Nearly 2 yo - going to bed later and later - do i drop nap?

[bluesmile10]

My 23m ds has recently gone into a toddler bed with a duvet after having gro bag. He used to go to to bed at 7.30 like a dream. Since changing he won't go down before 8.30, getting out of bed constantly and thinking it hilarious to run when one if us goes up to put him back!!! He has also starting getting up between 5.15 and 5.30, another change - he was getting up about 6.15. For the sat week I have been limiting his nap to an hour (was having 2) in the hope this would make a difference!!! No change at all!!

He's having less and less sleep which worries me and he can be so grumpy by about 9 am, although he won't nap til lunchtime!!! Should I drop nap completely? He wakes briefly in the night, I'm not sure if he's cold as always wriggling and covers come off or over tired!!!! Do I put him back in gro bag?

Any advice would be a help, my dh is such a miserable git in the morning blaming lack of sleep and that causes many a row!!!

Hi, I think he is actually probably overtired. Early wsking is usually a sign of this, and he is also missing an hour at bedtime. I wouldn't limit his nap so that he can catch up a bit. Not sure how to address the going to bed bit though!

Thanks, have not limited his nap today so will see how tonight goes!! He woke this morning at 4.20 so anything later than that will be a bonus!

Try putting a normal single duvet across the bed widthways - like the whole bed has become a massive grobag. He can still get out if he wants, but stops any duvet falling off issues at least. Or yes, go back to grobag, if he can handle walking in it without falling everywhere!

Also, has he got rails at the side? Might help it feel more cot-like, so he feels less inclined to get out.

I wouldn't reduce the nap, I'd move it back up if anything.

Apart from that, I think you're on to the no-eye contact, no fun, return to bed routine, until he gets bored of it. It sounds like he thinks it's great fun at the moment!

4.20. Ouch. Sympathy...

One other idea: right now the nights are rapidly getting shorter - it's getting dark later and light earlier. Could a problem with inadequate blackout curtains in his room perhaps be contributing to part of the problem?
Good luck!

Thank u, will definitely try the single duvet - I'm not sure he would cope with gro bag in darkness! Think ur right about the fun bit - the bedroom door stair gate is on order!!!!

He always has not been the greatest sleeper so his room is pitch black - have blackout material velcroed to the window! :)

Left him to sleep y'day nap time and get up time was better this morning - 5.25. Hopefully the stair gate will be the answer to him staying in his room a little longer.

Thank u all x

Watching this thread with interest.
My 2.4 DS being very similar, finding it really hard (I'm also 39 weeks preg, so would love a little more sleep!)
Like you have tried fiddling with naps and actual bed timing, but no change just sleeps less! Am doing the returning to bed with no conversation, eye contact etc, but he just carries on getting out of bed.
I want to try stair gate, DH not keen (but he's not the one doing return to bed techniques at 5am!)
Any ideas greatly received!

I am also having problems with DD2 (2.3 yrs) who won't stay in her bed (started when she moved to a bed from a cot) either at bedtime or during the night. I spoke to my HV and she suggested a stair gate although I was unsure as it felt like trapping her but as HV pointed out it's not much different to being in a cot. Anyway, DD did the same with the stairgate as she did with the cot......climbed it! Now it's taking approx 2 hours to get her to sleep and although most of the time she sleeps through till 6am it's effecting her behaviour during the day. She will nap for at least an hour (sometimes 2) but she will NOT settle before 8.30-9pm and this is far too late for her IMO.

I think 2 yr olds are 'supposed' to have 13 hours sleep in 24 hours but sometimes DD only gets 10 or 11. I try not to let her sleep after 3 pm but she's so bloody minded headstrong it's hard getting her to nap before the school run and most of the time falls asleep in the buggy on the way :(
I will also be watching with interest to see if anyone can come up with something we haven't tried! :)