2.5 year old won't go to bed!! argh!!

[tinatutor]

My son is 2.5 and won't go to bed!

He used to have a morning sleep about 11.30am for an hour and then by 7.30pm ish he would be ready for bed. We'd still have to lie with him in his bed but he would drop off.

For the last 4 months, he's dropped his 11am sleep and now goes to sleep at 3pm or sometimes 5pm...he goes flat out, fast asleep - can't wake him up for 1.5-2hrs. So, obviously,when it gets to 7.30/8pm he's not remotely tired.

He stays up till 10/11pm every night if we let him and only way to get round it is to drive him round in car trying to get him to sleep. We both realise this is not the answer but we're so desperate for some evening time, plus we both work from home and often need to use evenings to get paperwork done.

I remember going through this phase of toddlers dropping a daytime sleep with DC1 but it didn't seem to last as long.

Anyone experienced the same? Do I just have to wait for him to get older and drop that late afternoon nap?

(i've tried the supernanny, picking him up and putting him back in his room over and over and over again. It doesn't work. To be fair to him, he's not remotely tired cos of the teatime sleep)

Help!

[pushkar]

try epsom salts in the bath and a spot of luke warm chamomile tea in her bottle this might help

[tinatutor]

mmm..i've tried the putting him down at 1pm ish, cuddling, quiet time, he just jumps up playing cos he's wide awake!

have also tried keeping his madly entertained between 3pm and 6pm...but he invariably just collapses on trampoline,in garden, on stairs fast asleep! seems he just can't manage all day yet.

will try the epsom salts!

[LovelyDear]

i think it's just a tricky time, while he gets past the need for a nap during the day. I found it helped to aim to be at home, relaxing with a book or in front of a dvd after lunch, so although you neither of you have the pressure of him sleeping then at least he's resting. Then pick up the pace at 2.30 or so and get him in the bath by 6, so he should flat out before 7. it might take a little while but this might work out for you eventually.

[LovelyDear]

I meant BE flat out. That sounded like some kind of electrical term....

[BiscuitStuffer]

Have you tried having a generally quiet day and then as someone suggested, pick up the pace from 3pm and keep him up and then early bath and bed? I say a quiet morning because if he's been haring around the park or wherever, then that will make him less likely to be able to stay up.

The other thing you could do is to have a ferociously active and busy morning and wear him out and then while you're doing lunch start telling him that it's a bit of play and then a rest and then after lunch 1:30ish? put him in his room (is he still in a cot as that would be very helpful!) and tell him he has to stay there but he can read. He may then just crash out after 45 mins or so and as long as you pull him up again by 3 at the latest....

[Tillyscoutsmum]

If you took him out in the car around 1.30-2, might he sleep then ? If you could get him into the habit a few times, then he should be easier to get down for a post lunch time nap and that should hopefully sort things.

DD is 2.2 and usually goes 7.30 pm- 7 am with a 2 ish hour nap around 1.30-3.30 pm