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.
It may be that she doesn’t need an afternoon nap every day anymore. I know it sucks because you were used to have some peace, but they grow up and it was bound to happen. Honestly if she doesn’t look tired don’t even try. If you make her sleep even if she doesn’t need it she’ll start pushing back (welcome to “terrible two” age). She’ll start hating going to bed even in the evening. When mines started growing at a certain point they were having a nap only on the weekends.
I’d advise against “let’s try and see if you need one today without pushing too hard” because she WILL learn that if she just doesn’t you’ll not push back. You need to judge if she needs one (looks sleepy/extra cranky) and you have to put her to bed (and be firm) or not even try.
It might be that on days she doesn’t have a nap she’ll need to go to bed a little earlier (like half an hour earlier).
But I strongly suggest you don’t make the “you need to sleep” routine a fight or they’ll make it hell for you.
Thanks, I was not really considering not to have the afternoon sleep. But I guess you’re right. Pushing never feels like the good approach.
My youngest decided at 18 months that she didn’t want a nap anymore. I just rolled with it and never really had any problems with bed time.