Hello,
I have written messages on these boards at various difficult times through my son's life and have always found help and comfort and now I'm back looking for some more.
My son is 33 mo. old and for the last 8 weeks has been trying to drop his nap. He used to wake up at 6 am, nap from 1-3 and then go to bed at 8 pm. It was great. But then he stopped napping. He'd just stay up in his room running around, jumping on and off his bed, rocking in his rocking chair, etc. I tried moving the nap later and earlier, no go. After about a month of this and him throwing a fit about taking a nap, we started quiet time, where he would lay on the couch and watch t.v. instead of napping. That seemed to work well for a few weeks, but lately his wake up time has been creeping up earlier and earlier. He now goes to bed at 6:30 pm (and is out like a light). He would wake at 6 am, then it became 5:30, then 5, now it is consistently 4:30 am. I am exhausted. He is exhausted. He is so tired, I don't understand why he won't sleep. I tried to put him for a nap today b/c he is so tired and he is up there screaming and crying trying to get out of his room.
He is an fully independent sleeper, in a toddler bed. His pediatrician said to move his bed time later, to 8 or 9 pm. I've never had luck with him taking on sleep in the morning, only with an earlier bedtime. I don't know that with our work schedules we can get him to bed earlier than 6:30, but I can try. He shows no signs of illness, just being tired and cranky. Eating well, normal otherwise. He's never slept in the car, even when he was a baby, we drove 6 hours and he didn't sleep once.
I leave him in his room in the morning from when he wakes up until 6:30, he just talks to himself for 2 hours.
Do you think I should try the later bedtime like the Dr. recommended? Earlier bedtime? Just ride it out? Is he going to be damaged in anyway from not sleeping like this? I feel like I am hurting him b/c he is not sleeping, but I don't know what to do.
Please help!
Thank you!
