Support for "Dropping that last nap"

[aidenmc]

The only way I can get DS to nap is in the car. Yesterday he apparently napped at preschool (after a 5 am wake-up) and although he was yawning in the car just before 6 and I had him in his bed by 6:15 he wasn't asleep until 8:30 . And as is typical after a late night he was awake at 4:50 for the day with one 1am 10 minute wake during the night. I wasn't able to take him out in the car as we are in the worst blizzard of the year. I still couldn't get him to nap in his bed. I aimed for an extra early night and he was asleep by 6:10 (after a major meltdown while getting on pyjamas). He just woke up at 9:15 so I suspect we are in for  a rough night. Are all of your lo's still in their cribs?

[Peek-a-boo]

Mine is.  We tried converting to a toddler bed and it didn't go great.  I keep going back and forth, but I think I've decided to keep him in the crib until he's really dropped his nap.

I've been going w/ the flow with him up to this point, but after 2 no-nap  days, have decided that we're going to try waking him in the morning to limit his night to 10.5 hours and see if that will get him napping consistently again. 

[Layla]

Aidenmc - sorry to hear you're still having problems with the early wakings. What about napping with him during the day? I did that for 3 months towards the end as I know she would have been a real mess if I would have left it to her at 2.5. She would miss a nap every every 4rth-5th day and I just had to stay with her until she was asleep. He sounds very overtired... is he in the bed or have you put him back in the crib?

[debo620]

gosh its frustrating when you never know how long they will take to fall asleep!

Its 7:45 and Noah is still awake---he woke this morning at 6:15 or so, nap was down for 12:15-and then slept 12:30-2
in bed for 7:10.

hmmn, I'm not sure-hes either has just turned 2 or is bordering OT aswell, a bit of stalling during bedtime routine etc.

I think we are at the point where we may need a longer windown.

seems as though Noah is getting all woundup right at the moment of windown? what is up with that?

[aidenmc]

I & J's mom - He is still in his bed as I know he will balk at the return of the crib (although I haven't completely given up on the idea). I do lie with him at nap time and offer to pat his bum - the real fall back. In fact for the last few days I have stayed with him as he falls asleep (which is why the 8:30 asleep time was extremely frustrating) because DH is away until Monday night and DS#1 gets left behind with all the bedtime business. To stay and pat is just quicker (generally) right now than dealing with the in and out of bed scenario. He woke again tonight at 10:15 - is he that overtired? I will do the nap in the car tomorrow and see what happens. I really dread bedtime these days. I have lost my patience more than I am comfortable with (probably because DH is away and I have both kids on my own, plus work to get done). I think I will probably turn bedtime over completely to DH when he gets back (BTW he is getting sunburned in San Diego, while I am digging out over over 40 cm of snow with my boys - aargh!). So, yes, I will probably turn it over to him and see how long he lasts.

[Layla]

Becky, you know its not a bad idea to have DH take over bedtime cause sometimes Isabella can put on a show for me (tears & all) and when I send H in she's asleep within minutes after he leaves her (he comes over after work to spend time with the kids before he goes home).

[rinajack]

Zara had an atrocious night last night too. DH and I decided to watch a movie for the first time in forever.  Zara in bed asleep at about 5:30, Hugh at about 7ish, waited til after Hughs 45 min wake up (reflux related we think, since naps make no difference) then started the movie.  Hugh woke another time, and Zara woke 4 times.  On the 4th time, we got her up so we could finish the movie, since she wouldn't go back to sleep, she was up for an hour or so, then back to bed, and slept the night, up as always at 6.  I was thinking OT, but now I am not sure.

Today we went on a long car trip, and despite her crappy night it took over 1.5 hrs of driving before she fell asleep, and she only slept 45 mins.  We had a big run around before the return trip home, but it still took over another hour for her to fall asleep and she slept a bit over an hour.  It is already 7pm, we are about to have dinner, she is not remotely tired, which will mean a short night, but I think we are going to go back to trying her very short nights, with naps.

But her short nights are more like 9 hours than the 10.5 that most of you describe.....I just don't really know what to do, her total sleep is 12 on a good day, more like 11....and if she refuses a nap, then I am not sure where it leaves me - she would nap easily at about 3pm of course...

[MommaHolmes]

Deb - I am sure you're right that he is getting OT, I know he's just sooo young to be going without a nap but on the days he doesn't want to nap there is nothing I can do to force him    Lying down with him is a non-starter, he hates me even being in the same room as him if he is trying to sleep ('Mummy go out the door'!).

I think he would have taken a proper nap yesterday and I'm going to try and put him down quite early today. He was up at 6:15 (which is now consistently his wake up time, regardless of what time he went to sleep, except for the freak 13.5 hr night that he did last week!) so am going to offer a nap at 11am cos we have guests arriving at midday so if he doesn't nap then it ain't gonna happen!! Will put him in bed by 5:30 if he doesn't nap.

Strangely though, his NW have improved rather than got worse as the no-napping stretch has gone on... weird huh?

[Katet]

Rina I so know the 3pm Naps!

Maybe being second child or maybe madness, but I've got past the point of frustration & just going with the flow. Ok that meant ds#2 falling asleep at 9pm last night after a 15min nap in the car & up at 7am today, but since he isn't cranky, just stubbon when tired, I'm just rolling with life for the next 2 weeks & seeing what he does.

[rinajack]

Think I may have to take the same approach Kate.....just hard when I am chronically tired myself, Hugh's nights have been appalling lately, since we started a new med, hoping to make some progress on that front tonight actually . Some early nights would do me the world of good, but just can't get organised when Zara is up til my bedtime 

[aidenmc]

Rinajack - I know what you mean about total sleep. Aiden only gets 10-11 hours. Last night after falling asleep at 6:10 after no nap he woke at 9:15 and 10:15 (who knows why) then was up for the day at 4:30. So much for trying to make up the lost sleep with an early bedtime! He is wld right now, has bumped himself twice. We are going to dig ourselves out 40 cm of snow (if I can get out the door). I am going to drive him for a nap today but fear that I won't get back up the driveway and will have to sit at the bottom of the hill in the car for 1.5 hrs. DH is home MOnday night. Am thinking of leaving for Mexico the moment he gets in  !

I would go with the flow too if Aiden woke at 7 (or even 6) or slept through the night. 

BTW rinajack - Aiden also had reflux and we found that Zantc made him constipated. He was always very gassy and this made that end of things worse! We switched to Prevacid which was better I think.

[MommaHolmes]

I'm struggling to offer a nap every day if I know it's going to mean 30 min to an hour (as long as I can stand) of shouting and crying because DD also needs to sleep at that time of day  I just can't spend 2 hours doing WI/WO with another LO to look after, besides, it drives me potty!

We didn't get a nap in today (surprise surprise!) - put him down for a bit at 11am but got him up at 11:30 cos DH was adamant there was no point and also, he'd pooed (Ollie, not DH!). He was in bed by 5:15 and asleep by 5:30, although admittedly he was speaking in tongues by the end of the day 

I think I will try and find ways of giving him the opportunity to nap without disturbing DD too much (she is an erratic 45 min napper and easily woken), may have to just offer a nap after she wakes from her nap regardless of the time of day. Don't know what time would be ideal to offer now anyway so maybe I'll occasionally get it right by fluke!

Fortunately early bedtimes are the most effective way of helping DS catch up sleep. When he descended into OT hell during the botched 2-1 transition, his OT manifested itself as lots of NW, regular EW and great difficulty falling asleep at night. He's not showing any of these signs at the moment (except wake up is earlier, but I don't really class 6:15 as an EW) so I don't think we're in trouble just yet.

Touch wood 

[aidenmc]

Would love a quick response. After 2.5 hours of driving (I'm serious!) Aiden finally fell asleep at 3:25pm (of course we put the clocks forward last night). So, How long should I let him sleep? DOn't want to wreck bedtime but need to get sleep into him.

[aidenmc]

Thanks Stacy! I will do that. Actually I am in Ottawa under a mountain of snow. 

[aidenmc]

Hi Stacy. Just had the chance to read your longer message and a lot of it makes sense. I think he is lower on sleep needs (he has never gotten the average). The tricky part is that at school they go down at 1:00. He will often nap for 45 to 1 hr but I think it is too late when he wakes so early. I am really hoping the time change will help things. He was groggy for a while after I woke him but then was fine and then quite hyper. I just gave them their bath and decide to do something different and stick them in front of a movie in hopes that he will sit still for a while and stop running wild. So you say to have him to bed at 8. I will start the routine earlier I think so he is asleep no later than 8. I really hope he doesn't take 2 hrs to fall asleep again. I think I will stick with staying in the room with him as I need to get him better rested to start the ol' training again. It is just too hard with DS#1 and with DH away.

I envy you in your t-shirt. Right now DH is in San Diego all sun burnt grr!