Perhaps with the explosion of language his brain has become more like an adult's and just can't.stop.PROCESSING!!! I don't know if that could be the case since I have never had to deal with this issue before, but if it is maybe there's something you can add to the bedtime routine to help him unwind and not have to think so much. Does that make sense? I don't know what you can do for a toddler, but I personally do crossword puzzles.
*ponders* Maybe incorporating soothing music... simple lullaby's that you don't have to sing with if you don't want to but something you can just put in a cd, sit and rock to that takes you both out of the "omg it's daytime" brain functioning mode?
My mother would read to us before bed. I don't know if that would help with the thinking too much, but it's definitely a comforting routine that I looked forward to.
He already has a book read to him before naps and bedtime. Has for quite a while. He's happy and calm after reading the book, but sometimes he just doesn't fall asleep and later works himself up over something.
I know that they have done many many studies trying to learn how a child's brain matures, and it certainly processes a lot more new information than most of us receive in a day. I don't envy the poor guy. Learning a new language has always made me dream odd things in that language for a time after.
Does the title of the post mean you suspect your child of being a replicant? :P
Give the little man a hug for me. Hopefully sleep improves.
Absolutely the language development can cause sleep issues. Truthfully, it sounds like you are trying the right things. I agree with the suggestion of music - maybe leave a CD playing when you put him down. Or a music box he can play with (like Alex's dinosaur). I think I've mentioned the color changing night light before - both Peter & Alex do well with that. Truthfully, our boys are both really good sleepers, so I don't have a lot of experience with bad sleeping - watch me, they will both suddenly get horrible cases of insomnia tonight. In a strange way, might he be ready for a toddler bed? I don't remember if you have taken the side off of his crib yet...
In some ways we're ready for him to be in the toddler bed. He's heavy to lift in and out of the crib now. But the flip side of that is that it would mean he'd be free to climb out into his room.... and the bathroom and guest bedroom. Need to think it through.
Our boys don't tend to leave their beds much, but that's a lot of personality (Matthew didn't even try until he was almost 4, Alex did a little right at first, but now doesn't except sometimes when he wakes in the mornings). Regarding the other rooms, try and find a child safety door knob cover for your funky lever handles? I suspect he would wander less than you fear. Matthew knows not to leave the room & Alex can't handle the round knobs without his shoes on (he's too short :). We moved Matthew to toddler bed at 2 & a couple of months (he tried to climb out of the crib right when Alex was born). We moved Alex much younger (18 months?) because Matthew was getting more explorative & we found him *in* Alex's crib and I decided that was not a safe situation.
We already have a couple of door safety covers for the lever style, but have never actually installed them as they haven't really been neccessary with how he's always in a room supervised. Maybe we'll put them on the guest bedroom and bathroom doors for if he wakes up before we do in the morning.
Corwin has never shown any signs of trying to climb out of the crib. When he wants out he stands at that side and waits to be lifted out. So far. But considering he's big enough to climb in and out of the bathtub he probably could get over the crib with the gate down if he tried.
The sleep/development connection is well documented. When there is some cognitive or motor development happening, the brain goes into overdrive and has trouble shutting down to sleep.This usually doesn't last more than a few days or a week, and you'll have your happy sleeper back again.
About changing to a toddler bed/removing the side of the crib... Peter didn't ever try to climb out of his crib, and once we changed the side to the half-rail, he never was interested in climbing out once he went to bed or for nap. Unless Corwin tends to want to get out and you need to keep him caged because of it, I don't think his nature will change so much that he will suddenly want to get out of bed in the middle of the night or go wandering into other rooms. Peter will come downstairs and either wake us or come visit while we're in the shower in the mornings, but has no inclination to do something other than the standard routine of get up, come downstairs, have breakfast, change clothes.
Comments 10
I don't know if that could be the case since I have never had to deal with this issue before, but if it is maybe there's something you can add to the bedtime routine to help him unwind and not have to think so much. Does that make sense? I don't know what you can do for a toddler, but I personally do crossword puzzles.
*ponders* Maybe incorporating soothing music... simple lullaby's that you don't have to sing with if you don't want to but something you can just put in a cd, sit and rock to that takes you both out of the "omg it's daytime" brain functioning mode?
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Does the title of the post mean you suspect your child of being a replicant? :P
Give the little man a hug for me. Hopefully sleep improves.
Reply
In a strange way, might he be ready for a toddler bed? I don't remember if you have taken the side off of his crib yet...
Reply
Reply
We moved Matthew to toddler bed at 2 & a couple of months (he tried to climb out of the crib right when Alex was born). We moved Alex much younger (18 months?) because Matthew was getting more explorative & we found him *in* Alex's crib and I decided that was not a safe situation.
Reply
Corwin has never shown any signs of trying to climb out of the crib. When he wants out he stands at that side and waits to be lifted out. So far. But considering he's big enough to climb in and out of the bathtub he probably could get over the crib with the gate down if he tried.
Reply
About changing to a toddler bed/removing the side of the crib... Peter didn't ever try to climb out of his crib, and once we changed the side to the half-rail, he never was interested in climbing out once he went to bed or for nap. Unless Corwin tends to want to get out and you need to keep him caged because of it, I don't think his nature will change so much that he will suddenly want to get out of bed in the middle of the night or go wandering into other rooms. Peter will come downstairs and either wake us or come visit while we're in the shower in the mornings, but has no inclination to do something other than the standard routine of get up, come downstairs, have breakfast, change clothes.
Reply
Leave a comment