Giving Up Naps & What to Do With Early Evening CRANKINESS

Jenna, Could that be bath time? I used Johnson & Johnson Bed Time Bath...it kept them occupied for a bit and then made them sleepy. That was the first thing that came to mind, I will try to think of other things we used and come back later.

"Early evenings now, especially that last half hour before bed, have become RIDICULOUS. Lots of tantrums, throwing himself on the floor and general grumpiness"...and that's just mommy, you should see the kids! ;) That's what I thought you were going to say. Oh, Jenna, please don't tell me naps stop at 2, because we are quickly approaching two and our little Woobie is becoming increasingly more strong-willed and challenging now, and he still takes a nap. Without one? I will be a simpering puddle of goo on the floor. I have no advice, just lots of hugs for you. You have enough going on, Nick should nap if only to give you some much needed rest. hugs!

Is it all naps or are the two naps collapsing into one??? I have heard that, at this age, kids need about 12-13 hours sleep (and I don't think it matters if it is naptime plus bedtime, or just bedtime, etc.). For some reason, when DD does not nap these days, she doesn't get cranky, but just off-the-wall bananas in the early evening. Someone recommended a book to me, I think it was Sleep Solutions for Toddlers (or something like that...I just have never mastered the sleep thing...even though DD is 2.5....ack). Good luck!

Oh, and well, Jenna, did this start before Parker came home or after? He may be beocming a "nap skipper" becasue of the transition and all the newness and excitement of baby brother.

My first thought was to do bath time then also. Let him play as long as he likes and then off to bed. I know you have snow where you live so outside playing on the porch is out of the question. Can not really think of anything else. Reading is probably not a huge go at that time?

Jenna, I would keep trying or at the very least, he must go into his room for "rest time". My DS did this about a month or so ago...we went about 10 days straight with no naps. Luckily, he went back to them.We had just had a big transition too...a move...so maybe he is just reacting to Parker being here. Stay strong

my dd STARTED napping when we got her at age 3.5 and napped every day from 1-3 ish until she started kindergarten.

Two naps? PFft. He hasn't done two naps since he was one. His normal napping, until the past month, was a 3 hour nap after lunch. He sleeps twelve hours at night.This did start BEFORE Parker came home so I'm not entirely convinced it's because of that transition. I'm sure it's coming into play but, like the Munchkin with her younger brother, Nick doesn't really pay too much mind to the baby. He just gives kisses on occasion and likes to help with diapers. Bath time every night might be an option... but I might need to find a new soap/lotion/etc because it seems he has my same skin sensitivities and bathing every day has been drying out his skin. Poor dude. I'll definitely keep this in mind.He does read his books (or brings them to me to read, depending on his mood) but, again, that has to be his decision or idea. Good times.Of note, last night (a nap skipping day) wasn't HORRIBLE but it wasn't... a bowl of cherries either. Thankfully, Parker decided to take mid-evening nap so I was able to devote some extra time to getting Nick ready for bed, etc. That said, by the time we got through our evening routine and in bed, he passed out in NO TIME FLAT. Ah, quiet. ;) (Until Parker woke up! HA!)