what should i do about my 18 month old daytime sleep?

Question

Hi, I would really appreciate some advice off others regarding my 18 month old sons daytime sleep.He usually has his daytime sleep from 1.30pm-3ish.I usually just put him in his cot and he goes to sleep by himelf, he might chatter and sing but usually goes off to sleep by himself.However for the last two weeks when I have put him down for his day time nap in his cot he has started to throw his quilt, dummy and teddy out of his cot and starts to cry to get up.I let him cry for around 10 minutes and then go up, lie him down, give him his blanket and dummy back and leave the room.Today for instance he cried for 1hour and 15 minutes before going to sleep.The strange thing is that he does seem tired and if he doesn't have a sleep he is horrible until bedtime.At nightime I put him to bed at 7.30pm and he goes to sleep around 8pm-7.00am.Do you think he doesnt need a daytime sleep?Do you think he is just seeing how far he can push me/testing the boundaries.What should I do.Thanks x

Answer 1

the same thing happened to me with the 18 month old that stays with me, she was very tired also and was crabby when she didn't sleep but she was just testing me! i did the same thing you did and eventually she stopped! he might just be testing you just let him cry and just keep doing what your doing and he'll stop when he realizes that it isn't going to work!
Good Luck !!

Answer 2

He's more aware of his world, his place in it, and the exciting things it has for exploring.

Beyond that, children who are over tired will not sleep well.

His sleep patterns will change, especially i the nap department, but he certainly still needs a nap. He might need to take a nap sooner in the day, or go to bed a touch earlier.

WHen its all said and done, this behavior is very normal. I found the best thing to do is to get him back on a schedule. He fought it once, twice, maybe three times, so now his body doesnt know when nap time is anymore so it doesnt know when to release the sleep hormones. FOr my son, when these times arise, I stick him in the car at nap time, and drive around until he's good and asleep. Just to get his body back on the right schedule, once thats established its easier to get the same routine back at home.

Answer 3

The same thing happens to me, exactly. Sometimes it's because he pottied when he started to fall asleep, and it woke him back up. So I check that. Then I tell him he has to take a nap, and when he gets up we'll go outside (or whatever). I tell him that his sister is napping and I will wait for him to wake up, he's not going to miss anything. Once he played for 2.5 hours instead of napping, but he didn't complain.

The worst part is he naps at day care like a champ, it's only when he's home that he refuses to nap. At day care they have a dark room with only him in there, it's quiet because it's upstairs, and it's after lunch so his belly is full. It's routine there and they know it's time.

I hear ya. I try the car ride and it works a lot of the time too.

Answer 4

Your son is changing an growing.
He might be hitting into a growth spert at this time. I have a 23month son here. He does the same thing as your 18month.

My boy is now in single bed an loving it, he goes to sleep not a problem now.

You might have to tire him out more in the morning, take him for a walk up an down the street, if hes crawling still, push him in the pram up an down the street or take him to the park.

Ensure that of the daytime that he is not to hot or to cold according to your weather condition.

Read him a book to claim him prior to bed time. Sit in the room with him, no eye contact to him, if he gets up, lay him back down, 1st time only, tell him its bed time or nap time, an you expect him to go to sleep, 2nd time getting up, lay him back down without talking to him, 3rd time repeat the second. Keep repeating this till he finally gives in. He will eventually go of to sleep, you quietly leave the room.
Repeat this every bed time moving your chair slightly away from the bed/cot, eventually you wont need the chair. Keep your claim through the whole thing, an be patient.

I dont recommend you leave your child crying for an hour or so. This will get you very upset yourself, an your boy will pick up on that.

Another suggestion is that you lay him back down for 3 tries, then after your 3rd attempt, get him up, let him play say for 15mins, then re-attempt to put him back down. See if that makes a difference.

Have the communication with him prior to bed time, tell him.."Jake in 5minutes it is bedtime" Tell him you want him to go to bed an go to sleep.

Good luck an all the best

Answer 5

So your little girl isn't sleeping? Hmm...it seems that she either wants to get you irritated, like she knows you don't like it and she can get away with screaming and crying or she's out growing her squedule from someone else, like a family member or baby sitter made her sleep at some other time besides the time you set out. I cure is just to force her to sleep, sort of. If she screams and cries while you try to make her sleep, either heat up warm milk (chemical the helps sleep) or talk to her, or just leave her. ^_-

Answer 6

An hour and a half is to long. I am surprised that your son goes down at 8pm. He should only sleep for about an hour and should wakeup well before 3pm.

Try to establish a new routine for him and see what happens.

Answer 7

its just a phase where they dont want to sleep..they r just in a mood to play and learn new things