Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read him a book at bedtime

+1 How are you putting him to bed? It's nice to imagine just putting them down and considering yourself off the clock but most kids don't go to sleep that easily. Only one of my kids went right to sleep and didn't want anyone fussing over him. usually kids need attention as they go to sleep. Reading, rubbing their back, spending time with them, etc.

The OP said she reads him 5-6 books.

It sounds like she is spending time with him, but then he wants her longer and longer and longer. Some kids do well with some back rubbing and then fall asleep. Other kids (like mine, I’m the pp that wrote about anxiety) where that does not work and they need clear expectations and boundaries to feel secure enough to fall asleep.

That doesn't make them feel secure. If your DC has anxiety, they need more attention and emotional support, not less.

OP, try putting him to be later. Wait for signs he's sleepy before you put him to bed. That way he gets used to going to sleep sooner once he's in bed, and then you can gradually inch his bedtime up.

No, no, no! Dont put him to bed later! At this age signs of being tired is actually acting increasingly hyper. Eventually they’ll get to a point where they can’t take it anymore and pass out. This could happen at 9pm, 10 or 11pm and it will be a horrible evening for all involved.

You need to streamline bedtime so he knows exactly what to expect. 5 - 6 stories is too many books. It should be brush teeth, pajamas, ONE book then you say goodnight. Read the other books in the evening when you have quiet time. The bedtime routine needs to be simple and consistent every night. He needs to know what to expect. Reading the same book can also be a good tactic. You can still read a bunch of different books in the evening - and you should! But do it on the couch or playroom, this is a good transition to bedtime.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t skip the nap yet. 12 hours is a long time to go with no rest at his age. Keep his midday nap to one hour and start the bedtime routine at 6:45 or 7:00 so he is lights out, quieting down by 7:15 at the latest. I haven’t had to use this myself yet, but a friend recommended a crib tent for keeping kids in their cribs at night. It’s safe and makes it impossible for them to climb out apparently.

This.
I know it may seem counterintuitive, but sleep research in children shows that “the more they sleep, the more they sleep!” Meaning your child likely needs MORE hours of sleep rather than fewer. 2 is too you g to drop the nap and you won’t make it to 7 without him being a cranky mess!
The Kim West book recommendation is a good one.

This is true and it’s worth a try OP, but you know your kid best. Some kids’ sleep needs are on the lower end, like one of my DC’s. I drove myself crazy trying to figure out why he wouldn’t sleep more. We dropped his nap at 2.5 because he would lie awake in bed until 930/10 on days he napped. We dropped the nap and he slept about 7:30-6. Even as a baby be never slept more than 10 hours at night.

Anonymous wrote:I did 2 books tonight and put him to bed 45 minutes earlier and it worked. I think he was overtired going to bed later. It took him about 10 min to fall asleep and I laid down next to him then walked out.

Yay. Sometimes earlier is better. So glad you worked it out. Hope it sticks.

Later bedtime. We're a family of night owls, though. Our toddlers went to bed around 8:30. They simply were not tired until then. We read them a book they chose, and often had to stay in the room until the oldest was asleep. It's also still light outside at 7 p.m. Some of us do not want to sleep until it's dark. Weird, I know.

Try taking a walk after dinner to run his energy down. Move bedtime back.

Hooray!

I did 2 books tonight and put him to bed 45 minutes earlier and it worked. I think he was overtired going to bed later. It took him about 10 min to fall asleep and I laid down next to him then walked out.

Drop nap or do bedtime starting at 830/845.

Hes getting 11 hours of sleep with his current schedule. Thats on the low end of the average but still average. You can either fight with bedtime for an hour, lock your kid in his room, drop the nap, or push bedtime.

Dropped the nap for my 2.5 yr old for the same reason. Also, in the summer, spend the full hour before bed in dimly lit rooms to get his melatonin going. Keep the same routine every night including swarm bath. Read to him and say goodnight.

Maybe the routine is too much for him, over stimulating in away?

Maybe cut back to 2 books and a a song.


Plus earlier bedtime.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read him a book at bedtime

+1 How are you putting him to bed? It's nice to imagine just putting them down and considering yourself off the clock but most kids don't go to sleep that easily. Only one of my kids went right to sleep and didn't want anyone fussing over him. usually kids need attention as they go to sleep. Reading, rubbing their back, spending time with them, etc.

Did you even read the OP? 5-6 books and rubbing back, singing to him

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t skip the nap yet. 12 hours is a long time to go with no rest at his age. Keep his midday nap to one hour and start the bedtime routine at 6:45 or 7:00 so he is lights out, quieting down by 7:15 at the latest. I haven’t had to use this myself yet, but a friend recommended a crib tent for keeping kids in their cribs at night. It’s safe and makes it impossible for them to climb out apparently.

This.
I know it may seem counterintuitive, but sleep research in children shows that “the more they sleep, the more they sleep!” Meaning your child likely needs MORE hours of sleep rather than fewer. 2 is too you g to drop the nap and you won’t make it to 7 without him being a cranky mess!
The Kim West book recommendation is a good one.

Not true for all kids. Some at 2 are ready and are not cranky messes. Probably more of the exception than the rule, but it does happen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read him a book at bedtime

+1 How are you putting him to bed? It's nice to imagine just putting them down and considering yourself off the clock but most kids don't go to sleep that easily. Only one of my kids went right to sleep and didn't want anyone fussing over him. usually kids need attention as they go to sleep. Reading, rubbing their back, spending time with them, etc.

The OP said she reads him 5-6 books.

It sounds like she is spending time with him, but then he wants her longer and longer and longer. Some kids do well with some back rubbing and then fall asleep. Other kids (like mine, I’m the pp that wrote about anxiety) where that does not work and they need clear expectations and boundaries to feel secure enough to fall asleep.

That doesn't make them feel secure. If your DC has anxiety, they need more attention and emotional support, not less.

OP, try putting him to be later. Wait for signs he's sleepy before you put him to bed. That way he gets used to going to sleep sooner once he's in bed, and then you can gradually inch his bedtime up.

NP- no, kids with anxiety need structure and rules. If they feel like they can push mom around into getting what they want, including spending an hour putting them to bed, the feel out of control and like they have to make the decisions, it's too much responsibility for a little kid. PP is right, they need firm boundaries and rules.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read him a book at bedtime

+1 How are you putting him to bed? It's nice to imagine just putting them down and considering yourself off the clock but most kids don't go to sleep that easily. Only one of my kids went right to sleep and didn't want anyone fussing over him. usually kids need attention as they go to sleep. Reading, rubbing their back, spending time with them, etc.

The OP said she reads him 5-6 books.

It sounds like she is spending time with him, but then he wants her longer and longer and longer. Some kids do well with some back rubbing and then fall asleep. Other kids (like mine, I’m the pp that wrote about anxiety) where that does not work and they need clear expectations and boundaries to feel secure enough to fall asleep.

That doesn't make them feel secure. If your DC has anxiety, they need more attention and emotional support, not less.

OP, try putting him to be later. Wait for signs he's sleepy before you put him to bed. That way he gets used to going to sleep sooner once he's in bed, and then you can gradually inch his bedtime up.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Read him a book at bedtime

+1 How are you putting him to bed? It's nice to imagine just putting them down and considering yourself off the clock but most kids don't go to sleep that easily. Only one of my kids went right to sleep and didn't want anyone fussing over him. usually kids need attention as they go to sleep. Reading, rubbing their back, spending time with them, etc.

The OP said she reads him 5-6 books.

It sounds like she is spending time with him, but then he wants her longer and longer and longer. Some kids do well with some back rubbing and then fall asleep. Other kids (like mine, I’m the pp that wrote about anxiety) where that does not work and they need clear expectations and boundaries to feel secure enough to fall asleep.