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Why won't my toddler go to sleep????

8 replies

Mamabear04 · 19/06/2022 19:46

DD is 2.7yo and is great at sleeping...once she's actually asleep but the past early weeks she just won't relax and go to sleep but instead gets really hyper. I've tried making sure she isn't watching TV after her dinner, tried reading stories before bed, reducing interaction, reducing the amount we talk to her basically trying to reduce all stimulation but instead of calming down she just gets hyper. She usually wakes around 6.45-7am and has a 40 min nap around noon and then bed for 7pm. Before she would just lie down and go to sleep within about half an hour but now she is singing at the top of her voice and wanting to play, standing up (she's still in a cot bed but doesn't climb out) until around 8.30pm at night when when she conks out. She is absolutely knackered come bed time but just won't go to sleep and tells me every night she doesn't want to go to bed.

I know she is at the age where she is due to drop her nap and a large part of me thinks this the case but she is just so unbelievably tired come midday and instead of winding down she ramps up so won't sit quietly and have a rest. If she doesn't have a nap by the end of the day it's a nightmare! I honestly don't think she can cope. I also wonder if part of it is developmental as she wants to play, tell stories, sing and interact alllll the time.

Can someone please tell me its a phase and will pass or give me some advice? I honestly don't know what to do!!!

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WhatshallIdo55 · 19/06/2022 19:54

I'm probably not the best to advise but I can offer a bit of solidarity. Ds is 2y6m and we have just cut out his afternoon nap (of about 2 hours) as he wouldn't go to sleep at bedtime, was awake for hours in the night and was up for the day at 4.30am. So far, during the night is still a problem but he is going to sleep much better and sleeping later in the morning- 5.30 🙄

Macbeth8 · 19/06/2022 19:54

Drop the day nap! By 2 they dont need a day nap. This has been the case for all 3 of my kids. My middle one dropped day naps just over 1 years old n shr jas always slept the best.

Confuciusornis · 19/06/2022 20:01

Does she go down fairly easily for her day nap? If so she probably still needs some sleep at that time, so you could try cutting it to 15-20 minutes. We found our son was ready to drop his nap at about 15 months as we were having the same problem as you and he was increasingly resistant to the nap anyway. He slept a lot more easily in the evening! But on days when he seemed especially tired and dropped off in the buggy we’d let him have 15 minutes before waking him and that didn’t seem to affect his bedtime in the way that a full 30 minute nap would.

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PartyPlan · 19/06/2022 20:05

It might be that she doesn’t need a nap every day of the week. Mine was like this, it does pass! He’s 3.5 and still naps sometimes.

Mamabear04 · 19/06/2022 20:09

That's the thing she goes down so easy for her nap and falls asleep quickly. I always have to wake her but she is generally in a good mood although sometimes emotional. When she finally goes to sleep at bedtime and sleeps until morning which is great but she is just getting herself so overtired during the day. How do I cut out or even cut down the nap when she's 100mph when she's supposed to be sleeping? She just won't rest, even if we watch TV she'll sit down for 15 mins but then is up and down from the sofa wanting to play with toys and unable to concentrate for longer than 2 seconds and at this point just won't follow instructions so it means tantrums are galore!

@WhatshallIdo55 I'm so sorry that sounds so tough!
@Macbeth8 what down time activities did you do to replace the nap? Or did you even have to?
@Confuciusornis I think a shorter nap might be the way forward but I'm just so worried she gets even more over tired and her sleep gets worse!

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Mamabear04 · 19/06/2022 20:22

@PartyPlan thank you for the hope it will end eventually!

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Macbeth8 · 20/06/2022 07:54

@mamabear04

TBH I cant even think. Im sure it was just them just naturally phasing it out themselves..for example watching TV, Playing outside or with toys and didnt seem tired or show signs of wanting to go to bed
Its ok for them to nap on the go like in the car or pram as they wont be getting a full, deep nap. My youngest now will sometimes doze off in the car but I will wake her when we arrive to destination n its ok for her..I think its because with older siblings they have to fit in to their routine etc so it has been easier in that aspect

Mamabear04 · 20/06/2022 09:07

@Macbeth8 that makes sense but DD is always tired come nap time so that's why I've not just cut the nap altogether. That and she just doesn't cope well come the afternoon...

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