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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is this normal for an overtired toddler?

10 replies

elfoff23 · 06/12/2024 18:14

Dd is 2 years 9 months and starting to drop her daytime nap. Usually she'd go down around 11/12 for at least 1.5 hours but the past few days she has just stood in her bed crying and refusing to sleep so I got her back up again after a while and reluctantly accepted that the nap is on its way out.

The first two days she had half hour cat naps in the buggy but today she hasn't slept at all since 7am wake up. By 5pm she was nodding but we kept her up and tried giving her some tea which she refused and just screamed. All she wanted was cuddles and to sit on our knee. Took her for an early bath which she screamed through and seemed shivery when I got her out (granted the early bath time meant the water wasn't quite heated as normal!) then attempted the usual bedtime routine but she just wouldn't be put down, screamed some more, coughed to the point of making herself retch and refused her night time milk. I had to rock her to sleep in my arms which hasn't happened since she was as a baby, and gradually put her into the cot.

I've only ever known her to behave like this when she's unwell. But she's been absolutely fine all day. She doesn't nap on her preschool days and although tired is never distressed to that extent.

She's asleep now and I'm meant to be going to my Xmas work meal but I'm concerned about leaving her. Is it normal for children to be quite so insane when overtired?

OP posts:
YellowSwanFrom · 06/12/2024 18:15

She sounds unwell to me. Calpol will help.

stichguru · 06/12/2024 18:18

Yes she sounds like something's hurting.

elfoff23 · 06/12/2024 18:21

She has been absolutely fine all day. So if it is sickness it must literally have begun in the last few hours. I don't want to wake her now she's asleep but will tell Dh to keep a close eye and I guess it'll be an early night for me.

She definitely was acting unwell but I didn't know if it was just sheer exhaustion.

OP posts:
Allnewtometoo · 06/12/2024 18:25

It could easily be a build up of tiredness, or she could be coming down with something. Either way , the best thing is sleep.

colesr · 06/12/2024 18:27

I'd have probably skipped the bath and let her have the cuddles tbh.

Createausername1970 · 06/12/2024 18:27

Could be a combination of both.

Go on your meal. DH can always call you if he is concerned, but the likelihood is it will be fine.

elfoff23 · 06/12/2024 18:59

I did the bath purely because I thought her bedtime routine might settle her down a bit. It did not.

OP posts:
jannier · 06/12/2024 19:36

Over tiered children often get hyper or tantrum they can be labelled as naughty or hyperactive. I'd have shortened the bedtime routine.

OrangeSlices998 · 06/12/2024 19:38

Could be tired, could be coming down with something, could be both! She’s asleep now, go for your Christmas meal!

Marblesbackagain · 06/12/2024 19:41

Agreed it could be the above or it may be she is about to make a development leap.

Go she will hopefully have a good nights sleep.

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