https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 26 Jul 2026 02:35:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853547 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 16:01:55 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2853547@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all for making me feel better and reminding me that this is a phase and to appreciate the good things about it even if most of it seems kind of sucky. @SweetiePie: I have tried to have the mindset that the first time I saw it was still a first even if she has been doing it at daycare for a while. They are really good about helping me maintain that illusion too waiting until I burst in with a new skill and then saying things like oh yea she looked like she was getting ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853542 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 15:32:26 +0000 SweetiePie 2853542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snarkybiochemist: It sounds like you’re doing everything you should (feeding her, limiting any technology so your little time is quality time, etc). When I was working, my older son was on two naps and the latest he could make it was like 6:15 for bedtime. I just told work I absolutely had to leave by 5pm so I could get about a half hour with him. And that whole half hour was basically the bedtime routine. Parts of it sucked (missing him and feeling like the nanny saw more of his firsts Than I did), but it was also kinda nice after a frustrating day at work to come home and have almost immediate downtime. Tried to find the positives. Not gonna lie, it might be a phase that lasts a while (when she gets to just one nap you might have the same issue of needing an early bedtime). But it’s still just a phase and when she gets older and can handle it better you can have family dinners again. Nothing with kids lasts forever! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853520 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 12:52:59 +0000 Ajsmommy 2853520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 20 months and some nights he is ready for bed at 6-615. I feel bad too bc we dont' get home until 515 so I feel like I get no time with him but sleep is most important and he does wake up early so I do get to see him every morning before work too... </p> <p>So you are def not alone or a weirdo. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853511 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 11:20:10 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2853511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsADS: While not reassuring its a good reminder that things might not always go to plan and doing whats best for E is really whats best for the whole family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853504 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 10:54:06 +0000 MrsADS 2853504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This probably isn't what you want to hear, but my 3 year old still goes to bed at 6:30 when he doesn't nap at daycare... and we definitely don't eat together as a family or do much together on those nights. Sleep is 100% the most important thing to me. Our time together is horrible when my son is overtired and screaming nonstop! I would rather him sleep! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853485 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 09:56:55 +0000 LBee 2853485@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jape14: what wise owl do you think gave me the idea?</p> <p>I think walking and just all the changes is probably playing a big role. At this age, eating together is lovely but doesn't really impact them developmentally. On the other hand, having sufficient sleep plays a HUGE role. Whenever I feel bad about my daughter going to sleep early and missing out on family time, I remember this study that is specifically about verbal skills, but highlights the importance of sleep for forming memories concerning new skills: </p> <p><a href="https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/34/8/987/2454717?fbclid=IwAR1tNN-r3OC3tDMZW9g7mFa6SAbaqM7b0ZS4q5MyYje2jjZ0SClBzIDUhyI" rel="nofollow">https://academic.oup.com/sleep/article/34/8/987/2454717?fbclid=IwAR1tNN-r3OC3tDMZW9g7mFa6SAbaqM7b0ZS4q5MyYje2jjZ0SClBzIDUhyI</a></p> <p>I assure you that, as @snojewelz comments, two years from now you will be begging her to go to sleep so that you can have some alone time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853479 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 09:37:29 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2853479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@snowjewelz: Yea I suppose I should celebrate that I get me time and my husband and I get us time after she is asleep and not worry too much<br /> @jape14: you are right we will get back into the habit when she is older because I already cook for my husband and I to eat together, family meals happened and were important even when we were a family of 2 instead of 3 like now </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853476 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 09:29:17 +0000 jape14 2853476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Totally agree with @LBee: about feeding last night's leftovers. We go through phases (I have a 4 year old and a 16 month old now) but sometimes family dinners work and sometimes they don't. I aim for 2-3 nights a week (weekends) and the other nights we eat after the kids go down (early bedtimes). I don't feel guilty about it at all! The research, which I think is what we've all internalized -- that "sitting down for dinner as a family is good for kids' outcomes" -- is with school-age kids. Maybe from a habit perspective you might worry you won't get back to it, but if it's important to you, you will. At young ages, sleep trumps all in my opinion! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853472 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 09:13:55 +0000 snowjewelz 2853472@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yep, it's a stage! And then there will be a time for you to be like dear lord please go to sleep already :silly: </p> <p>It's definitely a hard season; I had a hard time with early bed time too with both kids, I WOH FT so I totally get feeling like you got no time with them, but they also need their sleep! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853465 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 08:57:24 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2853465@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh totally on the cusp of walking.<br /> Glad to hear this is a stage and that she will grow and change and not be in this stage forever<br /> @SweetiePie: yea we totally put her to bed at the early time and don't force her to stay awake for our sake. We try and have good connected time and not be distracted (no tv really limited phones). As long as she keeps needing the sleep I will give it to her, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't being the weird one putting my kiddo to bed at 6-6:30.<br /> @LBee: great idea saving leftovers for the next day so she still gets quality what we are eating type meals without me having to cook twice in a night<br /> @Mrs. Toad: I can see E doing better once all the kids are napping together in a block. She doesn't nap well at daycare b/c she wants to play and see and do (and I don't blame her)<br /> thanks all for reassuring me this is a phase and that things will change as she grows. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853452 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 08:36:16 +0000 Mrs. Toad 2853452@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My DD did this as well. She just wouldn't sleep well at daycare. I was begging them to move her into the Toddler room, where they had a set afternoon nap. She slept much better with that. She kept the two naps on the weekends for a month or two and moved to one good nap at daycare. By 14 months, she was solidly on one nap a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853441 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 07:53:50 +0000 LBee 2853441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I know this sucks to hear, but it's a stage. Is she on the cusp of doing a bunch of new things? My daughter just started walking, is picking up words left and right, and seems to be doing a new "trick" every day. As a result, her sleep is just super weird. I think from 10-14 months this is pretty normal because they are doing so many things. Have you considered trying to have daycare consolidate her naps? Some kids consolidate earlier at daycare then at home. </p> <p>It totally sucks - my daughter goes to bed at 6:30 PM and my husband sees her for 45 minutes (I work an early schedule so I get off at 4). We have an older child and so even during that time she isn't our primary focus. I just try to remember that it's a stage. </p> <p>One thing we've started doing is feeding her the night before's meal immediately when we get home. She's off bottles / weaned so she's always STARVING and a beast. I meal prep while she eats and then once my husband gets home he takes over while I put her down (we alternate this). It's helped a lot. Sometimes I don't even meal prep and just make spending time with her (and my son) my focus. It's a little harder because my son is hungry too but can't eat at a granny time like her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853440 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 07:51:38 +0000 SweetiePie 2853440@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>6/6:30 is actually a really common bedtime for that age so I don’t think it’s strange.<br /> It also sounds like she’s maybe having a little bit of a nap regression so this could be temporary. I would keep everything consistent for naps (attempt them and encourage but don’t introduce new habits or crutches). And do the earlier bedtime as long as she needs it.<br /> I know that it’s tempting to do family dinner and spend time with her, but I was once told by a sleep specialist to think of the time with your LO as quality vs quantity. And it’s all phases.<br /> During this phase just put her to bed early (sleep is so important for them, more so than a family meal at that age) and enjoy a quiet meal together with a glass of wine once she’s in bed. Use it as some time to connect. Find the positives :-)<br /> You can make up for family time and meals on weekends. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/naps-and-bedtime#post-2853439 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 07:41:03 +0000 snarkybiochemist 2853439@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>E is almost 1 and is a great napper at home and used to be a great napper at daycare. On weekends or days off she typically takes 2 really good naps and still goes to bed easily and generally sleeps through the night. The daycare naps have gotten worse and worse most days she gets 30 min in the early afternoon and then falls asleep during the 15 min ride home. She used to go to bed at 7ish (give or take 15 min depending on a number of factors) this was great we could eat dinner around 6-6:30 and still have time for our bedtime routine. Now we get home around 5:15 she gets a bottle and some dinner around 5:30 or 6 and then wants to go right to bed. She is cranky and unhappy and goes to sleep without any fuss, so clearly she is tired and needs the sleep. The problem is that we get 45 min with her and we can't really eat dinner as a family which my husband and I would really like to do. Help? Suggestions? Do we just have lots of crock-pot meals so we can eat at 5:30 and put her to bed at 6? I am extra worried when she isn't getting bottles anymore and absolutely needs to eat dinner. </p>