Hi Moms,
I've posted about this before but nothing's changed so I thought 'd try again. My 2.5 year old takes a very long time to fall asleep at night. At naptime, I usually let him read his books for a while, then I come in, turn down the light and he's asleep within 10-15 minutes. At night it's a completely different story. We have our bedtime routine of bath, pjs, book, story, then lights out. Then it all starts. Most nights he gets out of bed repeatedly to do who knows what. Some nights he stays in bed. But every night it takes him at least an hour to fall asleep. Sometimes he just talks and yells and does whatever he does in his room and eventually falls asleep. Sometimes he calls for me and tries to trick me into staying (another story, change my diaper, etc.) I've noticed that sometimes it'll be really quiet and then he'll start talking again and then I have to tell him to be quiet and go to sleep (always through a closed door). Then it's like a reminder for him that he's supposed to be sleeping. It just seems like he has such a hard time falling asleep.
He wakes up around 7am, then naps for about an hour - hour and a half at around 1:30pm. We usually start the bedtime routine at 7pm and lights out at 7:30. I have tried doing it later, and it takes him that long no matter what. Last time I got many answers to just let him lay in bed and calm himself, but the thing is that if he falls asleep too late, then he wakes up early in the morning and then is a crab all day.
I'm looking for anyone who has had the same issue and if you were able to do anything to help your child fall asleep faster.
Thanks!
A.
I'd make the nap shorter or possibly eliminate it. Most children are giving up their naps by 2.5. Maybe this would solve the whole problem. If the nap is still necessary, I'd definitely make it shorter. I would also do something different at night. If something isn't working, change the order of things, add, eliminate do something. Good luck! Let us know what happens....
Disclaimer, this worked for us. You say "through a closed door". Leave the door open or cracked. When that door shuts, it's a physical barrier to him. Make it very clear he has to stay in his bed/room. This may take a few nights.
Our daughter who is 6, still takes about 30-45 minutes to go to bed. She sings and talks to herself, but stays in there and knows it's bed time. Good Luck!
Craniosacral Therapy helped our son know when he was tired and fall asleep much more quickly. Went from 1-2 hr. falling asleep time to less than 30 min. Changed our lives! Good luck to you!
Hi A.,
Have you tried an EARLIER bedtime? My kids have always gone to bed between 6 and 7 PM, even with naps. Maybe if you try moving his bedtime incrementally earlier... It sounds like your son might be over-tired. If you put him to bed earlier, he might have an easier time falling asleep. Try moving his bedtime 10 to 15 min. earlier each night for a few nights and see how it goes.
Best of luck,
R.
My daughter will be 3 in two weeks and were going through the same thing. I was actually coming online to post about. I stay in her room with her b/c if I don't she will take hours to go to bed. She can go to bed at 10pm and will stay wake up at 6am and it's obvious she's still tired. This issue came up all of a sudden. She has always wanted me there but never took an hour to fall asleep. Here are somethings I'm looking into or that have been suggested to me.
- my what to expect toddler years book says if it takes ur child an hour or longer to go to bed u may need to evaluate there bedtime. Then give them time to adjust to it.
- my husband says is she worn out enough and exerting enough energy durning the day? Since it's cold she doesn't go outside as much as school and we don't go out in the evening
- is her room inviting and calming. Maybe she needs lullabys to occupy her busy mind
- is there something stimulating her too soon before bedtime. Are cartoons getting her all excited and she can't settle down after.
I'm at a lost so your not alone. Think about these things and maybe they will help you find a solution. Maybe it's a phase around this age seeIng that like three people commented they are going through the same things. Good luck!
I have no good advice but you son sounds like mine. He tells me sleep is so boring that why he doesn't sleep at night.
Get rid of the nap. Mine (all four) gave up nap at age 2. You may have a bit of a hurdle at what I call the witching hour (5pm-ish), but in the end the transition will work out. He just doesn't need this much sleep. There will be an adjustment period, but it will be better in the end.
i have a 2.5 yr old daughter and it takes her 1.5-2+ hrs to fall asleep and we dont know what to do, she doesnt nap and her chill out time is in her bed watching nick jr after book and such it takes me a long long time to fall asleep too it always has so she could just be like me, look at you and his dad does it take a while for either of you to finally go to sleep?
