38 weeks pregnant and struggling with toddler

[Bimbil19]

I am 38 weeks pregnant, my husband has covid and is self-isolating and I am really struggling with my 2.5 year old toddler. He is mostly very good but pushing back on elements of his routine at the moment (naptime and bedtime in particular). I just feel so tired from doing everything on my own that my patience is wearing thinner than usual. Not really a question, I suppose I'm just feeling rather sorry for myself!

Sounds tough op is dh very poorly with covid?

At 2.5 years old, maybe his nap is on the way out? Not what you want to hear with a newborn due very soon I know! I held on to my eldest's nap for far too long; things were much better for everyone once we replaced it with a couple of hours of quiet time after lunch.

Thank you @Jk24. He's actually not been too bad and I've now tested positive too. Hoping ds doesn't get it as well. Such bad timing!

Hi @PeacefulInTheDeep. I have been wondering this. When he falls asleep he has a good couple of hours still and sleeps brilliantly overnight but getting him down for the nap is a struggle. What did you do for quiet time when you dropped the nap? I wouldn't mind him not napping if I knew he'd still do something restful- most of the time he is extremely energetic!

We have a 2.5 year old and are going through similar with dropping naps (I'm 26 weeks pregnant so getting tired easily, but nowhere near where you are currently!).

We're sat cuddled on the sofa watching a movie right now for down time instead of nap time. Will yours sit and watch a short film with you for a bit? Mine has been wriggling alot throughout and has jumped on and off the sofa multiple times but I'm at least getting a bit of a rest and going he'll get better at it if we keep practising.

@Bimbil19 I'm 39 weeks pregnant on Monday and I have 3 & 2 year olds and Honestly I feel you!
It's bloody brutal, but I do think pregnancy is playing a massive role in how hard I'm finding things at the moment lack of mobility with SPD is kicking my bum!
So my patience is wayyyyy thinner than it would be, it's tough going but it's only for another few weeks 💐

Argh it's so hard eh! My big one was 2.5yrs when my baby was born and I think it's a really tough age gap, dropping naps, chattering away lots but still totally unreasonable.

I don't have any suggestions but mine got a lot easier at about 3.1, just with being more reasonable about things, easier to incentivise if needed, better at independent play.

In the meantime I'd say don't worry too much about screen time, just let it happen. A happy mum is a happy kid!

Solidarity with both of you @MangoM and @feb2022, the exhaustion is a challenge! Hats off to you for coping with two @feb2022.

He will sit and watch something short- Superworm length - so maybe we need to just focus on calm time and worry less about the naps. All good things come to an end!

@NorthSouthMiddle I so agree with you. It's great now he can chatter away and we're actually having less meltdowns now as a consequence. He's mostly on a pretty even keel so I can't really complain but you're so right about a happy mum. When I'm tired and feeling impatient, so is he and vice versa. God help us when we throw in a newborn as well!!

Now you and your DH both have covid he can stop self-isolating and help out.

Hopefully that will ease things for you.

Is he pulling his weight now you've both tested positive?

@Bimbil19 that does sound like my DS at that age. We tried shortening his naps but he was so miserable when we woke him that it was worse than keeping him up. Quiet time was 20 minutes of TV and a bit of reading or colouring at first. He'll now happily watch TV all day if I let him!

Yes, so much easier now DH has been able to come out. He's taken the lead today so much better all round.

@PeacefulInTheDeep yes, that's familiar! It takes him awhile to get to sleep but then he conks out for hours and waking him is not a happy experience for anyone! Really useful advice on this thread so I will start moving away from the nap (eeeeek!).