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Nearly 3 and sleep gone mad....

4 replies

luckysocks · 27/05/2012 21:40

Since the clocks changed (and potty training started), DS's sleep patterns have deteriorated from what was once a consistent sleep routine to chaos.

His bedtime routine is exactly the same, but when he goes to bed he just entertains himself until somewhere between 9pm and (latest ever the other night) 11pm.

Sometimes if I feel it's getting silly I can get him to sleep by rubbing his back, sometimes not.

In the daytime, he will still nap, but usually not until 2pm and only if we're out in the car, he doesn't settle in his room. This has been the case since he moved out of his cot last year.

If he has any kind of nap at all, whether I let him sleep (he can still sleep happily for 2-3 hours in the day, given the chance) or wake him up sooner, the evening remains the same. He is also VERY very grumpy when woken up.

If I cut the nap out, he is a nightmare by 3.30-4pm and if we have to get into the car for any reason, he falls asleep then. The other day, having had no nap in the day, he fell asleep on the sofa at 6pm, before finishing his dinner. Then he woke up at 7pm, cried so much I brought him downstairs to give him his milk, he finished his dinner, and then I took him back up. Not really a bedtime routine I'm hoping to continue with Confused

The upside of this is that last year it was the opposite way around - he settled as usual in the evening but woke up at 5.30am, so really I should be grateful! But really, he's still awake now and it's too late for a toddler.

It would be great if anyone has any advice - I've got no idea how to improve it now and feel like we just need to do something a bit more consistent if possible! Thanks for reading.

OP posts:
Heartbeep · 27/05/2012 21:52

I'm sorry I don't have any advice but my DD who will be 3 in a couple of weeks is exactly the same except for the early wakenings.

She's been in bed after her usual milk stories toothbrush etc since 7.45 and is still chatting to her toys at the moment. She had a 30 min nap today and has been out all day in the garden bouncing on trampoline etc, we also went swimming today.

She doesn't get upset just chats & sings for hours!

She'll be up at 7.00-7.30 in the morning.

On nursery days she doesn't nap & it makes no difference what so ever!

Could it be a developmental stage?

Hopefully some wise parent will be along shortly to tell us it shall pass...

luckysocks · 27/05/2012 22:07

That's so weird, heartbeep , she sounds exactly like like DS.

He's still singing incy wincy spider as I type.

DS still naps at nursery, they did cut the nap out one day last week to see if it helped but our evening wasn't much fun Hmm

Same wake-up time, too.

OP posts:
vanimal · 27/05/2012 22:42

OP, you have my sympathies, my DD2 turns 3 next month, and she has been exactly the same. She used to be a good sleepr, going down nicely at 7, but is now refusing to stay in her room, or get into bed, and I am fighting to get her down till around 8.30-9pm every night.

DD1 is 4, she never went through this non-sleeping phase, I don't know if the hot weather makes it worse or not/

I'll watch with interest, hopefully someone has an answer.

Heartbeep · 28/05/2012 06:30

See that's the thing, DD toddles off to bed quite happily, no resistance or anything.
As soon as the door closes that's it, let numerous rounds of 'happy birthday to...(insert name of toy)' or when Santa got stuck up the chimney (we've tried to explain it's May)...and all sorts of imaginative play commence.

If we go up to ask her to go to sleep, she's sitting right up in bed, she used to jump under the covers & pretend she was asleep, now shes just sitting there playing asking if she woke us up!

She never ever gets out of her bed, which we're grateful for.

Was 10pm before she fell asleep last night & I know she'll be awake & singing at @7.30, I just hope she's getting enough sleep.

Also for us, this has been going on a couple of months & I fear is becoming the norm.

I guess we should just be content she's awake & happy I just worry that she's not sleeping enough.

Perhaps we should just compare their repertoires luckysocks & have a smile about it, some nights DH & I are in fits of laughter at her chat & song choice Smile

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