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Nap dropping bad sleep habit mess!

6 replies

dycey · 23/02/2011 13:19

I seem to be on here all the time now!

Ds just turned 2 and on a few days has dropped his nap. That means he falls asleep on his milk at seven but tends to wake in an overtired way in the evening or night - screaming but half asleep.

Perhaps I should insist on a short nap?

He has just been unwell and is back to napping again.

Trouble is that when he naps he is going to sleep after eight and waking before six. Typically from 8.15 to 5.45. With a 1.5 hour nap after lunch.

After recurrent illnesses, he has got used to my patting stroking presence to fall asleep. I need to withdraw because he is waking in the early hours from 4.30 needing the same.

It is all such a mess that I really don't know where to start.

Short nights and not great habits.

I am so tired because I am often awake from before 5am and I am five mbths pregnant too. Haven't slept well since Christmas - tho the early waking is nothing new.

Can anyone advise me on sleep patterns? Gentle withdrawal? Early waking?

I long for a kind consultant to tell me exactly what to do!

OP posts:
dycey · 23/02/2011 13:25

Just a detail more - think the patting thing happened because of illness but kept it going because he was not tired enough at bedtime any more.. I don't find it easy to ignore him as he is so reasonable and good in the day. Never tantrums. He just wanted company at bedtime. The nap dropping thing!

Sorry for the mass of information - such a tangled muddle! Any help much appreciated.

OP posts:
Chil1234 · 23/02/2011 13:54

A daytime nap is still advisable for a 2yo, I think. Sleeping 8.00 - 6.00 am is pretty normal for a toddler. Reintroduce the after-lunch sleep and you might have to get up early in the morning but at least you're more likely to have a pleasant, well-rested child that doesn't wake up too much in the night.

Good luck

narmada · 23/02/2011 19:06

I would also say do try and keep that nap if at all possible, especially with another one on the way. My DD decided to give hers up about 3 weeks after her little brother arrived, and I found it hard having no break from her (sorry DD!) all day. Also, she got tired and overwhelmed by it all and became really hard to manage.

dycey · 24/02/2011 06:25

Oh thank you both. Yesterday he napped early in the day so was v tired by bedtime and slept 8 til 6 for the first time for ages!

Think I will encourage the nap - with a post lunch pushchair walk - but not force it, as it were.

Overtired must mean he is not ready to drop it? And he is grumpier and tearful without it. Usually so sanguine!

OP posts:
dycey · 24/02/2011 06:26

And any tips on gently reducing dependence in me for falling asleep?

OP posts:
Chil1234 · 24/02/2011 10:04

Look for sleepy signs to start with. Then put him in his cot with a big smile and 'have a nice sleep'. (Very important to look comfortable and confident because children sense any kind of nervousness) Stick around a little so that he's comforted by your presence but don't talk or make a fuss with patting etc. Then quietly leave. If he makes a noise, leave it a few minutes, see if it gets quieter and, if not, return, repeat the smile and the 'have a nice sleep' routine... then leave again. It might take a few tries but he'll get the idea. Good luck

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