Naptime problems

[MilkMonster]

you mentioned your kids are going to sleep around 530pm, what happens if you slowly adjust their time to sleep around 6 or 7pm? Will they sleep in longer in the morning? if they do, maybe they won't be so tired and can last through the afternoon without being so tired? Another option would be to delay nap time until after they come home from kg for 1hr so they can make it through dinner?

[mel_g20]

Hi, I also have a 2 year old, and she also gets up around 5-6am, and then goes to sleep at 11.30am for a couple of hours, and in bed again by 7.30am. If she goes to bed later, she still gets up at the same time.

In your situation, I would not drop the nap. It is so important at their age for health and concentration. If I couldnt find a playgroup that suited, then the only answer for me would be to wait, or create my own playgroup?? . Depends why you send them. My daughter will go for 2, 2.5 hour sessions from January. She goes for fun, socialisation and stimulation. If the timings didnt work I would simply wait and look else where for what you want them to gain from KG. I dont think there is an alternative.

[sonic-dragon]

Thanks for the replies

They are sleeping around 5.30pm now only because they have not slept at all during the day. If they do get a daytime nap (ie, weekdays before this episode started, or weekends now) then we would put them to bed at 6.30pm. Either way they wake up around 5-6am. We have experimented with putting them to bed as late as 8.30pm on days when they have napped, and they still wake up at the same time !

As for napping after kg, the problem with that is they get home around 5pm or just before, so there really isn't time for a nap then.

Today we're going to feed them in the park near the kg, and then give them a half bottle of milk for the walk home (strollers) so by the time we get home they will be fast asleep (guaranteed) and we'll just transfer them straight to bed and give them a towel bath in bed. This way, we avoid a temper tantrumm if we keep them awake till we get home and then try to feed & bath them normally. Then we'll see what happens tomorrow.

I think our next step is going to be pushing the naptime back to 11am, which is about as late as it can be for them to wake up in time for kg. Wake at 5am, nap at 11am, sounds reasonable, right ? Particularly since we take them out to the park, playground, or other activities, to tire them out from 6am till 9am. FYI we had 2 helpers quit on us already !

As to the reason for attending kg, it's a combination of learning social skills and cantonese. A playgroup rather than kg would also work, I think, but when we looked for one earlier this year we didn't find any (except lots of english language ones).

[MilkMonster]

just a question, when you put them down later, and they wake up at the same time, how many days in a row did you do this? I think you may need to try for a week or so...for the body to adjust to the new routine...not sure if this works for you since you've already figured out something that works. just thought I'd put it out there just in case.

[twinsmum]

my twins are sort of in a similar situation - we have been going to Woodlands pm sessions - 2.30 - 4.30 - so thats almost perfect (mine nap 12.30 - 2.30 so on the kg days we just get them up at 2 pm). We now have to move to the next level and the only classes avail are 11 am to 1 pm - just no way we will be doing that. So I am just going to sit tight and wait until either morning or pm class becomes available end of. There is no way the kids at this age (mine are 2 yrs and 5 mnths) should have their naps compromised...
Although one of mine seems to be giving up her nap altogether but thats a separate issue! :(
Look around other kgs - where do you live? If no classes available at the time that suits you - just take them out of school (they really dont need to be in school at that age!) and waitlist them for the class that works for you.

[Neha]

Why dont u try tiring them in the morning . We do that sometimes with our son. He gets up also at 6 everyday and doesnt sleep till 12.30-13.00 but he has school in the morning. But sometimes if we want him to sleep earlier. We take him to park in the morning about 8.00-9.00 let him play run around for an hour and he is tired and then he sleeps earlier so he can be awake earlier

[sonic-dragon]

Again: "normally" they go to bed around 6-7PM (actually at 6.30). I get the impression that people who replied to this thread think they go to bed late - they don't. Actually, they are now often sleeping at 5PM.

Update the the situation. Stil waking around 5-6AM. Pushed the naptime back to 11.30, but still they don't sleep. At kg they are "OK" except that our boy won't stay focussed on anything (just wants to do his own thing). After kg it continues to be a nightmare with tantrums. Typically one or the other or both cry themselves to sleep. We have now taken them out of kg. Still they don't want a daytime nap. They are both sleepy around 3PM, but we find something for them to do, so they don't sleep at that time. This week they have slept at around 6PM till 5 or 6AM.

Advice much appreciated.
SD

[mushi]

i would join a dedicated playgroup in the morning hours or consider putting them for some classes or two and take them out of the afternoon school....they r too young to miss out on a nap./...also the naptime taht u currently have would always interfere in either morning or afternoon schedules even later on. so i suggest u put them to bed say by 6-6.30 pm so that they wake up at 6.30-7.00 am and then they will need a nap only by 1.00pm....a morning school starts by 8.30 to 11.30 so they can come home, have lunch and nap off....by son napped till he was 3.5 years old so u have a long way to go.....pls. pursue all waiting lists for morning sessions and look for some good quality art/english/music clubs to help them learn at the same time.