The dreaded 1-0.. Long

[koe2moe]

Ok 5:30 wake up, meltdowns, 15mins car nap at 5:30, then 8:30S. Almost 15h day!

I know i cannot have control of this situation, can someone teach me how to not get stressed about this??  I get so worked up when we hvae a bad evening that i cant calm down to sleep early, sometimes even asleep after midnight and then EW! 

Can we book a softplay place to leave the kids there for a week with regular meal times and see if they crash nicely and at what time??? 

[Tweakster]

I honestly can't go back to read but is there a reason you're still doing a nap??  Can't you just pull the plaster off quick so to speak?

I got no answers hon.  Just (((hugs)))

[*Becky*]

I would also cut the nap now as I don't think it is helping. I would also try as much as you can to avoid car journeys at the later time of day or distract him in the car with whatever it takes!

[<Catherine>]

Koe, sorry I havent read any of this, but yes - you need to get rid of that nap. And do not let him in the car at that time of day unless he's ready for bed!!!

[babybarr]

And do not let him in the car at that time of day unless he's ready for bed!!!

THIS ^^^ is this not what I have been telling you   Honestly hun you just can't do car rides in the afternoon.

[<Catherine>]

Honestly hun you just can't do car rides in the afternoon.

Did you not remember the paperwork you signed at DS's birth that said you agree to put your life on hold for the next 18years?!

But yeah - we only get in the car if we have to, and it's either close to BT and he's therefore ready for bed and will fall asleep, or it's earlier and I take snacks, toys, music, whatever - sing, chat...just KEEP HIM AWAKE!!!

[Tweakster]

Are the car rides daycare pick up though?  Might not be an option to not be in the car - but I'd keep him awake with whatever means possible.  A snack maybe?  A CD of his fave songs?  DVD player in the car?

Lucky for us nodding off is never an issue *rolls eyes*

[koe2moe]

That is why i am stressed!  It is the daycare pick up ride.  Even if we pick him up with the bike, he would fall asleep because he is exhausted.  He knows he is tired even at daycare but he is hanging on.  He likes his carseat and view of cars too much, i guess.  He actually wants to close his eyes and even if i sit next to him, tickle him or pinch him, just cant stop him falling asleep and it is always the last 5-10 mins! 

With traffic, he would definitely fall asleep.  It is mostly highway, so i cant stop somewhere just to wake him up.  I can try bringing different toy in the car to see if it helps, but might need to be new toys.  That is worth trying for today but we have a 4day weekend coming up, so better chance to let him catch up a bit, if all constellations line up in the correct way, ie, DH doesnt stuff it up! Lol

[<Catherine>]

This is the problem we were having, as we have long commute after day care. I now take him to my mum's (near daycare) and get him ready for bed there before going home.

Can you get him ready for bed at daycare? Then he'll fall asleep and have the early BT he needs.

[babybarr]

Sorry hun I didn't twig it was the day care run.

Food generally keeps O awake or dvd.  Do you have an iphone or something he could play with?

[Tweakster]

Yeah I'm really thinking you have to throw some technology in there.  No it won't be something that is a habit forever.  One day you'll just say 'no more TV in the car' but it will be at a point where there is no danger of him falling asleep because he'll be that much older and used to it.

[koe2moe]

DH has iphone but i cant take it from him.  Would kids get car sick from watching something?  I know i would.   Might have to buy a ipod nano?  Hmmm. I will bring a new hand me down toy truck this afternoon and he isnt that tired this morning and today is very quiet day for him.

He always eats in the car... As he is starving already.  I cant get him to do anything i want him to at daycare . Maybe if i swing round to KFC drive thru, but not sure if that would keep him up as it makes the journey longer.

The blackout curtains now seem to work that when he woke, he immediately called us but he probably thought, oooh it is dark and then tried to go back to sleep but failed and he called out 15mins later.  I will finish the curtains with velcro this weekend, so it will be a total cave! 

Or maybe i will get a leapfrog like thing? But i have never seen it working...  No one we know have that.. Its either iXXXXX or nothing lol

[koe2moe]

Ok...  I picked up DS an hour earlier with a new toy but towards the end i could tell that he was getting sleepy.  So luckily we made it about 12h10 because there was no car nap. 

I made him room just that little bit darker, he complained that it was too dark lol.  I also put some curtains in ours and i slept through his morning call lol. I wear earplugs also.

I feel accomplished today and perhaps because i had good double physio sessions today lol.. 

[koe2moe]

We got 11h night so DS woke at 6 but was still super tired, everything was too overwhelming!  He pulled down my blackout blinds . No impulse control whatsoever!!! 

So 12h10 yields 11h sleep, no NW. 

[Tweakster]

I think that's as good as it gets right now.  (((hugs)))