Toddler Messing Around at Bedtime :(

[nicolebm23]

Okay, so for about a month or so now, our almost 2 year old has been a massive terror at bed time.

He wakes up around 7.45am, has a nap around 12.45pm - 2pm, and we take him up for bed at around 7.30pm but more often than not, he won't actually be asleep until 9.30/10pm.

I've tried giving him no naps, but he just crashes at 4pm and its extremely difficult to wake him up, which in turn still makes bed time difficult. Some days, if I manage to keep him awake until 6/7pm, he'll just be an absolute terror for the whole afternoon, as in NON STOP temper tantrums, which I am really struggling to deal with as I'm 29 weeks pregnant and partner is at work all day, 5 days a week.

We reverted back to the 1 nap a day after a couple of weeks, because I just couldn't cope with the tantrums.

I just can't understand how he can take his naps so wonderfully, yet bedtimes is like dealing with a whole different child. He has the exact same routine for bedtime as he does for a nap. We've even tried cutting out baths at night time thinking this could be too fun before bed. Both me and my partner are getting so stressed out, especially because we KNOW that he is tired at bedtime, yet manages to force himself to stay awake just to mess about. Literally all he does to keep himself awake is kick his legs around, cover on, cover off, sitting up, laying down. Just general messing about. I did think it could've been that maybe he just can't get comfy, but doesn't explain why he takes his nap so well (which is in the same room in the same bed) :(

Came here looking for advice really but kind of know that the replies will be to cut the nap and deal with a grumpy toddler or keep the nap and not have an evening so I guess this is more of a vent but any advice other than the above will be so gratefully received!

Thanks! :)

Argh - it's that inbetween phase where they are too young to drop the nap but it's affecting bedtime. On the positive side, waking at 7:45am is outstanding. Mine woke up at 4/5am at that age and I swear I was a broken woman. I didn't have any evening time to myself as I went to bed the same time as the toddler!

How about doing everything for bedtime an hour earlier - bath, story etc? You never know, it might trick him into thinking it's later than it is.

And I know this is trite, but it won't last forever!

Try not putting him to bed so early and then he can mess about, play etc, downstairs far better than when confined to bed.

I would try waking him earlier from his nap, so that you take the edge off the tiredness but he's a bit more tired by bedtime. Or take him for a walk/to the park late afternoon to tire him out.

My DD is sinilar at the moment too. We either just let her play in her bed, or play downstairs a bit longer, until she's tired enough to settle down to sleep. I figure there's no point getting stressed and upset. Hoping it won't be forever though as it is a pain!

I'm having the same with my 2 year old. Combination of age and the warm weather and light evenings I think. I'm trying to take it in my stride and remind myself that it's not forever. Doesn't make it better when it's been 3 hours of bedtime though. I have started however to just try not to stress if she doesn't go down straight away and either bring her back down or try and put my head down while she's screeching in her cot! (I lay on the floor next to her cot to get her to sleep)

Hi, in the same boat here. My wee one, who's 2 wakes for the day between 7/8am. Ready for a nap between 12/1 and could easily nap for 2 hours. I'm the same in that trying to get her down for bedtime is a nightmare (could be lying next to her bed for up to 2 hours) but I know I need to cut the nap to 45 mins to max 1 hour. Tried this yesterday and she was in bed sleeping for 7.45 which was amazing! I actually had an evening. I'm going to miss the 2 hours of peace but I'd rather have time at night to unwind, watch tv, do chores. Could you try still giving him a nap but just for less time and see how you get on? I'm going to try the same again today and hopefully get the same results.

Mine goes through phases of that. I just get him back up, let him mess around, and put back to bed an hour later. He then wakes later which is beautiful..... must just be something to do with summer.

We found cutting the nap to an hour sorted this for us.