Hyper 16 month old - advice please!

[Natedogg]

Hello,

I've posted on here before and always had great advice, so I'm doing it again in the hope that you can impart some more pearls of wisdom.

Our Ds has just turned 16 months and has recently started walking, which he loves. The problem is when he comes home from nursery (he's there 3 days a week and seems to really enjoy it, we are very happy with them so far), he is really hyper and easily prone to melting down. I'm sure being tired has a lot to do with it since he doesn't sleep nearly as well there as he does at home. But since he's been able to walk he's started having major meltdowns before bed, when he would previously go down really easily. He just shouts "DOWN, DOWN, DOWN" if we try and read him his book or give him his bath etc. and just wants to run from room to room like a headless chicken.

Any advice on how to calm him down and whether this is just standard stuff? We have always had a very regular bedtime routine, and try and wind him down reading books, quiet play etc. He doesn't watch tv at all really.

Thank you!

[ODog]

I've always been of the opinion that if it doesn't work then change it. Maybe move the bath to the morning (although appreciate that might be a pain if you need to be out the door) and find another time during the day to read together as it does have to be part of a bedtime routine.

I tend to find that a bit of TV in the evening really settles my DS as he will actually sit still for a bit and seems to chill him out so may be worth a try if only to get him sat down.

So perhaps pjs on while he watches a bit of TV then up to bed with milk and a story if he is chilled enough. Or if the TV does help settle him then maybe TV, bath, story, milk, bed something like that.

Just play about with different ideas and see what works. We find we have to change things reasonably regularly as DS gets older.

[ODog]

Sorry that meant to say story does not have to be part of bedtime

[bebo100]

Sounds very overtired. Can you move bedtime any early on nursery days?
If not, when mine gets like that I find it best just to skip bath, let him watch TV and put his PJs on and clean teeth downstairs in front that, so he's distracted.

[HelsBels3000]

My DS goes straight to bed after nursery - up to his room, close door, nappy change, into PJs, sleeping bag on, quick drink of water and into cot. No messing. He's always exhausted after nursery and it means lots of tantrums if allowed to run around.

[Natedogg]

I think you're all probably right. He currently goes to bed at 7pm, and I was a bit terrified of putting him down earlier because he often wakes really early too. But maybe that's the solution!