How do you get your toddler to sit still?

[Mamabear04]

My 17mo is 100mph every minute she is awake. Sometimes before bedtime/naptime she gets even more energy and won't sit down. Usually I would put on a little bit of TV so she would at least sit on my knee and calm down a little bit but she won't even have that now. She sleeps like a dream - 12 hours a night straight through and 1-2 hour nap so I don't think she's over tired. Not really a problem but I'm literally done in 1 hour before naptime/bedtime and would like her to calm down a little because i know she is tired but won't sit still. Any advice?

I don't think that's a thing you can do :o

No but seriously. My 2.5yo came out of nursery today with facepaint on I can barely manage to brush his teeth!

There is a reason why you have 8947937 pictures of them during the first year and then hardly any until they are five, because the intervening ones are all blurry.

Will she sit on your lap and listen to a story or do a sticker book?

What you are describing is the ‘witching hour’ when a tired child gets hyper. All that running around is probably why she is such a good sleeper so I wouldn’t try and change it.

No idea! I found that age really hard - so much energy. I noticed a difference after 2, and then again after 3 in how long DS can sit, concentrate or relax for. Bedtime is still absolute bedlam though!

Would she sit down for an activity such as water play or pots with dry pasta and spoons for mixing and scooping? That's one of the few ways I get my toddler to sit down, he also had a tub of soil with some cars to push around in which kept him entertained for ages the other day.

glue, duct tape lol

DS is 17 months and is only still when he's eating and even then if he had his own way he'd be off.

DS1 I'd put the telly on! No hope with DS2l.....

I have no idea but if you find the answer please tell me 🥴

In seriousness, it's just what some toddlers do, I don't think there is anything you can do about it. They grow out of it eventually.

Lol DS doesn’t sit to watch TV either - he’ll pace

We have a special box of toys that only come out at times like this! It's full of 'feely' sensory things like a light up rubber ball and a rubber disc that he can pop like bubble wrap. It keeps him grounded for 10 minutes when he's overtired.

I have one like this... but without the being a good sleeper part :(