2 and a half year old won’t sleep

[tmh88]

I’ve been really struggling on an evening to get DS to sleep I’m sure it’s just lack of activities and a bit of lockdown boredom setting in but I don’t want it to turn into a new habit of staying up till about 9pm daily (and still waking half 5 grumpy)! I have ordered a grow clock which I’m hoping will help but at the minute every time I put him in bed he gets up and runs through laughing I’m holding out hope that when he’s back to nursery end of the month the routine will do him good again! I’ve never really had problems like this with him sleeping before so I’m at a bit of a loss! Also should I drop the nap? He usually sleeps 12-1/1:30.

Should also add it’s only been going on about 2/3 weeks but it feels like 2/3 years!

I have 2 DS, 4 and 11mo and even though they're both decent sleepers the last few weeks it has even a nightmare getting them both to bed. Then I remembered... it's always hard to get the oldest to bed in the height of summer! Every single year, without fail in the June/July time. I thought it might be the lack of gradual light loss at sunset that did it? Could it be that?

I'm in the same boat as you though with naps as I was contemplating seeing if the youngest could go down from 2 naps to one but imo you've got to keep the naps going as long as you can for that mid day break!

I never thought of the light! That is a possibility he does have a black out blind but it does still let light in and he did use to sleep in pitch black! He seems tired but just doesn’t give in! He’s not upset, I can hear him start giggling after I have put him back in bed plotting the next time to come in I guess.. hopefully he will sleep in the winter! Think I’ll trial no naps this week and see what happens!

Dropping the nap made a huge difference to ds bedtimes when it all went wrong around turning 2. I think he stopped some time between 2 and 2 1/2. But i do know it's harder dropping the nap.when they get up so early. Is the room blacked out? I've been very strict with that this time around (dc3) and it makes a huge difference to morning wake ups. Good luck. I hate shit bedtimes!

@perfectpanda yes I hate bedtimes at the minute too! His room has a black out blind but the shape of the window means it’s not fully dark as it doesn’t fit right up! Hard to explain but sort of like a mini bay window so it does still let light in which I’m wondering if that’s what it could be now! Definitely going to try dropping the nap this week and see what happens! It’s hard because he isn’t upset or anything just thinks he’s hilarious! So it’s not like he needs reassurance that’s what made me wonder if I dropped the nap he might be too tired to mess about can only hope anyway! Ha!

I know exactly what you mean regarding blackout blinds bleeding light around the edges. What you could do with is blackout blind in the window recess (As you have) and in addition blackout curtains that are above and wider than the recess. Double blackout makes a huge difference.

At bedtime, you need to be mega consistent about it. Do not let him get out of bed. Be right there waiting, the instant he goes to try yo get up put him straight back. He will eventually accept your rules but like many other aspects of toddlerhood, he is testing your boundaries to see if he can make you give in. Don't give in.

and I wouldn't drop the nap yet.

Wait until he's not pushing boundaries at bedtime, because that might solve it. He may well still need a daytime nap at this age. He might not too, but it's difficult to know in the situation you are in.

I would drop the nap. Two and a half is not early to drop the nap and he is obviously struggling with bedtime. When DD1 dropped her nap she actually got more sleep in 24 hours than she did before.

Thankyou for all the responses, I’m going to test dropping the nap this week @BabySleepTeacherUK I am consistent and put him back in bed each time, I wondered about the nap as between 9-10 when I do put him back in (again) he does eventually at some point drift off so just wondered if he weren’t physically tired by then if that makes sense! Thankyou for all the advice

@Lockdownseperation yes I’m going to test it this week and see what happens!

Remember to bring bed time earlier and allow for them to be grumpy in the evening for a few weeks until they get used to it. I hope it improves soon.

I will do @Lockdownseperation thank you!

@Lockdownseperation ok so no nap today! DS fell asleep at about 10 past 7! Didn’t really get grumpy till about 6 either! So I’m hoping we can knock the nap on the head and go forward like this all week!