2yr old routine? Tons of BT resistance!

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Oh you are doing brilliantly especially considering the molars cutting!!!!

Yes the crib wedge is fine. I used that in my DS's toddler bed and now he has a double bed (I think you call that a twin? size for two people) I still occasionally drag it out of the cupboard if he has a cold or stuffy nose, a reflux flare up or whatever.
At 2yo you can introduce a pillow, sure. I bought some for DS but they were way too thick, had to buy more but a much thinner type and if he is poorly now I layer them and talk him into trying to sit up a little.
You could put a pillow or rolled towel under the mattress too.

[JennVanessa1083]

That sounds amazing!! I'll definitely try putting a towel or pillow under the sheet.

Well it's 10:20 pm here and DS just fell asleep 

I let him take a nap way too long and it for sure affected BT. It took an hour or so, yikes!

Today was:

WU 8 am (let him sleep in so he had a 11.5 hr night with 3 quick NW.
S 2-4 pm ( he was out cold and I let him sleep)
BT 10:20pm (I aimed for 9:30 bc of the long nap but that didn't help at all)

I guess it seems capping the nap is the way to go huh?

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In routine terms I do think capping the nap is the way to go. At least to try.
In molar teething terms though sometimes you have to just go with the flow and let them sleep tbh.  I probably would have done the same and during the nap just readied myself for a very late night (ie physically prepare by having dinner made or by having a nap! Mentally prepare by just telling myself over and over to expect it to be rough, it never seemed as bad once I was mentally prepared).

Hopefully the worst of this teething will pass in a couple of days. Our molar teething went on sooooo long but the absolute worst parts were different to the regular parts. During the regular parts he was in pain but we could get on our routine and obviously during the worst parts we couldn't and there was no point trying.

[JennVanessa1083]

Lol that's exactly what I did when I saw he past the 1.75 mark. I'm like ok be ready for a long fight at bedtime! Deep breaths, he needs this lol

Yea looks like 2 peaks of one molar has broken through so I'm hoping the other 3 will follow suit. He's usually a very slow teether but it seems that he's cutting this one rather quickly! 

In terms of routine, I will try to just roll with the punches bc he's such a energetic happy toddler so sleep is really the only indicator I have to tell me ok he's in pain. So it's hard for me to judge what days I should cap the nap and which days I should just let him sleep.

[JennVanessa1083]

What do I do when DH puts him down for a nap too late? There have been a few occasions where DS ends up doings around 6.5A; does a OT nap between 1-1.5, but then fights bedtime!

Today I worked and DH had him:

WU 8 am
S 2:30-4 pm
BT still up at 9:45 when I aimed for 9 pm

What gives? Is it bc despite an extra long A he still isn't tired enough or is it I should have aimed for earlier?

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What do I do when DH puts him down for a nap too late?

I think that's something to talk with DH about 
Maybe DH can do the BT shift on the day LO is OT from a late nap 

During teething though, it's just hard.  The nap is probably too long to expect a decent BT but at the same time if there is teething pain sleep in the day might be needed.  I think you just have to judge when the worst of it is over and get back to the routine.

[JennVanessa1083]

Haha I might try that so he understands a little more why sleep begets sleep.

Yea I'm going to try to stick through it but just try to get him as much sleep as possible. Hopefully this doesn't last too long!

[JennVanessa1083]

How long does this last?!

I'm still getting crazy fighting before bedtime giving me NWs and now EWs. Last two nights were both over an hour. He tells me he's sleepy at random times of day so it seems like OT but I don't know how to get him to sleep more when he fights and molars aren't cutting yet 😫

I'm literally losing it getting really frustrated at him then feeling super guilty afterwards bc I know it's not his fault. Is there anything I can do?

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Is there anything I can do?

Yes, deep breathing, counting to ten, the "this will pass" mantra.
I know it's hard, I know!!

Unfortunately molar cutting plus 2yo birthday developments can both go on some time.  If there is a level of BT resistance you just can't cope with then I suggest moving BT 30 min later and see if it helps.  I also suggest readying yourself for BT so I used to get my things ready prior to the WD routine.  I used to put a cup of tea or bottle of water, a good book and something comfy to sit on (I sat on my bed which is within verbal reassurance distance from DS's bed) ready before I even started WD. Then at the end of WD I didn't even go downstairs, I just camped comfortably outside his room.  If needed of course I went back in, otherwise I repeated over and over "go to sleep" or "I'm right here, go to sleep" or "everything is okay, go to sleep" (see the pattern).

I think if he is sleepy random times of the day it would help to get back on track with a fixed nap or fixed quiet time for cuddles and book or quiet TV programme, relaxing music, whatever you are happy to do.

[JennVanessa1083]

Thank you for the support and the suggestions!

So I'm seeing two peaks of a bottom molar cutting through so I'm going to get back to giving him the medicine since I took a break. Teething gel isn't cutting it anymore.

Today he is taking his nap a half hour earlier; probably a combo of short night, teething, and tons of swimming lol. I have been just letting him nap as long as he wants lately but right now he's doing about a 1.5 nap at 6 hours then I put him to bed at 5.5A.

Maybe he's already OT by BT bc of the teething?

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Hopefully those molars will come through quickly and calm down x

[JennVanessa1083]

Yes! Bc I have had a week of consistent hour long bedtime battles no matter how long or short his nap is 😫

Maybe I'll keep BT at 8 no matter what since he's consistently waking between 6:30-7 am?

His nights are getting shorter and shorter; he's getting crankier and crankier from lack of sleep and probably pain. This is a nightmare 😥

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Set BT might be just the ticket.  And pain meds if you can.
Good luck!

[JennVanessa1083]

Thank you!

DH and I decided on set BT 7:30 since hes waking pretty consistently 6:30-7 am...fingers crossed!

[JennVanessa1083]

Am I going through a sleep regression?  Even with medicine, nights are short and horrendous. He's also making up sleep during naps so what do I do?

He's getting 9-9.5hrs at night and 2.25-2.5 in naps smh total is 11-12 but mostly 11.5 overall sleep. He's getting more touchy and even aggressive. I'm at my wits end.