Maybe I didn't do a good job of sleep training?

[GG]

I'm trying to figure out if my ds doesn't want to go to sleep because he wants to keep playing or because maybe he hasn't figured out that the feeling of tiredness is remedied by going to sleep.  He's almost 2 but has made the sign of sleep only a few times ever. Most of the times these days he will go down for a nap w/o a fight, though bedtime requires more of mom's presence if he has any say in it.

What do you think?  Maybe all the sleep training didn't turn out so well after all??

[Lana]

Hey Georgia  can you post your routine for us with wake up and nap times?  How long does he nap?

At around two we had to limit E's nap or he would not be ready to sleep at night

[GG]

He usually wakes up between 7:30 and 8:30 am, goes down for a nap between 1 and 2 pm, though he doesn't always fall asleep right away. Somedays it can take an hour. He goes to bed around 8:30 pm.  He naps between 1.5 and 2 hours, on the rare occassion I don't catch it he can nap 2.25 hours.

His wind-down routines: Now that I have the other lo to deal with, I usually put him in his crib with a couple of books for his naptime.  For bedtime, he usually eats something right before going to bed, depending on how much he ate for dinner and how long it took me to get his sister to sleep. (another chore ) Then I change his diaper/pj's, brush his teeth, and we rock in the rocking chair, sometimes reading a book or two and then singing songs/chatting in the dark.

He hates me leaving and keeps calling me. I don't like ignoring him for more than a few calls, though dh says I should ignore him and he'll get the message that he should sleep.

Could it be his personality? (touchy/spirited)

TIA

[Lana]

It could be related to his temperment but at that age Ewan was going 8:30-8:30 and then only 1.5 hour nap in the afternoon at the most.  If he slept longer then he took forever to go to sleep cause he wasnt ready to sleep KWIM?

I would try to limit his nap so he has 6 hours before bedtime and see if that helps.

[Lana]

though dh says I should ignore him and he'll get the message that he should sleep

Or maybe dh could put him to bed for you

[GG]

I've tried getting dh to make it "his" thing to put ds to bed every night (at least when he's not working) but the man can't get into that mindset. To be fair, he's been spending evenings working on finishing our basement. He started with his office and it's just about done with that room, but 20 min a night wouldn't set him back that much and it would be a great way to bond with ds.

I would try to limit his nap so he has 6 hours before bedtime and see if that helps.

I forgot to add that when I wake ds up after a 1.5 hour nap, he is in the foulest of moods! It takes him hours to get back to his usual self.

[Lana]

What if you did 1 hour and 45 minutes? 

And maybe try to suggest it to dh again.  It may be that Foti just wants some one on one time and that is why he is stalling? 

[GG]

And maybe try to suggest it to dh again.  It may be that Foti just wants some one on one time and that is why he is stalling? 

I'm almost positive that this is it, but sometimes it seems as if he can't get enough (he wants me there until he falls asleep).

Thanks, Lana!

[Lana]

Have you tried gradual removal? 

[GG]

Actually, he's been doing a lot better. Today he fell asleep for his nap within minutes. Maybe it's a growth spurt and/or the teething (poor kid, it's been non-stop for months). Whatever the case, I'm not complaining.  Now if I could only figure out DD's problem(s).

[Lana]

Glad to hear it is improving, sometimes its so hard to tell what is going on. 

As soon as you think you have ti all figured out they throw you a curve ball