ChatterBank1 min ago
My toddler baffles me
4 Answers
My 17 month old has a very good bedtime routine. He also gets a good amount of stimulation through the day.Some days he will wake at approximately 6am, we will go for a walk after breakfast and by 10.30am he will settle easily into his nap. We will then do something after his lunch and he will settle easily again at bedtime approximately 7.00pm.
Other days like today he woke at 4.30am ish, we went for a walk after breakfast, followed by a visit to the playground. When it came to nap time he was bouncing off the walls. Eventually 2 hours later he went for a nap. Then, after lunch we took him to the beach for a long walk and paddle. When it came to bedtime it took us an hour to get him off too sleep!
What baffles me is that on the days he falls asleep easily he wont have done anything particularly energetic and yet on days like today when he has used a lot more energy than usual, he takes so much longer to get to sleep?
I will just point out that we have never given my son sweets or E numbers.
Other days like today he woke at 4.30am ish, we went for a walk after breakfast, followed by a visit to the playground. When it came to nap time he was bouncing off the walls. Eventually 2 hours later he went for a nap. Then, after lunch we took him to the beach for a long walk and paddle. When it came to bedtime it took us an hour to get him off too sleep!
What baffles me is that on the days he falls asleep easily he wont have done anything particularly energetic and yet on days like today when he has used a lot more energy than usual, he takes so much longer to get to sleep?
I will just point out that we have never given my son sweets or E numbers.
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Ah, the wonders of child development.
Two things to remember - at this age, he is developing quickly, which means growth spurts. These are not regular, but come in fits and starts. When the body is ready for him to grow, it will shut down by sending him into a deep sleep so it can concentrate all resources on growing his body cells. On the days when nothing much is happening on the development front, the body will direct his energy sources into using what he has, and exploring his ever changing world - hence lots of enery, and not much sleep required. There are no patterns for these developmental periods, they just occur when the body decides, and you have to work around them.
The other important thing is my own pet theory - that although we operate on a 24-hour cycle, biologically we operate on a 48-hour cycle. This means that even as adults, if we have an early night, it's not the day after we have loads of energy, it's the day after that, and the reverse is true for a short night's sleep. Your little one is already in this cycle now, so if you want him to be awake on Wednesday, put him down early on Monday.
It makes you wonder how the world got over-populated doesn't it!!! Little darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Two things to remember - at this age, he is developing quickly, which means growth spurts. These are not regular, but come in fits and starts. When the body is ready for him to grow, it will shut down by sending him into a deep sleep so it can concentrate all resources on growing his body cells. On the days when nothing much is happening on the development front, the body will direct his energy sources into using what he has, and exploring his ever changing world - hence lots of enery, and not much sleep required. There are no patterns for these developmental periods, they just occur when the body decides, and you have to work around them.
The other important thing is my own pet theory - that although we operate on a 24-hour cycle, biologically we operate on a 48-hour cycle. This means that even as adults, if we have an early night, it's not the day after we have loads of energy, it's the day after that, and the reverse is true for a short night's sleep. Your little one is already in this cycle now, so if you want him to be awake on Wednesday, put him down early on Monday.
It makes you wonder how the world got over-populated doesn't it!!! Little darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi MB,
both of mine have been the same and baby CRX (now 16 months) is doing exactly the same as baby MB. She will refuse any naps at all some days and still be wide awake at 9pm (she gets up between 7.30 and 8.30)
As long as she is in her bed same time every night Im not too worried about whether she stays awake playing or nods off straight away lol
both of mine have been the same and baby CRX (now 16 months) is doing exactly the same as baby MB. She will refuse any naps at all some days and still be wide awake at 9pm (she gets up between 7.30 and 8.30)
As long as she is in her bed same time every night Im not too worried about whether she stays awake playing or nods off straight away lol
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