[Saya]

Originally Posted by Stormster

Can you tell I'm stressed? TGIF! I also have zero right to be stressed. He's sincerely the greatest kid. I feel so lame.

Storm, you have 100% RIGHT to be stressed!!! You're the parent of a toddler!!! It doesn't matter if he's the greatest kid in the universe (though you and I might have to fight that one out ), it's his JOB to make you stressed and exhausted, and he's really good at it!

Is there anyway on days like today you can put him down for a nap earlier then usual - like 9am, and then wake him up after 45 min or so and put him down for a second nap later?

Alternatively, what if you put him to bed really early? Or just in general tried to start shifting it earlier. That was our decision with A when she was that age. We just realized that she was going to be an early riser no matter what time she went to bed, and so we just kept setting her bedtime earlier and earlier until she was getting enough sleep.

[Stormster]

Shannon when he drops to one nap things will change. Then it's just a short window to preschool....and you will have all the rewards of starting to talk to him etc.

Just this morning I did the sign for hungry (which he doesn't do but I think he may understand) and he responded with the sign for more which is basically what he does when he's eating and wants more food. So we had a conversation!

Just pray your DS drops the morning nap. DS is asleep already! If you like Gymboree etc. you will see that the infant toddler classes are ALL in the AM.

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by Saya

Storm, you have 100% RIGHT to be stressed!!! You're the parent of a toddler!!! It doesn't matter if he's the greatest kid in the universe (though you and I might have to fight that one out ), it's his JOB to make you stressed and exhausted, and he's really good at it!

Is there anyway on days like today you can put him down for a nap earlier then usual - like 9am, and then wake him up after 45 min or so and put him down for a second nap later?

Alternatively, what if you put him to bed really early? Or just in general tried to start shifting it earlier. That was our decision with A when she was that age. We just realized that she was going to be an early riser no matter what time she went to bed, and so we just kept setting her bedtime earlier and earlier until she was getting enough sleep.

But then he wont' have any time with his Daddy

He just doesn't seem tired at all in the early evening...but you are right about one thing, it seems he isn't getting enough sleep at night. He's also coughing alot this week ....perhaps it's keeping him up at night a bit more and that's why he's so exhausted?

The reason i'm so anxious to change all this NOW is we are in a great music class on Wed's and i want him to stay awake for the whole thing. It's expensive and to have him meltdown in the middle is also so disruptive. Thanks, i'm going to try earlier bedtime.

[Vogi2002]

6:30 - 7:00 wakes up
7:00-7:30 play / watch Daddy get ready
7:30 - 8:00 breakfast
8:00 - 11 / 12:00 Play
11/12 - Lunch
12 / 12:30 Nap until 1 or 2
2 - 5 Play / activities, outside if nice
5 - Dinner
5 - 8 Play with Daddy
8 - Bed

He doesn't take bottles anymore so that is what varies & naps in the afternoon. Each child is SO different though, just gauge him, he might need an earlier / later bed time, or nap time, or it might be just right for your family!!

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by Vogi2002

6:30 - 7:00 wakes up
7:00-7:30 play / watch Daddy get ready
7:30 - 8:00 breakfast
8:00 - 11 / 12:00 Play
11/12 - Lunch
12 / 12:30 Nap until 1 or 2
2 - 5 Play / activities, outside if nice
5 - Dinner
5 - 8 Play with Daddy
8 - Bed

He doesn't take bottles anymore so that is what varies & naps in the afternoon. Each child is SO different though, just gauge him, he might need an earlier / later bed time, or nap time, or it might be just right for your family!!

See the OUTLINE of that day is just like ours....just need to switch the naps to AFTER lunch!!! Plenty of Daddy time too! DH gets home at 6:30 but now gets 1.5 hours with E (I never spent that much time with my dad!)

[melissa_bear003]

Storm, all kids are different, and their schedules reflect that.

When I had a dayhome, I watched a little one a few wks older than Tazzie...and their schedules were different. Z had am naps, Tazzie, no way in Hades. Dayhome sched went something like this:

7am, Tazzie wakes up.
715 Breakfast...cereal/toast, sippy cup of milk/juice, fruit
730 am, Z arrives
930 Breakfast snack...2 food groups.
10 am Z nap
11 am Z up
12 pm lunch 4 food groups
1pm nap for Tazzie and Z
3pm up from nap, immediate snack. (Low blood sugar makes for miserable kids)

Now that its just my kids during the day, our sched goes something like this:

Anytime after 530 am, Princess hammers at her gate for release by either Warden (aka parent).

1st pot o'coffee started.

Princess will NOT eat until at least a half hour after waking. (Her mother's dd...'cept I won't eat til somewhere around noon. Only coffee is acceptable til then)

Tazzie...up around 7. Breakfast must be served while eyes are still at half mast. Waiting until fully awake is an unacceptable delay as far as Taz is concerned. If he can manage to coordinate spoon and mouth, then he wants food. Princess will often wait until Tazzie is eating for her breakkie.

Diva shuffles down the stairs around 8.

Snack 10 am.

Lunch, noon.

1pm, Princess naps. If we're lucky. Sometimes its a half hour, some times an hour, and really really rarely, about 90 mins.

Tazzie naps about once every 2 wks, and will sleep for a full 2 hrs or so. Unless Daddy takes them to the park for a cpl of hours in the am, then they're usually passed out cold in the midst of lunch.

pm snack, as soon as naps are over.

Supper, 6 pm.

Bed...Princess, 730 pm.

Tazzie...around 8. Depends on how compliant he is about STAYING in bed.

Diva, 9 pm...unless she's gotten her bedtime docked for misbehaving.

Princess is 2, Tazzie will be 4 in Feb, and Diva is 10.

I've found a direct correlation btwn outside activity and easy bedtimes too. And none of my heathens had bottles...they went from boob to cup. They found bottles to be an insult or offence or similar...would spit out the rubber nipple, give you a look of complete disgust and offense, and then whip it in the general direction of your head, while screaming blue murder.

[jules17]

Originally Posted by OakShannon

And yet I have moments when I really just want to unplug for awhile and have a period when no one needs me for anything.

Oh, YES!!!

How I wished some of you lived near me so we could set up a babysitting co-op! (but then I'd want to go out for coffee with you, so that wouldn't work out so well either. )

[Stormster]

Originally Posted by jules17

Oh, YES!!!

How I wished some of you lived near me so we could set up a babysitting co-op! (but then I'd want to go out for coffee with you, so that wouldn't work out so well either. )

EXACTLY!!!

Guys I went to the gym yesterday! And for some reason I felt really really strong even thogh I've gained a little weight and had not been feeilng great. We also took a stroll (rain finally stopped) into the village, through the woods and then had a visitor in the pm!!!!! He napped early but I had energy and it was a great day.

I always have a good day JUST before I lose my mind. Convenient isn't it!?!?!?

[aallen25]

Shiloh isn't quite 16 mths old but here is her schedule....

8 am wake up
8:30 eat breakfast
8:30-10:00 playtime
10-11:30 nap
12:00 lunch
12- 3:30/4:00 playtime, Gymboree, errands, snack, etc
3:30/4- 4:30-5:00 nap
6:00 dinner
7:30 bottle
8:00 bed

It varies some in that she doesn't wake up at exactly 8 every single moring but that's it for the most part. Also, she doesn't always take the afternoon nap or if she does she only sleeps for 35-45 minutes.