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  | June 2006

our son just wont relaz to sleep at night

our son Ashton is 26 months old. He is a very energetic child and we have the toughest time getting to sleep at night. We have a routine of eating at 6 6:30 then it is play time until 8. No sugar or caffiene at all in his diet. I then bathe him every other night on the nights I don't I rub him down with lavender lotion and then read at least three books. Then my husband and I start witht the fight for him to stay in his bed. On average he is up 10 times before he passes out at 11 or 12. I even have realxing music playing softly. He climbed out of his crib constantly so we got him a toddler bed, now we are suffering more. Please does anyone have some advice for us??????

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forloveofmyboys
3.94 (Good) | June 2006 | forloveofmyboys
Thank you for the advice

I just found this site last night and so far I love it. I will use this advice as well as transfer it over to my husband as well. Sounds good and the more I think about it if we are out all day or outside for a long time, say at the beach or park, my hubby and I put Ashton to sleep earlier and if I remember correctly he didn't give us such a problem. Sounds like you hit it on the nail and I will try it out and let you all know how it goes. Thank you again.



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Susan
3.44 (Average) | June 2006 | Susan
this may sound crazy, but . . .
My sons are six and four now, but we went through this as well. What finally worked for us, with both boys, was putting them to bed earlier--when they are overtired, my sons have a harder time falling asleep and will get up repeatedly, as you describe your son doing. 8:00 is a reasonable bedtime in general, but it may be too late for your son; he may be so tired by then that he can't get himself to sleep. We are also big on having a consistent routine, and it sounds like you are as well. We've done the same thing with our sons for years: we eat dinner, have a half hour or so of quiet play time (so my husband can play a little with the boys), have a long, warm bath, then read stories for half an hour or so. On days when the boys are really tired, we skip playtime and go right to bath and stories (they've had all day to play, so half an hour less doesn't seem like much). The key at our house is to make the routine as peaceful as possible--encourage your son to lay down (you can read to him in bed) and to be still and quiet. With my younger son, who was our Bedtime Wanderer, we practiced falling asleep--we would both lay our heads on his pillow and close our eyes and sleep. He thought it was really funny, but it gave us a way to remind him that it was bedtime and sleep time. Finally, this: I have terrible insomina, and over and over I have read that watching television in the hour before sleep makes it harder for the brain to relax. Watching a video before bed might be too much stimulation for your son--I would go with reading books instead. Good luck!


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      DragonEgg
4.20 (Good) | June 2006 | DragonEgg
Re: this may sound crazy, but . . .
Definately not crazy!

We're lucky that most of the time my son goes to bed without any problems and is fast asleep not long after he's in bed. If he really fights us we have to gauge if he's overtired or if he really is wide-awake but depending on how he's acting we are pretty good at telling. 

I  think you are right-on with the movie. Heck, *I* have trouble going to bed right after watching a movie!!


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      Izzy
3.86 (Good) | June 2006 | Izzy
Re: this may sound crazy, but . . .
It doesn't sound crazy at all! My son is only 14 months and I've already seen this pattern repeatedly. When he is overtired and past exhaustion, it is harder to get him to sleep or nap.  But then again it's also hard if I respond a little too soon and try to get him to nap at the first yawn. But anyway, you are right. It is a great advice to avoid the overtired, overstimulated, past exhaustion stage.  


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ClayCook
4.00 (Good) | June 2006 | ClayCook
long bath before bed
I think the most importnat part of our routine for our boy (21 mths) is a full stomach then a nice long relaxing bath.

I typed up our routine here.
And there is plenty more advice here.

Hope this all helps.


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Anonymous Member
3.67 (Good) | June 2006 | anonymous  
resonse

he naps at around 1 2 pm  for an hour to 2 hours if he naps 3 out of 7 days he will nap   when he plays he watches einstien videos we color our roll the ball he will play with his cars or dance    I will try winding him down an hour earlier with more quiet play like save the coloring and rolling the ball for the end of his play time   thank you



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Izzy
4.27 (Good) | June 2006 | Izzy
Some suggestions

When does your son nap and how long? You may want to get him to nap earlier or shorter.  You mention that play time is until 8, what kind of play does he do? I suggest limiting rough play early so that he can wind down. Over-stimulated toddlers have a harder time winding down to sleep. Encourage quite play that will get him to calm down and ready for bed.

What does he do when gets up 10 times?



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      Anonymous Member
2.83 (Average) | June 2006 | anonymous  
Re: Some suggestions

we are in the living room and when we go in to him he has pulled everthing out of the dresser drawers and out of his closet he climbs in his brothers crib



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