What time does your 2 year old go to bed?

[TDR'smom]

Riley's bedtime has gone a bit nutty lately since he learned how to string sentences together. It seems like bedtime is the ideal time to practise saying everything.

The other night we heard this: "UH OH, whereismama? Gone! Dada gone!...(cue crying) mama, open door....peeeese....mama!!!!!dada!!!!!" And then he got out of bed and came running into us, "Oh, there he is" pointing at us!

ROFLMAO!!!   

Sorry, no real good advice as Tyler has been partying in his room for over an hour at bedtime...   

[binxyboo]

I actually feel better that so many of us are in the same boat!!

Although yesterday, he only napped for 1 hr 20 mins and was out like at light at about 7.30pm and didn't wake until 8 this morning. I would love that every day

[Mydreamcametrue]

Oh that would be such a dream!!!

[Mydreamcametrue]

Okay so what does this mean:

I woke ZAch up today after a 2.5 hour nap (3:00), he was not real happy at first.

We had bath at 7:45 and then wind down.  At 8:30 brushed teeth and off to bed.  He sat there for about 15 minutes and then stood up screaming, crying for another 15 minutes.  I went and got him, brought him back downstairs and he sat with me on the couch.  10/15 minutes later I put him back to bed and he went right to sleep.

So.. Is it a game or good he just not be tired until about 9:00/9:30?  He is never fussy at night and when he is tired, he will go right to sleep.

Should I just keep at the 8:30 bedtime or just deal with a later bedtime?

Thanks, Wendy

[mrsrobbo]

Bradley is being a nightmare now. He refuses to go to bed. he thinks its a game. driving me mad now!

[kate585]

Here is our schedule for my 26 month old boy:

7-ish Wake up (sometimes 5:30   other days it's 7:30, usually between 6:45 and 7:15)
Nap 12:30 or 1 (naps for 2-3 hours, I wake him by 4 no matter what!  He is usually up for 4-5 hours before bed...haven't noticed any magic amount of time for Ryan to be awake between nap and bed)
Up to get ready for bed at 7:30, asleep by 8

So, that's about 10-11 hours at night and 2-3 during the day.  This works for us and he's getting the recommended time for this age.  

In my opinion, he is seeing the getting him out of bed bit as part of his bedtime routine.  I would try to cut this out and you may see the bedtime get earlier.  He would much rather hang with you, get milk, etc. instead of going to bed.  (Who wouldn't?   )  Go to him, comfort him, do all the good BW-ing tricks  , but DO NOT GET HIM OUT OF THE CRIB!  You may see his bedtime stay the same for a bit, but I think you need to break this habit and then deal with bedtime.  

HTH and isn't too bossy!  

[binxyboo]

I don't know, Wendy. It is so hard to comment on another family's lifestyle.

Personally, I think waking up from nap at 3pm is too late, I would wake at 2, 2:30 at the very latest. Have bath at around 6 or so, low-key playing after that. Start windown by about 7-7:15 and then pop him in bed.

How many total hours sleep does he get in a 24 hour period right now?

I don't know, I would not be happy with a 9pm bedtime at all

[Mydreamcametrue]

Kate:  Thanks for the advice, not bossy at all.
I deft. do need to put a stop to going back in there and getting him. 

I am going to try the same thing I did last night (bed at 8:30) and see what happens.

[Lucysmom]

Ok, so Lucy was fast asleep last night at 8:15.  And she was up at 5:20. 

Went down for her nap at 12:30 and I guess I will wake her at 2:45 or so and aim for bed around 7:30.  Does that sound right?

The early waking has really thrown me!  She hasn't done it in a while.  However, her 2 year molars are on the move so that could be the reason.  But I am glad to know that other 2 year olds are also trying to get out of going to bed like Lucy.  She tries every tactic in the book!  It used to be soooooo easy!

[Mydreamcametrue]

You could shoot for a bedtime 5 to 5.5 hours after being awake.  I am going to go by Zach's mood.

He woke at 3:15 today, so I will lay him down around 8:30 tonight.

Zach's 2 year molars are also coming in.. This will be it, well until I have the new baby, then we will start all over.

Uh.... that's means I will have like 4 years of teething (between both kids).  YIKES

[binxyboo]

LOL Wendy re: the teething!

You know, sometimes when Riley starts to really look tired etc., it's already too late and he would have gone to sleep a heck of a lot easier if I had put him down before the tired signs.

[kate585]

Michelle, I was going to say the same thing.  Ryan would gladly stay up until midnight, but I know he needs to be in bed by 7:45 or 8 for a good night and good next day.  He usually goes down with no fuss, too.  Especially on the days he's running around like a maniac right before story time, I think, "Oh, boy!  He'll be up forever tonight."  Those are the days that I don't hear a peep out of him as I leave the room.  Kids!     So, no cues over here, except sometimes he'll cry when we need to get ready for bed...that's a sure sign he's getting too tired.

[jennyh]

India is in bed by 6.30 and sleeps till 5ish.lately though she has started singing herself to sleep .i guess its her way of winding down although it is very cute listening to binkle binkle little star on the baby monitor ......jenny