Author Topic: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all  (Read 1607 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline clarabella

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 57
  • Learning - every day!
  • Location: Redhill, Surrey
2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« on: July 01, 2011, 19:14:10 pm »
Ok, so here I am, never thought I'd be back here again as we'd done so well for the past year or so. BUT she turned 2 at the end of April and it just seems that all the goal posts have moved again :)

There doesn't seem to be a pattern, on a good day, it works swimmingly and looks like this:

7am - wake
Milk and story downstairs with Dad
8.30am breakfast as family
9.30am/10 - out for an activity
12 - lunch
1/1.30 - nap
3.30/4 - wake
5.30 - tea
7 - bedtime

But we're all over the place. I know there is so much a 2yr old has to handle and figure out and we've really done well on behaviour and patience and encouragement. But I think my 'thing' has always been the sleep and again, BW/EASY has been a godsend and a brilliant way of living. So it's really causing me difficulties. We are having issues with her dropping off  to sleep (takes up to 9.30pm some nights) and also waking up around 6, sometimes earlier. I think we could handle the odd day but it's becoming more of a normal way of doing things and I find it very hard to wind down when the listener is broadcasting her singing and chatting and sometimes tears. Husband knackered from the early starts. She says the pigeons wake her up but as she slept through the scaffolding being taken down at nap time today, I'm not sure why this happens! She then gets tired during morning and really grumpy. I've tried taking her out for loads of fresh air and exercise and shifting naps but sometimes you get a good result and other days it makes it worse. Argh!

I know it's not the massivest problem but after having a textbook almost angel baby for so long, this is really hard to handle. She's been so good, it's as though we haven't really the skills to deal with it.

Most most grateful for any advice or suggestions. It's helped just to read through other messages :)
<img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/jc0IUpl.jpg" width="100" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie - Personal picture" /><img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/jc0Ip1.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Third Birthday tickers" />

Offline sianie

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 101
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4236
  • My little monkeys....
  • Location:
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2011, 19:50:43 pm »
Hi there...

A lot of LO's sleep needs change at around 2yrs old, also 2nd year molars can start making an appearance at this time adding to sleep issues. I know with my DD that I had to cap her nap & do quite a big routine tweak at around 2yrs old.

Looking at your routine, the last A-time before bed is on the short side (only 3.5/4hrs which is really low for a 2 yr old) compared to a 6hr morning A-time? It sounds like she's probably got into an UT/OT loop hence the BT resistance & earlier WU's.

Can you post what her routine looks like at the moment? You might want to bring her nap forward whilst you are getting EW's to help curb the OT & also do earlier BT's as necessary.

HTH?  :)
Sian



Offline clarabella

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 57
  • Learning - every day!
  • Location: Redhill, Surrey
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2011, 20:09:18 pm »
Hey, yes I keep thinking it's teeth but it seems to go on for so long that I then to start to wonder whether that's just an excuse!

Last A time is most short yes. We've tried later bedtimes but that does seem to bring on the worst of the EWs. Around 5am sometimes. Which results in a wholly knackered and grumpy family all round.

There's been a few times when we've had no nap or just a short nap in the car when we've gone somewhere for the day and that has just resulted in meltdowns and a distressed baby bear by around 6pm. Who still takes ages to go to sleep and wakes up early :)

I was at work today and got home around 6.45. My lovely mother in law had her in bed and I sang her bedtime songs and did the usual routine. She was awake until half 8, just mucking about and singing for the first hour but when I went in at half eight (having left her for 40 minutes) there was lots of eye rubbing and crying. I stroked her hair and gave her a little cuddle and she's gone straight off. It's like this a lot.

Like the loop idea. Think you are right. Her routine is:

Wake  - Between 5.45 and 7
Milk with daddy downstairs and a story
Breakfast - 8
Activity - 9/9.30
Lunch - 12
Nap - 1 - 3.30 (sometimes more, until 4)
Tea - 5.30
Bath/Wind down from now till 7.15/7.30
Then hold breath till sleeps.....

We are getting some NW, maybe a couple a night. She's quite groggy from her naps when she wakes up and can take up to 30 minutes to properly wake up. Then it's full steam ahead and she's often quite hyper after tea. (Teatime is also quite hard at the minute - refusal to eat, bad behaviour, demanding cuddles and sit on my laps to eat..) It can be a bit of a mare to wake her up before she's ready. She's been like that since she was born. Naptime has become something that she dictates when it ends. We've had to wake her a few times recently to go out or because it's getting late and it has resulted in 10-15minutes of utter sobbing and confusion from her followed by an afternoon of difficult behaviour.

Sorry - an essay!
<img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/jc0IUpl.jpg" width="100" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie - Personal picture" /><img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/jc0Ip1.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Third Birthday tickers" />

Offline sianie

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 101
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4236
  • My little monkeys....
  • Location:
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2011, 20:19:34 pm »
Ok, what you've said makes sense....

If it is 2nd year molars starting to move around then unfortunately, they can take ages to come through, so you might not notice obvious teething signs. Have you tried giving meds before BT, just to see if this makes a difference (it might help to eliminate if it is discomfort that's causing the problem)?

For now I would try pulling the nap forward to say 12/12.30pm. It might be that you need to start capping the nap but I would get her caught up a bit on her sleep first. Try the earlier nap for a few days to see if this helps then BT for around 7.30pm.

What do you think?
Sian



Offline clarabella

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 57
  • Learning - every day!
  • Location: Redhill, Surrey
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2011, 21:26:43 pm »
Will give the early nap a go. Now I think upon it, she does yawn sometimes around half eleven/seem tired but because she always used to go till half twelve or one, I suppose that I dismiss that as a real tired sign. There are always cues and signs if you open your eyes properly!

Calpol doesn't seem to do that much. Will see if Nurofen helps with the teeth.

Thank you! This has always a place to be rescued and helped :)
<img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/jc0IUpl.jpg" width="100" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie - Personal picture" /><img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/jc0Ip1.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Third Birthday tickers" />

Offline clarabella

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 57
  • Learning - every day!
  • Location: Redhill, Surrey
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2011, 21:55:39 pm »
also just read the gro-clock thread. off to amazon to spend today's wages!
<img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/jc0IUpl.jpg" width="100" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie - Personal picture" /><img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/jc0Ip1.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Third Birthday tickers" />

Offline sianie

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 101
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4236
  • My little monkeys....
  • Location:
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #6 on: July 02, 2011, 11:11:48 am »
Yes, I've always found Nurofen works a lot better for teeth as it's anti-inflammatory.

Gro-clocks are great (I know Tesco were doing a really good deal on them recently). We have one for DD & it has really helped.

Let me know how you get on!  :)
Sian



Offline clarabella

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 57
  • Learning - every day!
  • Location: Redhill, Surrey
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #7 on: July 02, 2011, 18:36:40 pm »
Hey, gro clock ordered so fingers crossed for that one. She slept quite badly again last night, couple of NW around midnight and then husband said she woke at 5.30 and then 6.10 and then 6.30 she was crying so he got up with her. Did nap at 12.45 and i went in to get her at 4. She was just waking up.. Bed at 7.10 and she's still awake but I am holding firm with the occasional cries for blankets to be sorted etc and not going in. She seems to be quietening down a lot already so I am thinking it is right to not go in unless she's crying.

Will update further!
<img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/jc0IUpl.jpg" width="100" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie - Personal picture" /><img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/jc0Ip1.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Third Birthday tickers" />

Offline sianie

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 101
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4236
  • My little monkeys....
  • Location:
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #8 on: July 02, 2011, 19:19:08 pm »
It could be that that long nap meant she wasn't tired enough at BT.
Sian



Offline clarabella

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 57
  • Learning - every day!
  • Location: Redhill, Surrey
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #9 on: July 03, 2011, 09:08:50 am »
well I hung in there and left her cooing and wriggling around and then slwoly starting to grizzle. Went in at ten to 8 when she was crying and gave her a cuddle and stroked her hair. Straight off to sleep. Hurrah I thought....

but then 2 NW and then EW of 4.40am!! Went in at 5 to talk to her and say that it was still sleep time. She wasn't buying it and we ended up having a cuddle in our bed. She decided she wanted to go back in her bed around 10 to 6. I thought she'd dropped off again but DH ended up getting up with her at 6.20.

And now we're off for a big day out with friends in Kew Gardens for the day.. so she'll be completely knackered with only a 45 minute snooze in the car (has only done one sleep cycle in the car since she was about 1.) Am at a bit of a loss today as to how I should handle it all. Really hoping this gro clock can help too ;)
<img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/jc0IUpl.jpg" width="100" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie - Personal picture" /><img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/jc0Ip1.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Third Birthday tickers" />

Offline sianie

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 101
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4236
  • My little monkeys....
  • Location:
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #10 on: July 03, 2011, 11:15:48 am »
I think you will just have to go with the flow today & do a really early BT.

If I were you I would keep the nap at around 12pm for a few days & cap it at 2hrs with BT by 7.30pm. Stick to this for a few days to see if this helps things to even out.
Sian



Offline clarabella

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 57
  • Learning - every day!
  • Location: Redhill, Surrey
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #11 on: July 03, 2011, 18:16:40 pm »
Just a quick update - she fell asleep at 10.30 this morning in the car for 45 minutes. Made me realise that I have definitely been making her nap too late. She was in bed by 5 to 7 and asleep 10 minutes later. I think that I should prob aim for a nap at 11.45 this week where i can manage it (swimming Mon late morn and nursery from 9 -12 on Tues) and BT at 6.45. If that and the Gro Clock work then perhaps we can get back to more civilised times and push naps back a bit.

Anyhow - that's all wishful thinking, gotta get this tired kiddo back on track first :)

Thank you for your help on this :)
<img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/jc0IUpl.jpg" width="100" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie - Personal picture" /><img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/jc0Ip1.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Third Birthday tickers" />

Offline sianie

  • Resident BW Chatterbox!
  • *****
  • Showing Appreciation 101
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 4236
  • My little monkeys....
  • Location:
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #12 on: July 03, 2011, 18:33:20 pm »
Car naps can sometimes be a bit misleading...my LO's will fall asleep in the car even after only a couple of hours of being awake (also make me really sleepy if I'm not driving!).

Hope the earlier nap works.....keep me posted!  :)
Sian



Offline sopbrew

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Posts: 97
  • Location:
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #13 on: July 03, 2011, 18:43:35 pm »
Hi

Your first post, is identical to whats happening with my little girl who also turned two at the end of April. In a constant loop of late bed times, catching up during afternoon nap then not going to sleep until 9ish. This carries on all week, and i to try taking her swimming or park in the afternoon but nothing works any more. On a Saturday my sister comes to visit for the day and she doesn't get to nap so i put her to bed at 6 and she will sleep through till7 but then by Monday we are back to same old troubles. Left side back molar is half way through but doesn't seam to be causing much pain at the moment. I have thought about capping her nap but she hates and i mean hate being woken up when she is not ready then im left with a very grumpy toddler which isn't nice.

I thought that it wasn't causing too much trouble for us but i have noticed we are getting bad behavior at lunch time as a result.

Sorry i have no solutions just thought it was funny how many similarities or little girls have.

Sophie


  

Offline clarabella

  • New, But Posting Steadily!
  • **
  • Showing Appreciation 0
  • Gender: Female
  • Posts: 57
  • Learning - every day!
  • Location: Redhill, Surrey
Re: 2 year old - sleeps not going well at all
« Reply #14 on: July 04, 2011, 13:08:22 pm »
Hey Sophie, thanks for showing your support. It's nice to know I'm not alone :) I am coming to the conclusion that molars and 2yr development is a combination that is most challenging but I'm going to see if I can step up to the mark.

She slept ok last night, woke once because she'd wriggled out of her sheets and was cold and had a bit of a shouty dream at one point. Then woke at 6.20 am. So much better. Totally knackered this morning though. Spent an hour curled up on the sofa with Dog teddy and a big cushion just zoning out on her nursery rhyme DVD. Went swimming, lunch on the hoof in the car on the way home, a quick yoghurt at home and then off to bed. She went down at 1pm. So, we shall see. It's hard to tell where we are cos I think that she's been in a real loop of OT at the mo. One can only cross fingers!!
<img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/TikiPic.php/jc0IUpl.jpg" width="100" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie - Personal picture" /><img src="http://lb3f.lilypie.com/jc0Ip1.png" width="400" height="80" border="0" alt="Lilypie Third Birthday tickers" />