OT - Sleeping and my own kid

[Hunni Bee]

More lovely sleep issues!

I cannot get her to nap anymore. She's 2.4.

So she wakes up about 6:45 on her school days which are Mon and Tues, little after 7 on her home days with Mommy which are Saturday and Sunday...her home days with Dad I'm not completely sure what time but not far off from that.

Her school nap time is 12-2, I mirror that at home. She refuses to sleep, despite clearly being exhausted. At school she just plays on her cot. At home she gets up from her bed 100x, sings and plays, or just screams to keep herself awake. I usually have plans on the weekends - and can't wait her out while she plays for 3 hours. And I have waited her out...never napped.

You can imagine what she's like by 3 pm...a sobbing mess. (She's a lot better at school but I still know she's tired) But then its too late for naps and she is still keeping herself awake. We somehow trudge through to 7:30...I put her to bed only to have her not fall asleep til 9 or later...at which point she's been up for 14+ hours.

She was such a mess I put her to bed at 6:30 last night...I finally lost it at about 9:15 when she waddled into my room still wide awake and playing. Mean Mommy got her to finally give it up but obviously that's not a solution.

Her bedroom in my house is a converted dining room...so 2.5 walls and no door. I still shut everything on that end of the house down before her bedtime.

I don't know what to do. I don't get off til 6:30 so I cant get her in bed any earlier than 7:15.

Please help. We're both exhausted, grumpy jerks.

[Brittany]

Wow first off a (hug) sounds exhausting and miserable for all of you.

It sound like you dd is in an overtired cycle. Many two year olds go through a sleep regression here is a link( http://offtodreamland.com/2-year-nap...on-dont-panic/ )

I would get a long baby gate and hang a curtain rod to enclose her room better especially for naps. You could even secure on of those dressing screens to one wall for a 3/4 closure.

Consider putting her down a half hour earlier for nap time, sometimes by the time naps roll around the child is in an overtired state making it harder for the brain to shut down.

If she does not nap, you should put her in bed by 6pm. This will help her fill in the gap of daytime sleep. Most think this will create early wake ups but that rarely happens. (Edited: sorry didn't see this isn't an option)

When she comes out of her room calmly walk her back to bed with no talking place her in bed and leave. The lack of interaction from you and the repetition will bore her after awhile. It may take quite a few times but it works.

Sleep regressions last between 2-6 weeks, so hang in there and know there is an end in sight! lovethis

Hope this helps I work as a nanny, and do sleep consulting on the side.

[daycare]

the only thing that I can see being almost impossible to fix this, is dad. what does he let her do?

I went through this with my own child and my now x didn't nap her at all and once that took place there was nothing I could do to fix it. I just had to deal with a very miserable 3yr old every day. thank god those days are over for me, but my ex was not willing to fight through to get her on a schedule which basically made it impssoble for me to do anything.