got to the point where my son was just exhausted and it sounds like you son is the same way. We (mostly my husband) had to take him in his room to nap and sit with him and actually hold him down while he cried. It sounds horrible, but it didn't take long for him to pass out. Once he did this a couple of times, he got back into the habit of napping and now we don't have any problems. I would say he has gone through this two or three times this past year and he still naps. Sometimes they get out of a habit and need to be softly pushed back into it. You hold him, sit in front of his door until he agrees to cuddle with you. During this time, he will pass out at some point! This might not sound like the best advice, but it worked quickly for us!

Hi T.. Recently my (nearly) 3 yr. old daughter did the same exact thing. She has always liked her nap times and will say she is ready for bed at night (7:45). A few weeks ago - it seemed to align when it was lighter out in the mornings/night time --she didn't want to sleep during the day. Then at night - because she was over-tired..she didn't want to sleep either.
What seemed to work for us - is I continued to tried to keep to her normal schedule (realizing nap time would soon not be needed) and eventually (2 weeks later) she was back on track happy to go to bed and get some rest.
Best of luck! L.

My daughter is now three and has been doing the same thing for awhile. They definitely need their naps. She no longer likes taking them and by dinner time misery has set in and taken over the house (haha). Your son may have outgrown is 8:00 bedtime. I know it is nice to have but you may have to move it up. This will help him sleep in and possibly take a better nap. How long are his naps? Maybe you should wake him up if they go over an hour. My 17-month old daughter has recently decided that going to bed at 8 is too early so she is up until 8:30 or 9 now. Another thing that I do is take them outside to play before naps and after dinner because this truly wears them out:) This is very age-appropriate. Keep in mind he has entered the "terrible two" stage. I noticed at 2 1/2 there were days when I wanted to cry she was so unruly, but my 3 yr old is just now leaving that stage. I have seen a huge turn around in the past 3 mos. It will get better just hang in there. I notice that distraction and entertain cure just about everything:)!!

T.,

I have a 2yr old and in the same situation. I think they are going thru a phase or a growth spurt. My son was up until 11pm last night and I have to go to work at 5am...I need help!

Hi T.,
I am a Grandma and so I know how frustrating the time when your chuld decides to give up theur nap can be. O would like to share some things that have worked for others.
Change his bedroom or playroom around.(probably would set better if it were his playroom) Make the lights so that they can be turned down to dim. Be sure to put a fish tank(they sooth the nerves) & a place he can use to crash & sleep. You might also want to fix up a system so that you can pipe in some siithing music.
When either his naptime comes or he begins to get cranky put him in this room to "play". You might want to start this time out w/ something that will grab his interest. Close the door & let nature take its course.
As he relaxes and gets tired he will lay down & sleep or he may get fascinated w/ the fish. In schools it is a trick that counselors use. When someone is causing trouble they will often place them in a small room which contains a sitting area and a fish tank, turn the lights to a soothing level and leave them there for 10 min before trying to counsel.
As he gets to the point that he no longer does this then he is probably ready to give up his nap but time in that room will still settle him down.
It is most likely counterproductive for you to be obviously fighting or resisting his attempts to give up his nap. Kids are famous for fighting any resistence that they feel so just make this time a reward and fun time.

Good Luck!

S.

I sounds like your son is just going through another phase. If this were me I would ajust his schedual. I would lye him down around noon or what ever time works for you. This would be nap time and I would stick to it. Some times my daughter dosnt want to nap but she has her nap time and that is that. If she just plays in her crib for that time than that is what she desides. Moms need a break too. Even if he isn't sleeping he is getting down time. If he is climbing out of the crib I would switch him to a tot bed. If he keeps coming out of the room either put a gait up or just keep walkin him back in and telling him it is bed time. Good luck with this I know it can be hard at times.

Do you read a bedtime story to him? Most of the time they will fall asleep before you get to the end of the story. It also gives you both some quality time together. I am a Christian so I read a bedtime children's bible story and also say prayers with mine. If he still is not sleepy you may want to turn lights off except for a nightlight if he wants one and then lay down with him and make up your own stories. This one really works like a charm. You can make one up that you can continue with a new story every night beginning where you left off before. Have you tried getting him a bed of his own? He will feel likea big boy and be excited about it. He is old enough to take out of his crib if he is big enough to climb out anyway. Climbing out is dangerous as he may fall and get hurt.

I am a grandmother and have raised 2 sons and 2 grandsons so I have had a lot of experience. One thing is to make sure after prayers, bible story and a story you make up that it is clear to him that is it and time for sleeping if he has not already fallen asleep. It has always worked with my boys.

It takes patience and time but children love routine and seem to adjust very well when they feel they are a part of the choices for everything.

Good luck and God Bless! I will be praying you find a solution as I know how frustrating it can be and mothers need rest too.

Let me know how you do OK?

D.