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almost 2 1/2 year old fights bed time and naps!

HOlly - posted on 01/01/2011 ( 2 moms have responded )

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17

My almost 2 1/2 year old daughter will fight bed time and naps! I Let her know 30 minutes before nap/bed and count down to get her ready for it. For naps... we will change her diaper, read books, snuggle and then in bed she goes! Bed time.. we take a bath, read and snuggle in bed then lights out! It is an all out battle with her tho! She will scream in her room that she wants More books read to her or she wants water.. or she wants me to lay down with her or rock her! I know she is just procrastinating on bed time and I dont know what else to do with her! SO I do the routine every night, tell her good night kiss her lovies and tell her see you in the morning and lights out door closed! I hate listening to her scream and cry for 30-60 minutes! Any other ideas... advice??? Help!!!!

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2 Comments

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Heather - posted on 01/02/2011

178

68

Why not just lay down with her? sit with her and rub her back till she is asleep? Cuddle her and let her drift off in the security of your arms? This is very normal for toddlers to have a tough time being left at bedtime / nap time even if they previously did fine wtih it. If you stay with them and give them the knowledge and security that you are there and responding to their needs it just helps them to be more secure adn independent and the phase will last for a much shorter time then if you try to force the independence. I know this is not mainstream thoughts but we all know that it does not feel good or right to have our children uncomfortable / sad / stressed out / scared and we know that it feels right to meet their needs and the reason for that is because it is the right thing to do. We want our children to know they can depend on us and even if you feel like it is a manipulation if you just let it work itself out by attending it her it will be less stressful for everyone and the neg experience will not continue for such a long time. THey only need us at this level for just so long and we will miss it dearly when it is gone so as long as they want us close we should enjoy that and do what is in their best interest and in ours by doing what feels right. Thats just my opinion. I have 2 kids (and a whole lot that i watch very frequently including overnights) and i have never let my kids "cry it out". I stayed with them whenever they wanted . I attended to them consistantly and both (age 3 and 7) go to bed by themselves most of the time now and are secure adn independent and altho they love their cuddles they are easy as pie. They both LOVED going to bed all the time (they knew they would never deserted or left in their misery. they were always responded to and they were always comforted...for us this has worked marvelously. Good luck

Tamara - posted on 01/02/2011

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6

We have the same problem, my partner reads her a story, and we have tried controlled crying didn't work, we have taken her to a sleep clinic and that didn't work, I'm at my wits end, sorry I couldn't help.

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