Is it crazy to start cosleeping at age 3?

[Martini~]

Did you try EBT on no nap days or after this 1.5-2h nap?

[Katet]

Being very mathematical, when my children got to the point that naps were meaning late falling asleep & no nap days meant grumpy afternoons etc I worked on the amount of sleep they got if I combined how long they slept at night with how long they slept in a nap, so say that came to 12hours total, then I felt I needed to make sure they were in bed allowing for 12.5-13hours night sleep with no nap. I found ( from experience with DS1) that 2 parts to the day broken by a nap meant the could cope with longer awake than one long day. Following on from that if my child did nap & I knew they needed 12 hours night sleep+ nap, then I'd try to cut the nap as short as possible (mostly car naps at 3yo) because I found a 2hour nap would reduce the total sleep in 24hours more than a 1 hour nap.

I kind of found something like this (I don't have exact numbers, just trying to give an idea )
2hour nap = 9 hours night sleep = 11 hours total
1 hour nap = 10.5 hours night sleep = 11.5hours total
30 min cat nap = 11.15+ hours night sleep = close to 12 hours
No nap = 12-14.5hours  hours sleep -some days longer than others... DS2 used to have some days where he fell asleep at 4.30pm & slept through to 6.30am, one day he even slept from 4.30pm to 7.30am when he was about 3.5yo.

[jessmum46]

I agree with everyone, time to cut/drop the nap.  If he's OT it's because the nap is perpetuating short nights and what you want to do is let him catch up with night sleep, not nap time

[SEA0680]

Sorry, still looking for a little input. Our DS has been going to sleep every night between 930 and 10 PM. He definitely seems tired before then, even wired and OT, but will not go to sleep before then. He wants us to sit  in his room with him until he falls asleep,  but right now we are sitting out in the hall outside his door and then sneaking away when he's mostly asleep. That's not ideal, but we're trying to avoid a lot of crying. Anyway, he wakes up between six and 630 every morning, and definitely seems like he's not getting enough sleep. Left  to his own devices I think he would nap about 1.5 to 2 hours every day, between about 1pm-3pm, but because of what people have posted I have been capping his nap at one hour 15 minutes. I don't think he's ready to stop napping yet – the few days that we've been out and about during naptime he's gotten very fussyaround naptime, and falls asleep instantly if we drive anywhere between about 11 AM and 7 PM.  Everyone agree that eight hours of nighttime sleep for three-year-old is too little? It's definitely making me and my husband sleep deprived and crazy…

[jessmum46]

Cut his nap shorter hun, I know it seems counter-intuitive when he's tired but if he can't settle until 9.30/10 his nap is still too long.  I'd cut to something like 45 mins and see if you can get him down to bed earlier.  My feeling is it may have to go entirely but you may find doing that all in one go is too much.  I'd try a shorter nap first and then if you can get a longer night with a decent WU then keep him up and try to power through the day without a nap at all, or just a tiny catnap (no more than 20 mins).  Avoid the car! 

[Jodes112]

Also agree!

Id go with wu 6/6.30
Nap around 12.30 to 1.15
Bed at 6.30/7pm

The nap is what is making bedtime that late. Cut it right down & bring bedtime early x

[SEA0680]

Argh! Sleep is all over the place. I've been capping  the nap at an hour 15 minutes, and bedtime got better – about 830 to 845. Then two days ago he fell asleep for nap for 10 minutes and then woke up, so basically no nap, but went to sleep easily at about 830. The next morning he woke up at 5:30 in the morning, and I went into his bedroom and lay down with him, and he slept till 730, which is almost as late as he's ever slept. This has happened a few times throughout his life, and this is what makes me think that cosleeping might work. Anyway, that day he wouldn't take a nap, probably because he Slept in so late, and I thought it would be easy to get him to go to bed, but it was actually really hard – maybe he was overtired. But was asleep by 845pm. This morning he woke up at 5:20, I went and lay down with him, and he just rolled around and kicked me until he said he wanted to get up at 5:45. This is what makes me think  Cosleeping is a terrible idea, among other things.  He's super fussy and cranky though, because he is so tired. I just feel like were bouncing all around. I'll try and keep  keep the nap at about one hour long, and try for the same 830 bedtime every night, and will see how it goes. Any advice?

[Jodes112]

So on the day he had no nap, what time did you actually put him in bed? Xx

[SEA0680]

Into bedroom and doing routine by 745, lights out 8:15 or so.

[jessmum46]

Too late a BT on a NND really, I'd have gone for a 12h max day and potentially closer to 11-11.5h x

[C&B&E]

I agree with Katherine. An earlier night will mean he's not as OT by bedtime, and he will sleep longer. Good luck.

[Jodes112]

Yes thats what i was thinking too, sometimes DD goes to bed as early as 6.15 with no nap. Especially when they are first transitioning a early bed time is a great help! Your DS will definatly be way OT for bed at 8ish with no nap. Which then makes the night worse.

Good luck!

[C&B&E]

How are you getting on?

Yes thats what i was thinking too, sometimes DD goes to bed as early as 6.15 with no nap. Especially when they are first transitioning a early bed time is a great help!
Good luck!

We used to do 4.30/5pm bedtimes when DS first dropped his nap  !  LOVE early bedtimes 

[Jodes112]

I also love early bedtimes! 😀