Dropping the Afternoon Nap. It's all gone horribly wrong ...

[NotQuiteCockney]

DS2 is 28 months. Since September, we've had a stupid afternoon nap schedule, if I hurry, he can grab an hour's sleep before I yank him out of bed. He often cries a lot when he's woken, and it really sucks.

On Tuesday, he said "Me no like nap". And I was distracted, and didn't manage to put him down on time. He was ok.

Wednesday morning, he slept in a reasonable amount, and I thought 'hurrah! This can work!'

Wednesday night he didn't go to sleep well. Thursday morning he woke early. Thursday afternoon he was not a very pleasant child to be around, very tantrummy, difficult, etc etc.

Thursday night, he didn't go to sleep well. This morning he woke up extra early.

I don't want to deal with him tired. He is going to be horrid this afternoon.

My options:

1. Try to go back to the old nap. Tricky, may take some time to work, if it ever does.

1. Carry on and figure it will sort itself out. (NB: DH is away Sunday->Thursday next week, so I will have to carry on, on my own next week. So it really needs to sort itself out PDQ.)

1. Try a different nap - I could try to get him to nap in the pram, although the times I've tried this, it's not taken at all. But at least he'd be taking a break that way.

My kids have blackout on their windows. I can't cope with kids waking at 5am in the winter!

But yeah, it's always something, isn't it. No nap for DS2 today. We'll see how tonight goes.

5am in the summer. God I'm worn down.

thought that was a wrong comment you made there

well, ds is still awake and has been very demanding and sulky,tired all afternoon. hes now onto playdough and i cant wait till dinner/bath is over.when on earth do they learn to play on their own instead of following us around and wanting100% of our time,aghhhh!

hope your week wont be too awful without your dh

My DS2 is pretty good at amusing himself, he's mad for puzzles. We went into town, had a nice meal out, then wanted to go for ice cream, but our favourite ice cream place was closed for a private function . So we bought hot chocolate. Then went to a farm and enjoyed the pigs etc. Now the boys are fighting over what film to watch. DS1 wants lots of films, and all of them are "me no like" to DS2.

aw bless them,sounds like youve had a good day. praps ive spoilt my son with his demands for me then,he might spend 5mins on his own then its "muuuuuum" and dragging my finger to where he wants me to go, very difficult when im cooking.

um which is what im meant to be doing now!

hope your night is good NQT, fingers crossed for both of us

We've had a pretty good day. I just have to get motivated to sort out the house a bit (normally something DH does when home) and then make sure I get to bed at a decent hour.

I think I've managed to move my second work shift this week from Wednesday to Thursday, which is an improvement really.

Oh, and I think that making sure he eats really well at dinner makes a difference. Hard to get him to eat if he's really tired, but I'm offering bread after dinner, against my normal methods. I just want him to sleep, damnit!

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My children have never been "sneak off, fall asleep" sort of children.

No surprise, given I never just fall asleep, never sleep on planes, trains, in cars, whatever.

No, DS2 will sleep on the bike, or probably in a car, if he was ever in one. Won't sleep in the pram.

(Oh yeah, and he hates the telly at the moment, won't let DS1 watch it either. )

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Not even on overnight flights? Not even on a train or taxi home when you've been drinking?

I mean I never fall asleep like that. Even if I want to.

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It's annoying, not sleeping on planes, but it's probably worth it for not waking up at the end of a train or tube line in the middle of the night.

Neither of my kids has ever fallen asleep on me, unless they were bf at the time. DS1 can stay awake essentially forever, at least he's managed to at weddings etc.

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Right, I must sleep, DH away, and I have to cope with a weirdo week.

I am trying to lure Frances back, btw. Might go visit her week after next.

I do think DS2 was maybe about to fall asleep in my bed, at naptime, one day last week. At least, he was 'hiding' under the covers, somewhat appropriately.

They are completely bloody impossible with jetlag. Well, the three of us go out at 5 or 6 in the morning, the day after we get to canada, while DH stays in bed and sleeps.

Another good night! Maybe this is working now!

I have DS1 to myself while I get him ready for school, and the house to myself now, while I wait for DS2 to wake.

Ok, I've got to be at the co-op for 9:15 or so, as I'm working today, so he can't have a giant lie in, but still ... he might be tolerable today.

We have friends visiting this afternoon, anyway, so I won't have to cope entirely on my own for tea.

another alrightish night for me last night, hes fell asleep at 1.30 today and slept for an hour in the end! im hoping he'll be asleep by 9pm so i can watch the 2nd part of trial and retribution.

hope your night will be ok with dh

Hmmm. One of his eyes is making scary gunk. He was actually a bit difficult at the co-op this morning, and had tantrums this afternoon (on the bike) about wanting to a) go on a train instead and b) go to a friend's house, rather than them visiting us. Gah.

And he hasn't had much tea at all.

Ah well.

I don't think I'll go out late tonight, partly to not annoy the babysitter, and partly so I'll have some time on my own to store up patience for tomorrow morning.

hope hes ok NQT,mum had my ds while i was at work and said he hadnt eaten also. think hes probably coming down withsomeone also

and hes still awake, aghhhh! really hoping he nods off by 9 so i dont miss the drama