Help - going from 1 to none!

[Melsy]

Hi ladies,

Have to be quick - It is nearly 2.30pm in the afternoon here and DS (almost 3) is showing absolutely no signs of getting sleepy yet.  However I know he will turn into devil child come 4pm with no sleep!   

He did this last w.end too - but still had a sleep every day at daycare.  Last w.end when he did this, I was so confused with what to do with bedtime and meals - he was so tired he wouldn't eat properly and then even without a sleep, his night-time sleep didn't extend so he was CRANKY AS all weekend.

I realise would take awhile for adjustment - but this is getting me down as I am extremely tired myself.    

Can you ladies share with me your experiences when your l.o. wouldn't nap anymore.  Thanks,

Melissa. 

[*Natasha*]

Whats his day look like?

[Melsy]

Hi Natasha, thanks for replying!  As our days are so all over the place at the moment, its hard to post a "typical" day.  How 'bout I tell you how yesterday panned out, seeing as it's still relatively fresh in my mind!   

Saturday:
6.10am - awake, in our room for a cuddle.  (yuck on the early starts, but if it starts with 6... then I let it be)

7am - Breakfast

9.30ish - Morning tea.

12pm / 12.30pm - Lunch

1 or 1.30pm - starting trying to get nap to happen - refuses to hop into bed   

2.45pm - Fell asleep on lounge watching t.v. with dad (I was out) Slept for 2 hours.

4.45pm - woke up from nap.  Small afternoon tea.

6.30pm - Dinner

7.30pm - Bath

8.30pm - into p.j.'s, brush teeth etc.

8.50pm / 9pm - Into bed (not sure of actual time, I was in shower)  We were not getting any tired signs.  Not too surprising when he napped so late. 

5.50am - sunday morning - awake in my room!!       YUCK, YUCK YUCK.  I was expecting a little bit of a sleep in!!!  Maybe 6.30am seeing as he went to bed pretty late after his late nap!!!   


So that was our day yesterday and this morning.  Melissa

[*Natasha*]

I think the ealy morning was due to that late nap. I think with a 6am wake up i would aim for 12pm nap i think my 1pm he is overtired. Then limit the nap to 2hrs max with a slightly earlier bedtime.
You said he naps fine at daycare what time do they put him down their?

[Melsy]

Hi Natasha, it is 1 pm here at the moment and he is outside, riding around on his bike, laughing and having a great old time.  Have tried to get him to have some lunch.... doesn't want a bar of it.   

I think at daycare they go down around 12.30 / 1pm.  He just doesn't seem that worn out at home to go down that early.  He is having too much fun!! 

Guess I better go and try to get lunch into him one more time and attempt the nap again!  Wish me luck!!   

Melissa

[Layla]

Melissa, we haven't gotten there yet but from reading other posts, the idea is that if him napping pushes bedtime to a very late hour, its better to limit the nap or just do quiet time & not let him nap. You would also then have to do an earlier bedtime (say 6.30pm). The hours might not increase to night sleep straight away but it will keep him from getting overtired.

Also during the transition, he might need a "catch up" nap every day 3-4days but still I would be careful to let him nap for 2 hrs. I agree with Natasha in that you might want to try for a nap slightly earlier but still wake him at 2 pm to protect bedtime. Some do a mini 1hr nap (even 30mins) just enough to refresh them. Certainly a nap starting at 2:45 is late & I would say thats the reason he woke up so early (a later bedtime causes overtiredness rather than them waking up later). I would rather keep him awake if he's not asleep by 1.30pm. You really don't want him starting the nap that late.... bedtime is even later & he's not getting the right amount of sleep overtnight.

I also found these links which might help you a little
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=96822.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=96913.0
https://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=96854.0

I'll search around for some more around this site

hth
Layla

[*Natasha*]

Just wanted to say Dito to everything Layla said.

[Melsy]

Thanks for the links Layla!  And I appreciate the help from you both.  Well it is 3:20pm here and he never went to sleep so I am about to be hit with the 4pm "devil child" and the falling asleep on the couch at 5pm child and the will be too tired to eat his dinner properly child. 

I HATE TRANSITIONS!!!!!!   


Thanks again ladies!   

Melissa

[Layla]

Lol - & this is what I have ahead of me too . Try for lunch around 11.30 & in the cot by 12.30 (the latest). If he wants to sleep, he will & if not at least he can have "quiet time" & not be so wired up by 4pm. If he falls asleep close to 1.30, wake him up about 1hr later to protect bedtime. Keep the last hour before bedtime fairly low key & he will probably be out like a light at 6/6.30pm if he hasn't napped

We've only had about a handful of no nap days & she still managed to sleep until her normal time.

Keep us posted
 

[Melsy]

COT??!!!!!!!!!!!      I wish!!!!!  That is part of the problem!  We can't do nap / quiet time in his room anymore as he just gets up and screams and comes into the lounge room!  I thought about putting a kiddie gate across his door but he prefers the door shut when sleeping (so do we!) and since he can climb over the cot bars, I figure he could easily get over the gate.  Can't put a door knob cover thingy on, as we don't have round door knobs, we have fancy long handle ones.    


Oh well.... am really looking forward to my early night as his normal bedtime is 8.30pm.  So am aiming for a 6.30pm or 7pm at the latest bedtime.  And trying not to worry too much about what time tomorrow morning he may wake up!   

Thanks Layla,  your the best!