2.9 year old doesn't nap. What time should bedtime be?! Help please

[Londonlady92]

My dd used to sleep 12 hours a night, even when she dropped her naps a few months back, suddenly how she wakes every night for hours and I'm wondering what time do you put your non nap toddlers to bed? Wondering if I'm putting her to bed too late or too early?!

Sometimes she'll cry sometimes she'll sit and sing/talk for hours its like she's ready for the day

Do you go in to her, does she come in to you?

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

Do you go in to her, does she come in to you?

I go into her when the screaming starts so she doesn't wake my 6 year old

Do they share a room? If not I wouldn't worry too much. Your 6 year old is old enough to cope with a disturbed night while you get this sorted.

She's nearly 3 that's old enough to understand that she mustn't wake up the rest of the house. I think she needs some sleep training like most people do going to bed , so use a Gro clock and explain she is not to get up until it goes off and if she does wake up she's to be quiet. Absolutely no attention apart from 'back to sleeps night time.'

I would use a sticker chart with a reward after 3 days -a week is too long to wait at this age. Big praise when she manages it.

Sounds like her brain is over active and needs to learn to settle down after waking. Make sure she has some supper before bed just in case she is waking due to hunger.

Mine had the clock with the bunny ears - they knew that they were not allowed to disturb the nouse until the ears went up!

I agree with pp - prepare yourself for 4 or 5 disturbed nights (book annual leave if nec).

If she is just chatting or grumbling, ignore.

If it moves to angry screaming, go in, lie her down, tell her it's night time and she needs to go back to sleep. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Sorry i didn't state ive been doing that approach for 7 weeks, I go in lay her down say goodnight and walk back out. It worked with my DS but its just not happening this time around.

How many times do you go in?

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor

How many times do you go in?

Until she stops screaming at the top of her lungs, sometimes takes 3 times sometimes 13!!

@Londonlady92

If I put her to bed when she was obviously tired that would be 4pm

:-).

OK I get it.

Are you talking to her when you go in? I'd go on once ,say back to bed and then come away. IF she gets out and comes to you take her back to bed and come away- no chat at all. And keep doing it. If she screams her lungs off,oh well her choice,she's nearly 3 not 3 months.

Or

Power nap at 2 for an hour and see if that makes a difference.

I'd be inclined to think it's habit/quite a nice lark to get mum out of bed the second she's awake instead of settling back down again. Lots of attention

Overtiredness is a common cause of wake ups. I'd try an earlier bed if she's not napping. Sleep promotes sleep!

@peonyrose87

Overtiredness is a common cause of wake ups. I'd try an earlier bed if she's not napping. Sleep promotes sleep!

I've been putting her down 6.30 and she dozes off around 7. She slept through 2 nights then last night was awful again. I really don't think this is just a phase anymore

@Londonlady92 she is likely overtired from the no naps! Is there anyway she will sleep during the day?

My DD can be like this. Definitely worse bedtimes if no nap and from about 3.30pm onwards just a nightmare.

I try and get her to sleep around 12noon. Shes not having long these days, less than an hour but she wakes up refreshed and we have a better day for it.

She will scream for hours if I try to get her to nap its just not worth it.

Thing is she hasn't napped for a long time and always slept 12 hours at night with no nap!