DS-2 nap/bedtime problems. Help!

[luckywife]

DS is almost 2 years old. Up until a few weeks ago he had always been a pretty good sleeper. Now he doesn't want to sleep at all most of the time. He's still sleeping all night (sort of) but the past 2 nights and a few nights last week, he'll wake up around 4:00am screaming his head off and crying. Figured maybe it was bad dreams but this morning, he just didn't want to go back to sleep at all. He hardly naps during the day anymore, which just all of a sudden stopped, so I know it can't be that he's getting too much sleep during the day. Yesterday he slept an hour during the day, went to bed a little after 8:00 and then was wide awake at 4:00 this morning. Anyone know what in the world we can do to make this problem better? I just can't figure it out.

 

[Jenn Lynn]

Phase? Growth Spurt?

At 2 years old he should be getting between 11-13 hours of sleep. DD went through a phase a few months back where she did not want to nap at all. But that led to her being extremely crabby and whiny at 5pm. NOT fun. She eventually started taking naps again and she really needs them.

Good Luck.

 

[luckywife]

I can relate to the crabbiness, Jenn Lynn. DS is such a grouch by the time 5:00 or 6:00 rolls around every evening, we can't do anything with him. A phase is what I was kind of thinking. Hope this one doesn't last long!

 

[eowensby]

my dd is 2 1/2 and we went through the same thing around the same time. I was totally wiped out. I would let her get up and we'd watch Monsters Inc together and then I'd put her back in the bed. I made sure she was up at 8am the next morning and tried to keep her schedule consistent. I know it's not much help, but I do think part of it was growth spurts and nightmares. You will get through it!! ºoºElizabeth

 

[mtemm]

any chance he is getting sick? a couple of weeks ago my normally easy sleeping 2.5 year old started getting up after only a half hour of his nap (usually 1.5-3 hours long), and waking during the night. I was afraid it was the end of napping, wasn't sure what was going on at night. a couple of days later he woke up from his nap burning up...fever of 104.1. This was a week and a half ago and we are still getting over it. It was an awful virus, one that just didn't want to leave. He's definitely on the mend now, though, even with the ear infection that decided to add to the mix. he's back to sleeping both naps and night fine, and eating again. for a few days he all but refused to.

just something to look out for. Hope you solve this soon.

 

[ahutton]

My little DD is 2 1/2 and is going through the same thing. We've been reassuring her, saying "the sun is still sleeping, Mommy is still sleeping," etc and then putting her back in bed with her nighty-night CD playing. She just seems to need less sleep than her almost 5 year old sister, and wakes up much easier. We're just trying to keep on her routine as much as we can and hoping it passes. Could it be teeth coming in?

 

[Shannon G]

I agree that it could be a phase. My DD, who is 26 months, went through something similar a few months back. All of a sudden, she was getting up during the night all the time. Lucky for us, we could usually get her back to bed. It lasted a few weeeks, then she went back to sleeping straight through.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

My daughter is also 2. She has for about a month not wanted to take her nap. It's killing me. At 6:00 she is so crabby. She will go to bed around 9:00 but then she's up at 7:30. Somtimes at night she wakes up screaming for me. I bring her in my bed since it's the only way to get her back to sleep. She used to be a great sleeper with a two hour nap. I have no idea what has changed her. I'm glad to see i'm not alone. She also dosen't eat well. Anyone else have that problem?

 

[luckywife]

Originally posted by TnKrBeLlA012
My daughter is also 2. She has for about a month not wanted to take her nap. It's killing me. At 6:00 she is so crabby. She will go to bed around 9:00 but then she's up at 7:30. Somtimes at night she wakes up screaming for me. I bring her in my bed since it's the only way to get her back to sleep. She used to be a great sleeper with a two hour nap. I have no idea what has changed her. I'm glad to see i'm not alone. She also dosen't eat well. Anyone else have that problem?

You just about perfectly described my DS. We don't take him back to bed with us since we've been able to get him back to sleep in his own bed by giving him a bottle. Yes, *sigh*, he won't give up his bottle. There have been a few times in the past few weeks that he hasn't taken a nap at all during the day but mostly he'll sleep about an hour, sometimes less. He usually goes to be around 8:00 or a little after but the past 2 days he's been waking up around 4:00am screaming and crying and not wanting to go back to sleep at all. I don't know if it's a phase or if he's having nightmares. Oh and he's never been a big eater. Hardly ever eats anything during the day at all.

mtemm Sorry to hear your DS was sick, but glad to hear he's on the mend. I didn't think about the possibility of him maybe starting to get sick or something. That's a thought though, I'll keep an eye on it.

I was also thinking maybe he could be teething. I'm out of Tylenol so I guess I need to make a run to the store to get some more.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

Originally posted by luckywife
You just about perfectly described my DS. We don't take him back to bed with us since we've been able to get him back to sleep in his own bed by giving him a bottle. Yes, *sigh*, he won't give up his bottle. There have been a few times in the past few weeks that he hasn't taken a nap at all during the day but mostly he'll sleep about an hour, sometimes less. He usually goes to be around 8:00 or a little after but the past 2 days he's been waking up around 4:00am screaming and crying and not wanting to go back to sleep at all. I don't know if it's a phase or if he's having nightmares. Oh and he's never been a big eater. Hardly ever eats anything during the day at all.

mtemm Sorry to hear your DS was sick, but glad to hear he's on the mend. I didn't think about the possibility of him maybe starting to get sick or something. That's a thought though, I'll keep an eye on it.

I was also thinking maybe he could be teething. I'm out of Tylenol so I guess I need to make a run to the store to get some more.

I'm glad to hear yours won't give up the bottle. I didn't want to say it but mine is addicted to it. She is always, always, asking for it. I think it's more like a pacifier to her. I just don't know how to get rid of it. I take that back. I'm not strong enough to take it away yet. I'm the problem!

 

[crz4mm2]

If you only put water in their bottles that will encourage them to give them up Only water at night too, if they wake up. No juice. no milk.
Taking bottles away (or at least only giving water in them) will encourage kids to eat more as they will be hungrier.
I feel for all of you. Had a DS that never slept either. He hated his bed and his room. would sleep on the LR floor, but not in his room.
Good luck. Non sleepers are hard to deal with. But remember some kids need less sleep than others.