How Much Napping Time Should A 22 Month Old Get?

[MaritimeMummy]

It's always been my experience with my older daughter and the kids I've had in the day care that kids my son's age need naps.

He naps every day, but it's never consistent with how long he sleeps. Yesterday he slept 2 hours. Today, 40 minutes. Most days, 20 minutes.

He goes to bed at 8pm, usually falls asleep by 9. He wakes between 12am and 2am, and then he sleeps lightly after that. Hr's up for the day at 5:30. This has been his typical sleep pattern since infancy.

If I put him to bed earlier at night, he's up earlier in the morning.

If I nap him earlier, he doesn't go down at all.

He's, by nature, a crankpot. Always whining...he doesn't have any words so the whining is amplified. ;-)

I just want him to be rested so maybe I can go through the day without sleep issues. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Willow]

I'd be curious if this was a diet thing.

If it's not I'd probably ask them to consult their pediatrician about offering him something like melatonin at night.

Sounds like there is definitely something causing him to not be able to get any regular amount of decent sleep.


ETA - keep in mind a lot of parents "fudge" the truth about bed times and routines.

[MNMum]

He should be getting a lot more sleep than that. 11-13 hours is the norm for a 2 year old (total, including nap). It sounds as if some days he's only getting about 9 hours of sleep total. Some would suggest a much earlier bedtime than you are doing, if he is getting up at 5:30. Maybe a 6:30 or 7pm bedtime! Sleep begets sleep. Our overtired children tend to have a harder time falling asleep or staying asleep.

Usually kids at this age are transitioning to one nap per day of about 2 hours.

I'm no expert. There are a lot of books out there. One is called the "7 oclock bedtime" I think. I'm sure others can recommend some sleep books.

[mnemom]

IME most almost 2 year old naps for about 2-2.5 hours.

[MaritimeMummy]

I'd be curious if this was a diet thing.

If it's not I'd probably ask them to consult their pediatrician about offering him something like melatonin at night.

Sounds like there is definitely something causing him to not be able to get any regular amount of decent sleep.


ETA - keep in mind a lot of parents "fudge" the truth about bed times and routines.

...he's mine. Not fudging the bedtime/routine on this one.
;-)

[Blackcat31]

My DCK's here that are that age also sleep about 1.5 - 2 hours per day during nap/rest time and most have 7:30-8:30 bedtimes.

My own two kids were polar opposites.

My DD still naps and she is 24 YEARS old and my DS stopped napping at 15 months and has lived on around 5-8 hours of sleep per night since.

[SilverSabre25]

My son is also 22 months old

He goes to bed around 8-9 and usually falls asleep fairly easily (I nurse him to sleep). He wakes up most often around 6:30, sometimes as early as 5:30 and occasionally as late as 7:30. For naps, we start nursing/rocking around 12:30 and he's usually asleep by 12:50. He sleeps 2-2.5 hours (in fact, he just woke up as I typed that).

At night, he usually wakes up once or twice but overall sleeps very well.

I'd say that your son has something going on to keep him from getting good sleep, as Willow suggested. Diet, food intolerance/allergy, something. Dairy is the most likely culprit, followed by soy and gluten/wheat.

[MNMum]

or Reflux - which can sometimes be "silent". I.E. no other symptoms except poor sleep.

[Willow]

...he's mine. Not fudging the bedtime/routine on this one.
;-)

HA!

I'm so sorry! That was kind of an important detail to skim over

I'd ask pediatrician about using a supplement like melatonin then. I get that there are kiddos like BC's that just don't need that much sleep but if he's got crabby pants on throughout the day then something's got to give. My daughter has really terrible sleep cycles inherently. Her doc and neurologist said sometimes people (kids included) don't produce a normal amount of melatonin to get them to sleep and keep them sleep. In those cases supplementing can be vital to them ever getting a decent amount of rest. It shouldn't be taking an hour for him to crash, I know that business well and it's not normal.

Best part is it's non-habit forming and the effects are immediate.

[SilverSabre25]

HA!

I'm so sorry! That was kind of an important detail to skim over

I'd ask pediatrician about using a supplement like melatonin then. I get that there are kiddos like BC's that just don't need that much sleep but if he's got crabby pants on throughout the day then something's got to give. My daughter has really terrible sleep cycles inherently. Her doc and neurologist said sometimes people (kids included) don't produce a normal amount of melatonin to get them to sleep and keep them sleep. In those cases supplementing can be vital to them ever getting a decent amount of rest. It shouldn't be taking an hour for him to crash, I know that business well and it's not normal.

Best part is it's non-habit forming and the effects are immediate.

Yes I was thinking Melatonin, too.

And reflux, while a good point, is often caused by undiagnosed food allergies/intolerances, so if that is the case, there's still an underlying issue to be solved.

[cheerfuldom]

are you noticing any other behavior or social issues? My third is not a great sleeper and also has dairy sensitivity AND also has sensory issues. She is a much better sleeper when we address the sensory issues. The other things to consider are what you are doing when he wakes in the early morning or wakes from nap? Is everything calm, dark, conducive to sleeping? or does he keep himself awake with toys or other entertainment and activity? sometimes there is nothing "wrong" besides some bad habits that need to be broken. If he is cranky and whiney though, its pretty clear that he does need more sleep. At 22 months, I would have him on 12 hours of sleep a night, 2 hour nap during the day.

[MaritimeMummy]

Should I maybe try to adjust his nap time? He has never slept early in the day...mostly because of the day care. The day care kids all sleep at 12:30/1pm, so that is when he always was able to settle down.

Maybe I should be trying for a 10am nap? Start trying to adjust the entire sleep schedule that way?

I never had this issue with my daughter, she napped 2, two hour long naps unti lshe was...well, 2 years old, haha. then at 2, just one nap, 2 hours or even more, always down at 1pm. To bed at 8, up at 8am. Perfect sleeper, such a pleasant child!



Son has always been a demanding little grumplestilskin. Even as a newborn he never slept. So while I would tend to think, if we were talking about a toddler who only started sleeping poorly since solids were introduced, I'd be apt to say food allergies/sensitivies, too. But since he's been like this since birth and I breastfed him, it really can't be anything dietary.

His room is always kept dark and quiet. When he wakes I try cuddling him back to sleep but even when he's asleep, he is never fully back to sleep and tosses and turns and will wake up many more times. it's like the only good stretch of sleep he gets is from 8/9pm until midnightish.

[countrymom]

first you need routine. I would stick to a 1pm nap and no longer than 3.30pm. I wouldn't go in and get him till 3.30pm

you need to let him learn to go to sleep on his own and if he wakes up to talk quietly till nap is over. Make sure he goes to the bathroom before he goes to bed

for bed time, routine, routine. I know a bath a book and a quick snack every night before bed works too

he's too old to be waking up, why is he waking up, is he hungry, is he wet. If he's just waking because the sake of waking, then you need to teach him to go back to sleep on his own, its going to be rough but you need consistency, don't give in.

if you want him to wake up at 7am every day, then wake him up at that hour, not a second earlier, if he wakes up earlier don't go and get him, he needs to learn its sleep time not play time.

also, I would try melatonin because his sleep cycle may be off. Usually it only takes 2 doses and it works great (my ds went thru it)

he's grumpy because of lack of sleep and we all know what that feels like.

[SilverSabre25]

yes, it, CAN still be dietary. things pass through your milk, too, that baby can react to.

what are his poops like?

and yes, trying to adjust his nap time could help. done people naturally have a different rhythm.

[Blackcat31]

If it's not I'd probably ask them to consult their pediatrician about offering him something like melatonin at night.

Yes I was thinking Melatonin, too.

So do you two use melatonin yourselves or for your own kids?

My sister is having some of the same issues the OP is posting and when we were in Target the other day, she mentioned to the pharmacist that she was going to try Melatonin and the pharmacist pretty much freaked out on her saying that he would NEVER give his kid's that and it is so harmful and never recommended for a small child.

I have to say, that I was kind of taken aback at his attitude about it and how strongly he felt about it as I have heard LOTS of people say they use it and have heard lots of parents who say they give it to their kids.

So just wondering your thoughts about it all....