Why does my toddler freak out when I try to put him to bed?

Question

It's the same fight every afternoon and night. He gets out of his bed and plays or cries everytime I lay him down. We have the same routine, and it's just not working. Any Ideas?

If I cut out the nap, its a total break down mid-afternoon, during dinner, not good.

Answer 1

I think you should try cutting out the afternoon nap and he will be more tired for bedtime. That's what I do and it works.

Answer 2

Put him down for only a short nap. At night, make a routine leading up to bed. I had to cut my son's nap and then put him to bed at 7pm. He would just sleep and sleep for a nap. I found that if I had him doing things up until dinner and then did a bath and then read to him he would be ready for bed and sleep all night. It was really hard to keep him up during dinner, so I had to start making it earlier. Kids need the sleep anyway. My son gets up around 730 in the morning no matter what time he goes to bed.

Answer 3

My friend's kid did the same thing. It was a phase he went through after a spell of nightmares. He grew out of it eventually. We just put him back in bed every time. We'd sit with the baby sometimes until he fell asleep and sing soft songs or read. We also moved up morning wake up and afternoon nap times so by bed time the baby was tired. Your kid might be afraid of something. If he's communicating, try asking. You could also play some quiet music for him - classical or lullabys. Nothing with words.

Answer 4

Make everything earlier... Wake at 7 am then after lunch lay him down at 1-3 then put to bed earlier... the easiest for us to change was his bedtime.. it used to be 9:30, but it was always a fight with our son.... When we changed it to 8"30 he was always ready to go to bed, and still does great... He doesn;t take naps anymore though... we let him sleep until 9 am, and he play contently throughout the day .. we had found that he was in a worse mood after his naps so we stopped them..

Answer 5

He might be having nightmares. Try sitting in his room with him until he relaxes or falls asleep for a few nights. That might make him feel more secure. You might also want to try some relaxing music like spring rain or the ocean sounds. If that and a regular routine doesn't work talk to your Dr. He might have a problem with his ears. I never wanted to lay down as a kid because it hurt. My ears weren't draining right and laying down caused a lot of pressure in them. I hope everything works out for you

Answer 6

you have to see it this way..if you keep him up very late at nights he not going to sleep in the afternoon. From the time my kids where born i had them set on a time.. They were going to bed at 7pm at night and in the after,they would go for a short sleep around 1pm. when they got older there sleep time at night stay the same at night but in the afternoon..they didn't go any more. So if you didn't have him at a set time your not going to get him to sleep now in the afternoon. He's not sleepy and doesn't want to sleep any more..if you try to force him your going to have more troubles

Answer 7

Adjust his activities so he is tired enough to need/want a nap....
Make sure stimulants are not the issue. Turn off tv's, radios. Pull down shades, close curtains.

Answer 8

I would say don't cut out the nap just make it shorter that's what i did and i can say i get more sleep and more me time

Answer 9

Maybe he is not ready to take a nap. maybe you should let him play and then when he gets sleepy try to get him to take a nap.