I have a 2 year old (DS) and a 3 month old (DD). I am getting NO sleep. Now, you would think when you read that that the DD would be the issue right? NOPE, it's the 2 year old. DD gets up 2 times at night once at 2 and once at 5. Both times, she eats and goes right back to sleep. DS on the other hand....................:banghead:
Here is my night last night.
7:30 pm PJ's on both kids.
8:00 pm I am putting DD to bed while DH is putting DS to bed.
8:05 pm go sit on DS's bed and put him to bed because he needs mommie all the while nursing DD.
9:00 pm go check on DS and tell him to stay in the bed because he is chatting and playing.
1:00 am go put DS back in the bed.
2:00 am feed DD and put her back to bed.
3:00 am go put DS back in bed.
4:00 am go put DS back in bed again.
5:00 am feed DD and put her back to sleep
5:30 am put DS back in bed yet again.
7:00 am up for the day.
any suggestions??? I have tried to put a night light in his room, but he hates it. He still takes one nap a day that is about 2 hours or so. He is hateful without that nap, so I feel like he still needs it. Or, should I just deal with him being mean during the day and get rid of that nap? I seriously need sleep!!!
I am starting to become mean mom with little patience. :cry:
amyruth
01-26-2009, 07:00 AM
:hugs: We go through cycles too. My LO has been up at 2am the last couple of nights after STTN for several days on end... My 3yo gets up at night and ends up in bed with us, usually. He will sleep the rest of the night without issue that way though. What about putting a crib mattress or makeshift bed for him on your bedroom floor? Maybe he's just getting scared at night? Does he have a lovey? you could take him to Build a Bear and he can build his very own friend to sleep with. Not sure what else except that it's likely a phase. If you want him in his room just keep doing what you are doing - put him back in his bed. :)
bodiejake
01-26-2009, 07:06 AM
:hugs: We go through cycles too. My LO has been up at 2am the last couple of nights after STTN for several days on end... My 3yo gets up at night and ends up in bed with us, usually. He will sleep the rest of the night without issue that way though. What about putting a crib mattress or makeshift bed for him on your bedroom floor? Maybe he's just getting scared at night? Does he have a lovey? you could take him to Build a Bear and he can build his very own friend to sleep with. Not sure what else except that it's likely a phase. If you want him in his room just keep doing what you are doing - put him back in his bed. :)
I think I may try and make him a bed in our room. Maybe that will help. I honestly never thought of that just because he doesn't like to co-sleep. The few times I have put him in the bed with us, he ends up wanting to be in his bed. I think I will make him a bed in there right now and we will give that a go tonight. As far as loveys, you would laugh if you could see his bed. I don't even think I can begin to describe what all is in there. :giggle: It is only picture worthy. brb with that pic.
bodiejake
01-26-2009, 07:12 AM
well, of course, there is something up with my camera and it won't work. Here's what he has:
2 blankets
3 loveys
4 bean bag pillows
4 stuffed animals
and his "monster and turtle" small toys that he MUST have or there is NO sleep.
amyruth
01-26-2009, 07:16 AM
well, of course, there is something up with my camera and it won't work. Here's what he has:
2 blankets
3 loveys
4 bean bag pillows
4 stuffed animals
and his "monster and turtle" small toys that he MUST have or there is NO sleep.
Aww! My 3yo has stuffed animals too but doesn't seem attached to them. Neither does my almost 2yo. :headscratch: I wonder if it's b/c we never pushed the issue?
Anyway, I hope the floor bed helps! You need your sleep! I resorted to sleeping w/my little guy on his floor for several weeks b/c he woke so often. It wasn't fun but I did get more sleep that way. Luckily it was just a phase...
supergirljennie
01-26-2009, 07:26 AM
I'm sorry! The only suggestion I have is this:
Each night, tell him he gets 3 pennies if he stays in bed all night. Each time he gets up, one penny gets taken away. We did this with my boys and it worked for them, but I don't know if you are comfortable with your 2yo and coins.
Good luck!
bodiejake
01-26-2009, 09:00 AM
I'm sorry! The only suggestion I have is this:
Each night, tell him he gets 3 pennies if he stays in bed all night. Each time he gets up, one penny gets taken away. We did this with my boys and it worked for them, but I don't know if you are comfortable with your 2yo and coins.
Good luck!
hmmmm...........maybe I could try this with something a little bigger that he likes. now what????
greek4
01-26-2009, 09:25 AM
You could try and earlier bedtime.
bodiejake
01-26-2009, 09:28 AM
what would you bump it up to, and would you eliminate the nap?
S Starr
01-26-2009, 09:53 AM
I would not eliminate the nap, but would consider trying a 7:15 or 7:30 bedtime. Also you could leave a bathroom light on -- something that would give him a little light -- and block his light switch, maybe? Are you having to put him back to bed because he's up or because he's out of his room? We put a doorknob cover (child lock) on the inside of DD's room so she couldn't wander out at night. Found that she went back to bed and to sleep quickly when that option was taken away, even at 6am!
GL!
OrangeBananas
01-26-2009, 12:27 PM
I personally would get rid of the nap. If any of my boys nap during the day they either stay up really late or I can't get them to go to bed at all. Carson [ 21 months old ] was grumpy at first when he wouldn't nap, but he started going to bed at a decent time, and sleeping all night long and that eliminated the grump. Good luck!
JLMom
01-26-2009, 01:14 PM
I would not eliminate the nap, but would consider trying a 7:15 or 7:30 bedtime. Also you could leave a bathroom light on -- something that would give him a little light -- and block his light switch, maybe? Are you having to put him back to bed because he's up or because he's out of his room? We put a doorknob cover (child lock) on the inside of DD's room so she couldn't wander out at night. Found that she went back to bed and to sleep quickly when that option was taken away, even at 6am!
GL!
The same routine works for us. We put our 2yo DS to bed at 7; we start our bedtime routine around 6:30--bath, books, songs, and hugs. He used to come out of his room as a game to get his dad to come back in. Once we put the child lock on, he stopped without any fuss (we do unlock the door once he's asleep in case he needs us in the middle of the night). He did start to turn his light on and play to stay awake, and then we covered the light switch. Once he realized that turning the light on wasn't an option, he immediately settled himself into bed with a favorite toy and went to sleep. We haven't had any problems since then and everyone sleeps better. Good luck!
