toddler not sleeping?

Question

okay so, my two year old is a nightmare to put to sleep almost every night. let's say i put him to bed at 8 pm, he wont fall asleep until 10 pm or even 11 pm. he doesnt take naps during the day, and wakes up early... can you explain this to me? he goes to sleep in the dark and will actually laugh and play for hours. even singing and talking.. its like he has a nocturnal vision. i cannot get him to settle down and sleep... ive thought about talking to his doctor to see how i can change this... he is also EXTREMLY hyper during the day... he never settles down. always doing something... im confused.. help?

Answer 1

Maybe he should be taking a nap during the day. My son is 18m old and is wound up all day long! He too will take several hours to fall asleep at night but I have noticed that he is MUCH WORSE when he doesn't nap. I asked his Dr. about this and he said it is because his body is in "over - drive". He is getting to tired when he is not napping and then cant settle down to sleep.

It seems like it would be opposite- keep them up so they sleep @ bedtime earlier and longer but that is not the case for mine. He didnt nap yesterday and cried for almost an hour at bedtime last night. It took him 2 hrs to fall asleep. Today - he took a 2hr nap and fell right to sleep @ 8pm.

Just give it a try- may help - ya never know. Also , we play soft baby einstein cd for him every night and he will actaully stop talking and crying so that he can hear the music. Then once he quiets down he will fall asleep.

Good luck to you. i know how frustrating it can be. My son has always had terrible sleep habits but things seem to be getting much better.

Answer 2

Advice from a Day Care Teacher.... Does he take naps thru the day? If so, stop them. If not, Run him around the block a few times!! Just kidding! Maybe try getting him up earlier in the morning. He may have A.D.H.D. but I think he's too young to be tested. (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) Take him to the park, for lots of climbing, running, jumping, anything that will use up all that energy before bedtime! I know you are probably frustrated, but it also may be just a stage. Hang in there, Good Luck!

Answer 3

I hear you, girl. I have an almost two year old too, and here is what I do. I insist on a nap after lunch, and he usually naps for two hours.
My toddler resists going to sleep too.
Then right after dinner we start his bath and have a bedtime routine. I usually hold him for a half-hour to an hour, then lay him in his crib with his binkie and blankie. Does he take to a pacifier?? My almost two year old loves his.
Be sure that you do not let him have more than 6 ounces of diluted juice per day.
Hope I helped.
One more thing: is there any milestone in your child's life? if so then he may be practicing his new skill.

Answer 4

It sounds like you're doing everything right. The only thing I can suggest if you haven't already started a bedtime routine, now would be a good time. By making the last hour of his day, about getting ready for bed, calming down, calming bath, gentle music and books...

Ya know, he may just be one of those kids who doesn't need a lot to sleep and if he's happy in his crib...you can at least go to sleep! :)

Answer 5

Bath at seven. Brush teeth, comb hair. Have him do it first. You just "Check It". Go and kiss everyone good night! Tuck him in bed. READ TO HIM! Begin with one easy book that takes about 5 minutes. Next a chapter book. Charlotte's Web or Treasure Island is good. No he will not understand these completely, that's what YOU are there for. But he will catch the rhythm of the stories, and understand some of it. Mark the chapter each night. He WILL remember which chapter you've already read. Kiss him goodnight and leave the room. Go and relax with your spouse. If you hear little feet creeping out the bedroom door, ignore it, but look at your spouse and exclaim LOUDLY, " I'm TELLING you, insert spouses name, if he gets out of bed tonight, I think it's really going to be spankings!" You should hear the sound of feet pattering back to the bed. ROUTINE! ROUTINE! ROUTINE!

Answer 6

The baby has trained you to fit in to his world.
You really need to let him learn to slow down before bedtime or nap time. He might be so over tired that he can't relax.
When one of my kids didn't want nap time......I told them they had to have quiet-rest time. I would set an alarm or buzzer that told them when it was ok to get up. You would be suprised how often they fall asleep. If they do turn off the alarm.

The quiet time.....if baby doesn't need a nap.....Have him choose two books to take to quiet time. Two toys (nothing small he can choke on) And a familar blanket or pacifier.
A bottle of warm milk helps them sleep.Or a binkie..little ones need that sucking. to help calm down.

Your Toddler understand more than you think. Have a sit down with him and tell him that things have to change.
It is important to have a nightly routien. This is a unwinding time. Make a list of what he can't do at bedtime. He can't read but you can come in the room and point to the chart and say....It says NO singing at bedrime. Then it is the list telling him and not so much you.
Start will a quiet bathtime. Lights low. Teach him to lower his voice. Do this by pretend to have a volumn knob on his face. Play a game of going from loud to soft and loud again...Play it any time of the day. Kids love it. And they love to whisper.
Mom needs to be relaxed to help the little one relax. Act like you are at peace. No yelling. Teach the child to take a deep breath and slowly let it out. Again make it a game.
Have a list also for bedtime routien. Include rocking and reading. Turn off the TV. Lower the lights. No phone calls. No multi tasking for mom or dad. Total attention to the task of relaxing. While you read a story. Stroke the little ones neck or arm. Gently massage his little feet. Ocassionally if he starts to wind up, tell him to breath with you. Two long deep greaths and slowly exhale. Look at the bedtime routien list so baby knows what is next. Tell him that it is bedtime and he needs to be quiet and not .........list the no no's.
Sit at bedside for a short time. Be very relaxing.Speak softly even if baby is talking loudly.
When he is not settling down. Go in and say NO --lay down now and have quiet time. The next night sit outside of his room and each time he makes noise you calmly say no.
Next night sit outside the room where he can't see you. And firmly say no. Low voice....not loud but firm.
If this doesn't work....tell him no TV tomorrow if you don't have a quiet time when he goes to bed.
With both of my boys , they wanted to get up at 5am. My youngest would come in with an arm load of clothing ready for the day. I got the idea to get him a digital clock. And I taped up the number 7 next to it. I explained that he couldn't get up until the first number is 7. Show him over and over how it looks.. You will be suprised how a young one can learn quickly. The MOST important thing for you to do is be consistant. NEVER waver. Or baby will know that eventually mom and dad give in.......so if he has to spend an hour being loud and fussy....he will eventually get his way. Again, he is teaching you how to fit in his world. He needs to learn to live in the boundries of your life.

If he continues see your doctor. There might be a health problem. My oldest son was still not sleeping much at night and never during the day. He ended up having an enzyme problem and just needed a change of diet. The first day of the new diet he took a three hour nap. Then he slept through the night. I kep checking him to make sure he was alive.

The biggest thing I learned as a parent is to be so consistant Also don't make rules and conquences that you can't keep and are expecting too much for the child.

Answer 7

Have you tried giving him a warm bath before bed time to help calm him down? We used to read my son a long boring story before bed to get him to wind down.

Answer 8

my son is the same way.I put him in swim lessons and we have him swim in our pool for about an hour around 6 and then hes done he sleeps through the night. My advise swim lessons.

Answer 9

Monitor his sugars.

Answer 10

HE'S JUST AT THAT AGE. HE WILL GET BETTER.