Support for Dropping the Nap age 2-3 Part 4!

[koe2moe]

Sorry... Yes I took it away because I think when he transitions to last sleep cycle, he sees the light and just gets wide awake and starts crying.  If he has slept enough, he wakes happy.  I tried getting him back to sleep and I couldn't tell him it's dark, it's sleepy time anymore because there is light!  We have an alarm clock with light and that's his groclock equivalent. 

We gave him the night light about three weeks ago as he said he was scared of the darkness.  This evening, he was happily chatting away in the dark for about 30-40 mins, then it got too much and wanted me to rub his back, hold his hand, etc.  It's like how it all started during last GS which ended only about 4-5 weeks ago!!! 

Also it's almost autumn weather now and he might be stirred by the cold.  I just don't know.  I went to check him at 5:30 and the blanket was still on him so he slept much better last night coz he couldn't see that there was a blanket (previous nights, it was always kicked off). 

I know it sounds like there are too many factors.  That's why I lost.  My brain doesn't work!!

[Khalam's Mama]

Koe could you give him a torch that he can turn on himself if he wakes but that you could turn off after he is asleep if he has fear? I know my neice is better in a dark room than one with a bit of light because she sees the shadows and gets scared.

I hate when they wake when they are not ready and are upset by it.

K gets up earlier and earlier like that when he is getting OT from too many no nap days. When we get an EW I use that as an oppotunity to do a nap day and catch up and just make sure the nap is early.

Sabs out routine is this:
no nap day:
wu 7.30 or after
Bt 6.30-7pm

nap day:
wake up 7 or earlier
nap from 11-12 for 1.5hrs
Bt 8pm

As long as we do not nap more than 1.5hrs or after 2pm we can keep a BT of 8pm.

K woke at 6.40 this morning, napped 12-1.30 and was asleep by 8.55pm. I actually let him get OT by letting him stay up with his cousin who was here with my sister but this did mean he took 25mins to sleep (was in bed 8.30pm). I have a feeling he may EW tomorrow because of this. Silly Mama!

[scucci1979]

Koe, Martina suggested the below turtle. Do you think that may help him with the darkness? It has a timer. I am going to get one for Madi. 

http://cloudb.com/ssandf/turtle.html

Is he going through any SA during the day?

thanks for the routine. That does help.
We can never win with these los. Fingers crossed for tonight.

Madi was just a complete mess for a good 20min after her one hour nap. She then perked up and was fine. BT was 8pm. Lets hope she stays in her bed until Mr. Sunshine comes on. For some reason she will not stay in her room until it comes on. 

[Tweakster]

Right now we are getting more overall sleep. 

So:
Awake 6ish (sometimes before)
Nap 12:30-2:30/3
Bedtime asleep by 8ish

[consmummy]

Dec ended up crashing in the pushchair on the school run yesterday. I KNEW he needed a nap but he just wouldn't have one at home. So let him have a quick 15-20 mins CN to keep him going till bedtime. Today is nursery so who knows what will happen. I suspect he'll have a nap there, typical!

[koe2moe]

KM and Sabs.  The problem is that when he wakes and doesnt see the light, he cries for it but it only happens early in the morning!  Grrrrr.  So it won't work if the light turns itself off.  And I know that if I set the timer to turn it on in the morning, he will wake up crying and point to the light (from the alarm) and complains that it wakes him!  Hmm  maybe we can't win this.  

We chickened and dH really wanted me to put the nightlight back as he felt how scared DS was when he told him he was scared of the darkness.  I placed very thick paper on the light which dimmed it but he woke up 6:40.  AND I did put a very thick blanket on him before I went to bed.  

Another thing I noticed is that while we are doing stories, he is very tired, rubbing eyes but once we put him in his bed, he gets a second wind!!  He was full of stories to tell, etc but it can also be developmental.  I am just down that this is still going on and our lives are still all about his (and ours) sleep.  

I am sure you all agree, this SUCKS!!!

[Grants]

(((((Hugs Koe))))) it really sucks! I'm really down with all the sleep issues . I have been crying this morning. I just have had enough so I totally get what you are saying. Xxx

[scucci1979]

He can press the turtle and it lights up again.  I know how frustrated you must be. It has to be developmental. That is what I keep telling myself.  Just think, I get to do it all over again with number two. 

I do agree, this really sucks and it just affects our moods as mothers.

Grants, you us to lean on. It will get better. Keep telling yourself that. Remember, we will be dragging our kids butts out of bed on day. I know it seems far from now, but we will get there.

Wendy, I am so glad that he is getting more sleep. Great job Finn. Keep it up. 

Consmummy, it is funny how they think they don't need sleep but really do. What time was bt after that cn?

I don't know what is going on with Madi but she has napped over the last three days and has slept until 7am.     Asleep last night by 8pm. woke up at 4:30am, came to my room, brought her back and tucked her in. Didn't hear her until 6:50am when she came running into my room. Guess what, Mr. Sunshine was on then. I praised her so much this morning. I really hope these months of hell are coming to an end. Wishful thinking!!!  I am going to continue with the one hour nap if she wants it or do a 12hour day with no nap.

[Tweakster]

Yes we are in some very unchartered territory.  Yesterday he woke at around 6:40, nap 12:35-2:45 (she wakes him when the other kids wake up) and asleep by 8:15.  He woke at 6:30 this morning.  It means we have little time in the evening but hey, he's a happy agreeable fun kid when he's well-slept.  The difference is huge!

[scucci1979]

So happy for you Wendy. 

It looks like she is not going to nap today. She looked tired, yawned a few times but she didn't' want to lie down during quiet time on the sofa. I even asked her if she wanted me to lie with her and she said no.  I think she was getting bored b/c after 30mins into her quiet time she was having little tantrums and was whining. I thought it was tiredness but if she was tired, she would just roll over and go to sleep.  Now she took some hand sanitizer and is clanging her teddy.her imagination is funny sometimes. If she crashes after, do I just cap it to 30min with the same bt?  I doubt she will fall asleep now. I am sure her second wind is about to hit.

[scucci1979]

forgot to mention, she has the runs today. WE were at indigo  yesterday afternoon. Every time we go to indigo she gets something.

[koe2moe]

Oh Sabs!!  Hugs...  Maybe it won't be as bad for dd2!!  Gosh we are such a bunch of realists!  (DH would have said pessimists!)  what is Indigo?

Wendy, maybe F is really like DS and now finally can sleep longer!!! Hehe

DS had 10h night, but he was a mess and refused bath!!!  Still took forever to get him to bed but he said he was tired and didn't want bath!!!  He napped 1h45!!!  I really hope he isn't coming down with something as his best friend was also falling asleep in the pram going home!!!  It will be a 14h10 day!!!  I hate these days!!!

[consmummy]

Sabs, he went to bed as normal yesterday, but I did only let him have 15-20 tops, and he must have been tired, this being his first nap free week. Nursery he laid down for a while but didn't sleep. Bless, he does look soooo tired by the end of the day!

How did you get on, Sabs? Did she crash? If she did I'd have said go for what I did, really short nap (D did NOT want to wake the other day!). Hope she went to bed OK for you.

[Khalam's Mama]

Great you are getting some good night sabs. I broke my rule of no sleeping after 2pm and wasted my whole evening getting k to bed. 2X he woke his brother so i was standing in the hall and in and out both the rooms. And it was my anniversary! I'm sure this boy knows when i have something in mind. He also cried for 10mins this morning until Mr sun came on even though  i stayed with him. And so he woke his brother. I am looking forward to moving b out of my room but how do i move him in with k? Ah well tomorrow is another day!

[scucci1979]

Koe, Indigo is a book store here. I hope he isn't coming down with something.

K, happy anniversary. Sorry that it wasn't too enjoyable. By the end of the day I am just darned, absolutely drained.

She didn't end up napping. As soon as her sister woke up, we went outside for a while, came back in and had dinner. We then went to a neighbours house and she was in such good spirits there. She was being a little difficult going to bed. She didn't fall asleep as quickly as she did the other day. We started wd at 5:30pm and she was asleep by 6:50pm. The last 15min was in her bed with me singing some songs to her. She kept sitting up to play with her flashlight. I had to remind her to lay back down. Sigh. We aimed for a 12hour day. Please, God let her sleep!