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gkaiser3 · Dec 2, 2008, 01:21 AM

Hi!
I have spent 3 hours reading through similar questions and have found no advice that I haven't already tried, so I'll try asking...
Tyler will be 2 in February, he's been in his own toddler bed for 6months.
I also have another son, Jordan who will be 4 in April. They share a bedroom.
They have a very set schedule that until the last month has been fine.
Bedtime is at 8pm (which is WAY later than when Tyler is actually ready, but I was trying tips received) There is a bedtime routine.
He falls asleep quickly. However right around 11-12pm, he awakens and is bright eyed and bushy tailed until anywhere between 2-4am. <heavy sigh> He then will fall asleep and has no problem being back up at 6:15 (start of our day) and going to daycare/preschool. I have checked into the preschools napping schedule and it's right around 1.5hrs, which is what we do at home on the wknds, but it never fails, he's out like a light at 8pm and up a few SHORT hours later! I'm at my wits end! If I just put him to bed, he SCREAMS until I go in there. He'll lay on the floor with me, but not in his bed. But that's also a habit I don't want to get into either (co-sleeping) HELP PLEASE!
*I go to school and work, but set aside time for each kid to have alone time with me everyday* Like I said, I've checked into damn near everything.

sylvan_1998 · Dec 2, 2008, 08:02 AM

I am sorry for your troubles. It is hard to "train" a child to fit our schedules, but sometimes it just has to be done. When he wakes up, give him a quiet activity he can do, looking at a book in bed, until he falls asleep again. But tell him he is to remain in bed. He must teach himself how to fall BACK asleep. You can give him the tools. Set the boundaries for what he can and cannot do. Tell him what you do.

My son would not take time outs. A therapist told me he had to learn to self sooth. I never had another twinge of guilt letting him cry until he began the time out knowing I was giving him a life skill.

Teaching him to fall back asleep I think is a life skill he needs to learn. Most do not need to learn it so early, but he is needing this skill now.

Hope this helps.

gkaiser3 · Dec 2, 2008, 10:41 PM

Ah, yes, I have tried that, but like I said before, he's not misbehaving while he's awake, he will just sit and read, but then gets up and needs more to do. My son's bedroom is not very big, and he shares a room, which makes it hard to keep him entertained in his own bedroom. I don't want to disturb my other child (he's in preschool) Any other suggestions?
I completely agree with self soothing, and would normally just have him cry it out, if not for another child sharing the bedroom

sylvan_1998 · Dec 8, 2008, 12:44 PM

I guess the boundaries I was suggesting was to set the rules that he must stay in bed and remain quiet. He could look at a book or play with a stuffed animal until he could go back to sleep. But if he gets up or makes too much noise you are going to take the toy and book away. Try taking him to bed with you if he breaks the rules and then he has to be still and quiet. Might work

jillrenee15 · Dec 10, 2008, 06:23 PM

I have a question for you, why is he in a toddler bed already? Was he climbing out or injuring himself? I also have a boy who turned two in August, and he will not be getting a big boy bed for a loooong time yet, because I know he would never stay in it when it was time to go to bed, and I doubt that if he woke up in the night he would stay in it and go back to sleep. Maybe the freedom of a toddler bed is just too much for him and he wants the security of his crib back. Just a suggestion. Good luck!