Hey everyone!
Wanted to check in here about our newest struggle, maybe someone can share our pain or even help with some advice.
Our little one just turned 2, the biggest development of the last few weeks is that she’s really talkative now. Able to respond to questions, even describing events with some help. Other huge change is that putting her to sleep is getting more and more industrious:
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Before, both in the afternoon and in the evening we had the nice ritual of putting blankets and pillows on the floor of her room, turning off the lights, singing some nice songs, maybe telling the tale of her achievements that day, and she went to sleep in ~20 minutes (40 minutes max).
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Now, the afternoon sleep is taking more hours sometimes and she doesn’t even look sleepy most of the times. And since the afternoon nap is happening later, the night sleep is happening later and slower. And we feel that we cannot push it further more.
We tried a lot of things already in the afternoon (as we’re feeling that could be root of the problem for the evening sleep also) for example putting her to the baby carriage for a walk, putting her in one of these carriers on our backs, putting her directly into her bed… Nothing really works, it feels like she just needs us to try at least 2 hours and then she gives up. At least when she sleeps, she really sleeps like a baby, sometimes not even waking up at all for the whole of the evening (that is something that haven’t changed).
Have you experienced something like this around 2 years? How did you solve it? Or do you have any other suggestion?
I would appreciate any input from you.
Yes. For three of my kids, they all took naps until they were 5 or 6. However, my youngest, the little bastard, stopped needing them at 2, which was a huge struggle as the daycare needed all the kids to take a nap at the same time (understandable).
Some kids simply don’t need it. Every kid is different and you can’t really force them to sleep if they don’t need to.
Thanks for this. Nice to hear at least other parents also struggling with this. Trying to be more considerate on what she needs.
We’ve got a 3 year age difference between our two kids. When the eldest stopped needing naps we said that he didn’t have to nap but that it WAS quiet time so he could do puzzles or look at a book, or colour.
Obviously your options there are a little limited by the age.
Kind of a side note but:
Kids are expert negotiators/ manipulators, so they will push you to your absolute limit if it gets them what they want. The reason they tantrum is because it gets them what they want. It will take many unsuccessful tantrums before they learn that tantrums don’t work. Make the best way for them to get what they want, something other than a tantrum.
I think a reset is in order. I would try a few days with no nap to try to get the night bed time more sane. Then introduce quiet time. Maybe say “I’ll read you 3 books, then it’s quiet time”. They don’t need to have their eyes closed, just lie quietly in bed, it doesn’t need to be for very long, just introduce it as something that’s not a big burden but is non-negotiable.
Good luck, it’s not easy.
Quiet time sounds reasonable, thanks for the tip. Will try it out for sure.