2yo tiredness and mood in pm

[Littleraysofsunshine]

My 2yo is a very happy soul. But wears herself out I think. She use to have two hour naps in the day and still sleep all night, but would wake up from the nap cranky.

She now doesn't have a nap and sleeps 7-6:30/7am. But is really moody from about 4pm. The dreaded time when your trying to cook dinner, and they are very irritable.

So nap= moody and no nap = moody.... Hmmmm

I'm trying the time out/naughty step as she has been hitting at me. And she's currently kicking the front door. Really not sure where her anger is coming from. Tiredness is the main thing but I'm really lost for what I can try? In currently reason playful parenting but sometimes I find my patience levels dip when I feel like its not getting anywhere

The majority of he time (like 90%) of the month were all happy! But there's like a few days where her mood completely changes. Then so does mine.

Would she be getting vibes from her little sister who is teething (making some whining?) I'm just unsure.

All the rest of the time were fab

Keep smiling!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol

Don't underestimate the impact of being tired, really dont. It'll accumulate over days too.

Give her either a shorter nap or wind down time/quiet time when she'd usually be asleep.

I do things a little differently. Ds is 20 months and is going through a similar stage of simply not being tired enough to nap earlier in the day. However, by about 3 to 4 hes too tired to keep awake until bedtime and if I try, he is so cranky he won't eat tea and is just a nightmare. So now, to be honest I don't set any rules and let him decide when he wants to sleep. Most days he naps between 2 and 4 and usually asleep for two hours. He then asks to go to bed himself, usually around 10 to 10.30. It's not for everyone granted, but for us it works. I never have a battle trying to get him to bed or the stress of having to manipulate his naps. In the evenings, we read books, play, watch movies sometimes, dh isn't home from work until 8 so he gets extra time with his dad too. I also get a lie in most mornings as he doesn't get up until around 9.30.
It's not convential but just wanted to add another way of doing things. Sometimes you have to chose your battles. Overall ds is healthy, happy and very bright so I can't see its done him any harm at all. Good luck!

We've really been through it with 2yo DD, to the point we had to get help from a sleep specialist who insisted she absolutely has to have a nap. And to even try to extend it from an hour to an hour and a half if possible. Now it's suddenly clicked and she's doing 12 hours in the night and an hour/1.15 hour lunchtime nap. She's a different child! I can really tell the difference in her character, her development, her play, everything. She's basically a happier child, and of course we're all happier!

Personally, I'd go back to making sure she has a nap and put her down slightly later - say, 7.30.

Reinstate the nap. My 3 year old still needs a minimum of an hour. She should nap early so as not to affect bed time. About 1pm. If she's grumpy being woken, do it very gently and gradually, and plonk her in front of the tv for 10 minutes to chill out as soon as she wakes.

I would go back to trying hard to get her to nap. I used to have quiet ime even if sleep didn't come. If nothing else, a nap means you get a break from The Grumps!

She had a nap today which has helped. Fell asleep in the car.for an hour.

She asks for bed at 6:30/7, but goes down about 7:15.

We've also been doing quiet time if the nap doesn't happen.

I also find that her behaviour is different then she's poorly?

Go back to the nap, and if she doesn't have it then don't punish her for being tired. Do more about supper in the morning so you haven't got so much to do late-afternoon.