My 2yr. old has his days and night mixed up. I can rarely get him to go to bed before 2:30 or 3:00 a.m. I've tried everything and nothing works. I've tried no caffine, chocolate, or sugar. I've tried winding him down by reading to him. I've tried getting him to lay down at the same time every night. I've tried repeatedly putting him down as soon as he gets back up. He goes for 12 and 13 hours full force without a nap. And if he does want to take a nap it's not until he's been up for 8 hrs., then it's usually 8 or 9 pm. and I just have to keep him awake. If he does take an earlier nap it's cause he's riding in the car. And if he goes to sleep before he's been up for 10 or 11 hrs. it's just like a nap for him(sleeping 2 or 3 hrs.). If he does take a nap I don't let him sleep for more than 30 min. or 1 hr. cause he'll be ready to go for another 8 hrs. I'm at my wits end. Can someone help? Should I take him to the doctor or what?
2006-10-14 20:59:23 · 14 answers · asked by sweet.pjs1 5 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
stop him from having a day nap at all
i know this sounds rough but it works i had the same prob with baby no 2 she was a real cow for sleeping of anight when she got to 2, ........ stop the day sleeps and just persaveer you are doing everything right also try sprinkling some lavender oil on his pillow to make him sleep easier
2006-10-14 21:11:26 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your kid has control of your house. You have no control over him and from what you say he's making that clear. You're the parent and should have the control over bed time and things like that.
I'd get him to bed by 8 pm. Then you can wake him up at 7 or 8. If he does have a nap I'd limit it to 30 minutes in the middle of the day. Again, you're the parent. You can wake your child up after 30 minutes. At least make him lay down for half an hour.
This will probably be hard at first. You will have to keep putting him back to bed. Don't read him a story or tuck him in or go through a long ritual. Just lay him down, inform him that he must stay there and ignore his whining about wanting to get up and needing a drink of water. Lay this out for him before hand. Explain what will be happening now and why. Don't just leave him thinking that you went from him controlling everything to you being a big jerk (which isn't the case, but you know kids).
I'd have him stop doing anything overly active or eating any big meals at least a couple hours before bed. You could even have him take a bath at night, sorta like a ritual that after the bath he'll go to bed. Also baths are relaxing and Johnson & Johnson has that lavender body wash (lavender is supposed to be relaxing). Have him do something really active during the day, don't just plop him in front of the tv. Have him run around outside. Make him do creative activities. Don't listen to him if he says he's not tired he needs to lay down anyway or he's going to have this control over you and your house and his bedtime until well after he's grown.
Good luck.
2006-10-14 21:16:51 · answer #2 · answered by Mariah 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Okay - sounds like you need to STOP the naps comletely - and get your son up at 6.30am everyday. He probably is a typical boy and needs lots of physical play to wear him down - go for walks rather than ride in the car - DO NOT LET HIM SLEEP - You will need a regular routine, bath, maybe a massage if he will let you, a story and bed - regardless of if he is tired or not, he needs to be in his room by at least 7.30 pm - now this is going to take willpower, you will need to do controlled crying, put him in his room to bed and (he can play with his toys as sometimes it is distraction and the idea is they get used to being in the bedroom first) - you need to say goodnight etc.. - turn the lights out, have a little night light and make sure the curtains are closed, play some relaxing music (classical is good as it is known to help intellegence levels) - and then leave - if he cries / screams, leave for 1 min then return, give him a hug, reassure and then leave, do this continually and increase the time you leave him for. NOW this will require willpower and you need to be consistent - no point doing it if you cant follow through with it.
2006-10-14 21:08:25 · answer #3 · answered by schmushe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if he don't go down until 8 to 9 hours after running around all day. And it is 8 or 9 pm. before he takes a nap. You need to get him on a schedule. Meaning waking him up in the morning before lunch time. Try getting him up in the morning no later than 9 am. Allow him to eat breakfast than start your day. A walk in the park. Watching a education program with a lot of singing and dancing. There are a lot of those shows on in the morning on several cable channels. Then don't allow him to take a nap until 12 noon. After feeding him lunch. But don't allow him to sleep to long. A hour no more then two hours; set your alarm clock if you have to. Then allow him to play while you start dinner. After dinner he will be so tired he will be sleep before 8.00pm. And he will stay asleep all night. But you have to sick to your schedule. So his body can get use to getting up and going to sleep at a certain time.
2006-10-14 23:14:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My Goodness, you just described my 2 year old son, too!!! What's worked for us now, is, we skip the nap altogether, he just doesn't need it. We also don't try to put him down too early, we know that at 8:00, he's just not gonna go without a fight. We'd rather let him stay up till around 9:00 and he's noticing the whole household winding down. Before bedtime he gets to pick out 1 video to watch, and his older brother (4) helped us make a huge deal about handing down his "Big Boy Blanket" for the Toddler Bed. You could also go to Wal-mart or wherever and let him pick out his very own bedding set. And we NEVER give him pop, and limit his juice, fresh fruit is better, it doesn't wire them up as much, lol. We have 4 sons, and he is now officially the easiest one to put to bed! :)
2006-10-14 21:27:20 · answer #5 · answered by Serenity 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OH those terrible two's. Keep him up all day, take him to the park and let him play and run around to burn up all his energy. Dont let him nap not even for 30 min. Talk to him when you two are in the car so that he doesnt fall asleep. You may have to lay with him untill he falls asleep at night. It helps to sing to him while you rub his back or hair. Good Luck!!!
2006-10-15 00:24:47 · answer #6 · answered by Baby boy blue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
sleep begets sleep, do not wake the boy up unless it is after 5 or before 7 pm, for some reason thees are magic hours, naps are important because when you are awake for long periods of time your body thinks you are on the run from something and pumps your blood full of adrenalin.
He needs exercise, alot every day, walk, play ball, etc.and it would help if his diet was high fiber, grains, veggies, fruit ,lean proteins, water,
good luck
2006-10-14 21:05:47 · answer #7 · answered by Sara 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Take him lower back to his mattress. Wake him up the comparable time each morning, enable him nap the comparable time standard, no longer later then 3pm. positioned him to mattress the comparable time each evening which must be approximately 8 to eight:30 each evening. provide him a drink approximately 7 and not something after that. He can be falling off the mattress make investments interior the rails for a mattress.
2016-10-19 10:25:34 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i had same problem at 8:30 9:00pm try warm bath with johnson's
lavender calming baby wash then rub one drop or lavender oil on forhead above eye brows and warm milk with honey worked a treat for me best of luck
2006-10-14 22:40:33 · answer #9 · answered by cassandratowers 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Limit its naps in the day
2006-10-14 21:02:10 · answer #10 · answered by Buda B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋