Sleep - Manchester, NH

I know you said that they both need their naps... but just from what you wrote I am thinking that your 3 year old might be phasing out of hers.

I think this b/c my three year old is doign the exact same thing. If she gets a 2 hour nap... she will either play and fuss 2 hours past her bedtime or wake up 2 hours earlier in the morning.

We also tell both of the kids (they share a room and are 3 and 1) that we don't wake up until it is light outside. They get put back in their beds until the sun starts to rise-- which is about 7am. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I will let them go for as long as i can stand it and then get them up. It would be MUCH easier if they didnt' share a room and feed off of each other!

I would try putting them to bed earlier. My 18 month old is in bed and asleep by 7pm the latest and my 6yr old is in bed ay 730. They say 6months to 2yrs needs 12-14 hours of sleep and that from age 2-5yr needs 10-12. Your oldest is probably getting too much sleep during the day and you should try to remove his nap or shorten it. Children that are over tired when they go to bed often don't sleep as long or as good for some reason. My little guy sleeps from around 7pm to 7am and naps about an hour to an hour and a half. Good luck.

Hi Julie...the only thing I can say is to put them to bed earlier. You now have the time change so they will automatically be going to bed earlier but give it a good 2 weeks! I would try to get them down for 7 each night. I have twin 2 and a half year olds and they have been sleeping 7-7 since 6 months old. I would bring it down in 15 minute incraments each night. At first they may just wake up at the same time, but eventually they will begin to sleep late. I know it sounds crazy but all the books out there will tell you that if you want your kids to sleep late then put them to bed earlier. By putting them to bed by 7 you will have more of that much needed time yourself. That is when I pay the bills, prepare for the next day, and talk with my husband.

As for naps, what time are they going down? I wouldn't put them down any later than 1.

I agree with putting them to bed earlier. I would reccommend the book healthy sleep habits happy child. It's great.

Hi Julie-

You've already heard it, put them to bed earlier! There was a study on baby center that showed the more sleep they get the better they sleep! i know it sounds counterintuitive. I think it is not until much later that the later to bed the later to wake up works.

I dropped my sons nap a little after turning 3 only because I noticed him talking to himself in bed at night. It took about 5 months for him to get use to no nap. Often if we were running around, he would fall asleep in the car and I would move him to the couch. Some times, he would fall asleep about 6:00-6:30 and sleep until 7:00 the next morning!

Every kid is different, but I do agree with the early bedtimes! Good luck

I wouldn't cut the nap out just yet. They need time to settle and rest. I would also wait until after the time change this weekend, before instilling any different habits. The time change will allow with easier ability to change bedtimes.

I agree, put them to bed earlier, but don't change their naps. Try a 30 minute earlier bedtime first, then a whole hour if you want. I see a HUGE effect of bedtime on my daughter's sleep. If she's asleep by 7 she sleeps until almost 7. If she doesn't go to sleep until 8, she's up at 6. I know it sounds counter intuitive, but give it a try. Another bonus: her mood is soooo much better when she gets more sleep!