Concerns about DS (2.5) sleeping habits on holiday

[Suitcasefullofdreams]

We’ve gone away for 4 nights with extended family.
He’s not going to sleep until gone 9pm because he’s too hyped up and waking up everyday at 5:30am! So he’s only getting 8/8.5 hours sleep! He’s then hysterical with tiredness about 11am but won’t nap for the fear of missing out and because we’re on the go doing things.
I’m concerned about this as I know he should be getting a minimum of 12-14 hours at his age.

It's horrible. Mine all used to be a bit like this - eldest especially but it's only for 4 night and you'll just have to ride it out. He'll survive and so will you all!

It gets better!

It’s not going to harm him but it’s not much fun. Can you take him out to nap; that’s the way I’ve tried it with my DC

build in quiet time during the day.
2 hours after lunch for snuggling and reading together.
announce it to the others so that they don't make plans or don't tell your dc about those.

Doesn't he fall asleep in a pushchair/car seat?

It’s horrible because you have to deal with the bad moods all day. But 4 nights of less sleep is not going to do him any harm.

It's a holiday. He's over-excited and will probably be a bit grumpy during the day but a few days of less sleep than normal won't do any long-term damage. My DC have always gone to bed much later on holiday and I found they settled straight back into their normal routine once we were home.

It's brief (but torturous). It'll not do him any lasting damage (you maybe).
I'd read to him after lunch so at least he gets some 'downtime'.

Apart from being super miserable and not much fun for you, it won’t do him any real harm.

Personally when ours were that young we'd make it so they napped...ie drive somewhere or have a morning in the hotel for nap and sit and read (quite a luxury in itself!). I woukdnt go 4 days like that as it will be miserable for you.

It's not much fun feeling with their tiredness but won't do any harm for a few nights.

Would he fall asleep in the car ? Go for a drive, once hes off drink your coffee and read a book. A break off you both. It saved my sanity many times.......

Also just make sure of a quiet few days when your back a couple of early nights will get him back in routine.

Yep pretty normal for holidays - mine were the same and would never sleep in a buggy either. Being honest this is why holidays with little children can be miserable! It won’t do any harm for a few days though, just have to muddle through.

Yes! Ds an absolute horror on holiday at that age
If we had the car with us we would have to drive him to sleep for naps ! Otherwise long buggy walks, putting him to bed , anything to get him some sleep !!!!
Soon passes x

Agree with pps, but is there something waking him at 5.30 that could be helped? Like if you put something up at the window to stop the light. If you could have an ideal world, I’m guessing that would be the bit to change -the5.30 waking on holiday!

Could everyone "go for a nap" after lunch, so he doesn't feel like he's the only one missing out? (Meanwhile everyone else creeps back to the kitchen while he's safely tucked up?)

The issue with napping in the bed after lunch is that we’ve been out and about all day, so apart from the car, there isn’t really anywhere to nap. Also I’m told I’m being overbearing or being a spoilsport we we don’t need a ‘routine’ on holiday, according to extended family members, who either don’t have children of their own or haven’t had young children for a long long time.

This is exactly why I only do holidays with people who are completely understanding/have small kids. He may not his usual routine but he does need some sort of one. When ds was that age he would just fall asleep in his pram through sheer exhaustion but then some days not. We usually did 2 days of activities and one day down time. Those exhaustion tantrums are hell. Can you just maybe sit some activities out just to get him to nap?

Sounds like my son - he exists on 8/9 hours normally. He is now 3 by the way but we camped last year and at the beach most days so very active days and still running round the campsite at 8pm.

If this is your second day - this is when it might catch up on him. On out 2nd or 3rd day camping he crashed asleep at 7pm and didn't even wake while I got him in his pjs etc.

These helpful relatives ..... they can help carry or occupy him when he is grumpy and over tired.

Lastly - snacks and more snacks -

Also I’m told I’m being overbearing or being a spoilsport we we don’t need a ‘routine’ on holiday, according to extended family members, who either don’t have children of their own or haven’t had young children for a long long time.

And are they offering to get up with him at 5.30?

10 hours can be normal for a two and half year old. Hopefully he'll crash out tonight to make up for the last couple of days. They normally go through a brain development stage around now and drop some sleep. It comes back again.
It won't do him any harm, it's whether you can cope.

I always always make time for a nap. I tell LO that everyone is going to sleep and I make the nap happen. If I don't then the whole mood of the holiday is ruined by grouchy child.

You need to take a bit of control here. The lack of sleep will provide no real harm. But honestly who wants to go on holiday to have a fractious child when making time for a nap will solve it all! Either a drive or a buggy walk after lunch or the same nap routine you use at home. Also why can't you try get him down earlier?

Are the curtains very thin? Or is it general holiday excitement? What would happen if you brought him into your bed, or got in with him at 5.30?

If you could get another two hours or so in the morning in, it would probably feel a lot better!

And sympathies, you must be tired too!

I feel your pain, we used to get this with family who had either forgotten what small kids were like or had kids on a different setting to ours - “if he goes to bed later, he’ll just sleep in in the morning, won’t he?”. Er, no, he’ll wake up at 0600 as usual and then be super cranky….

You’ll be judged for being rigid about naps but you’ll also be judged for DC being all over the place without them. So do whatever works for your DC and you! If you think he needs a nap, build one into the day.

Yanbu to be frustrated. But unfortunately I think it's often the case with Los on holiday. Which is in part why they can be so stressful. Allow any of those saying he doesn't need s routine/calling you a spoil sport to deal with him when the tiredness kicks in

@1940s because they keep deciding to go for a walk on the beach after dinner. I tried to keep him here last night to get him to sleep earlier but he started screaming because he knew his nanny and grandad weren’t here and that they were just about to go out and he wanted to go with them.

So ask them not to tell him. You can't hold everyone hostage because of a 2 year old.

He doesn't need 14 hours sleep, and if you want him to nap in the day take him to bed for a bit or for a drive.