Have you heard, Houdini is back? He's disguised as my 2 year old son. LOL.....This past weekend, my son has discovered how to climb out of the crib, how to take down baby gates or climb over them, has learned how to escape the superyard corral thing I have set up for him, oh, and he has become super fast (not to mention becoming a master climber). It was a like a switch was flipped. He went from being this calm happy go lucky toddler to this hahaha, you can't catch me and you can't keep me trapped anywhere monster. How do toddlers run so fast when they have such short little legs??
I was wondering if any of ya'll had any tips. He is nothing like my two older girls were at this age. What I did with them, is not working with him. I know, he's a typical boy but man.....
Here's my issue especially, naps....We took apart his crib where now it only has 3 sides with the mattress on the lowest level. Before all of these changes he took excellent naps but now that he can get out of bed freely he does everything but sleep. I have the gate set up in his door way and I think I finally broke him of trying to climb over that (so far). How can I get him to take a nap? Anyone have any ideas of how to get him adjusted to his new bed and to take a nap like he is supposed to? I personally don't think he's past taking naps yet. But then again he could be. I don't know. It's a whole new game with him than what it was my other two.
Why do toddlers fight naps so much only to grow up to fight to have a nap?? LOL.....
ADDED: FYI, In case anyone was wondering why I have to keep him corralled in an area so much is because I work from home on the computer. He's got a nice set up and wants for nothing except to be free (obviously) but unfortunately that's not an option. He's not in when I'm not working so he's not always contained......
When my son was that age I had to sit by him (and keep putting him back in bed at first) until he fell asleep. Eventually I could read him stories and then read my book. Just after age 3 naps were over because it was too big a fight. I never tried a tent but I used a leash for the running away in public stage.
Funny because we had this EXACT problem recently with my 18 month old. Thankfully, his room has a toy closet that only fits a bed and has a doorway. We put his bed in there with two baby gates on top of each other so he can't get out. That helped. We tried doing two baby gates on top of each other for his bedroom doorway but we didn't want him roaming around his room instead of being in his crib because he's only 18 months old and shares a room with his 8 year old brother. It wasn't safe for him to be out of his crib when we weren't in there. Maybe because your son is 2, you can do the two gates on top of each other in the doorway. We got the wooden one for the bottom and the plastic one for the top. He can't get around or over them. WHEW! Good luck!
there is a device called a crib tent. we bought it because our DS, was very wriggly, and would get his arms or legs caught between the slats and wake up crying and in a panic. It zips closed from the outside, and should keep them contained even at two.
I work full time, so I don't do naps M-F. On Sat & Sunday, he gives strong cues and will fall asleep for 2 45 minute naps, or one lasting an 1.5 -2hrs. Bedtime hasn't been an issue as yet, because he jumps out of my arms and into his crib as soon as I start the lullaby (gues he doesn't like my singing).
I will track the responses on this question, because I suspect we have a houdini on our hands too.
I am not sure if it would work for you or not, but there are crib tents and tents with characters that fit on single beds. If he struggles to take a nap, maybe he could do quiet time in his fort on his bed. My 2 year old is outgrowing nap time, but still needs quiet time in the afternoon with books and resting. Good luck!
I am going to be the bearer of bad news. When my daughter learned to escape from her bed at around 20 months....that was the end of regular naps in our house. She fought it like crazy. I tried everything including sitting by her bed...HOURS at a time and still NO nap...grrrr. She would fight it like no ones business. (My son had to be weaned off naps at 4 1/2... I am a strong believer in naps). It's frustrating because I know she needs a nap, even now at age 3, but unless she just happens to crash, a nap does not happen. I hope that this is not the case for you! And I tried two different crib tents, my little Houdini managed to escape out of those too...and I am still not certain how she did it. As far as corralling a busy two year old...I think that may be mission impossible. I know when I had things to do in my office, I had to lock us in and let my kids play on the floor near me. Our living,. dining and kitchen area are a great room, so I didn't have much in the way of options, I just had to put out things for my kiddos to play and watch them rather closely. Occasionally , for very short periods of time, I could occupy them in high chairs. My son liked playing with Tupperware (I would stack containers together for him to open) and my daughter would play with play dough. But it was for short periods of time. 15 maybe 20 minutes, IF I was lucky! I do catering and cake decorating out of my home, so I understand needing to keep them in one spot and safe. I just didn't find anything that worked with my kids...they were half Houdini and half monkey!
It sounds like you need to investigate preschools in your area. Working at home with kids around only works for so long, and it sounds like you're reaching the end of that period.
They do run fast don't they? Yikes.
Okay so you took apart his crib. Good.
Mattress on floor? Okay, good.
The only way I get my toddler to sleep is to make him good and tired.
Now you may not have the time since you work from home (Ugh) but do
you have any time in the morning before you have to get on the phone
to run his little self around? I mean I will even go to the grocery store
(no cart), a big store like Target so I can p/u some toiletries letting him
walk around to burn off energy. It's a big store.
For my "lunch hour" at home, I will even take him across the street to a park to burn off energy.
If these aren't viable options, how about a room in your house that he can
romp around in? Jump, throw plastic balls etc. Take a break & do some exercises "with" him like push ups, crunches etc. Things to expend his
energy.
If it's nice weather out, can you bundle up & take a walk around the block.
If you have a day off during the week, take him to the mall. Have him walk around with you. You won't get far & your won't go fast but it will
tire him out.
Even if he doesn't nap every day, at least you may be able to get him to nap sometimes.
My son went through a stage at about that age where he wouldn't nap.
Yikes. Luckily most days I can get tired him out so he can get a nap in.
Good luck. I know you're busy working from home but hopefully you can work w/some of these ideas & get him bk to napping again for however long that stage will last! :)
Welcome to mommyhood with a boy. :)
My sister-in-law never quite understood why I was always so frazzled when my son was a toddler (and he was walking at 10 1/2 months, so it was a LONG toddlerhood).... she had all girls. And they (typically) are just not the same.
At 2 years old, there really isn't a whole lot you CAN do to "corral" him. He is at the age where most of the corralling must be done by hands on means. The only thing I had that worked at all, was the plastic doorknob covers that kept him from being able to open the doors (for a short while anyway). Eventually, he could open them, even though my parents would get stuck inside, lol.
You may have to alter your work schedule so that you are doing it when he is napping (if you can get that worked out) or asleep at night. For naps, I pretty much had to lie down WITH my son and hold him still until he fell asleep (at that age anyway). He was just constantly "doing" and exploring his world and there was no time for naptime! Unless I MADE it, by making his world stop. We read a story lying on his bed, then I snuggled with and held him until he fell asleep. Half the time I fell asleep too, as I was pregnant at the time.
Good luck, dear.
