Nap protesting & out of control

We've been blessed with great sleepers, that is until um... recently.
At night they wont stay in their room so we've had to turn the door handle around and lock them in for the night. Otherwise they are up every 2 hours climbing in our bed or exploring the house etc. If they do get locked in they sleep 9pm-7am or so.
they absolutely hate the door being locked (this is also new- the hating part that is) but I don't have the patience or energy to take everyone back to bed all night long and our bed isn't big enough for all of us.

Now they are starting to protest their naps. I usually try to put them down around 1pm and they've been napping in separate rooms since about 18 months of age. The other day macey sat in my room and played for 2 hours! She refused to sleep so I got her up and she stayed up the rest of the day. She wasn't cranky at all but by 8pm she was crashed out with no peeps or protest.

Even on the days we go to swimming or gymnastics in the morning and burn energy they don't want to nap. Normally they follow me around the house and are up my butt or into trouble ALL DAY LONG, then when nap time comes they can suddenly figure out how to avoid sleep and play independently.
Today I sat down to play Mr. Potatohead with them. they were having a good time so I went to start a load of laundry. I was gone 3 minutes and when I returned they were in the bathroom with the faucet running and the bottle of soap washing their hands and playing in the sink., really? I cant even do a load of laundry?!

Please tell me my kids arent the only ones going through this phase!

 

Mine are a month older and we are definitely dealing with the nap issues. I'm just assuming they are *almost* ready to give them up. My oldest DS stopped napping right at 3. We don't have the nighttime issues - but they are still in their cribs and I am in no hurry to get them out of the cribs - they don't try to climb out yet **fingers crossed** and hopefully they won't!

It seems like every time I go start a load of laundry or empty the dishwasher, they start screaming at each other or crying over someone having something the other one wants. Sometimes I wonder if it is attention-seeking. We don't have the "getting into everything" problem (yet, anyway) - but they definitely find other ways to make trouble when I'm trying to get something done. :hug: You aren't alone!

 

Thanks Jori! I think sometimes its important for me to know we're somewhat "normal" whatever that is LOL - we went to toddler beds at 18 months which was great for us. and we've also almost been potty trained for 7 months now!!!! So theres no going back on cribs or diapers hence the door lock and little potty in their room for night time!

 

If they play nicely in their room... I'd still put them in there for an hour so you can get a break. It's the same here pretty much, DS is always getting in trouble as soon as I look away, the only thing that keeps him busy enough for me to do laundry is tv.

 

We lost weekend naps completely with the move to toddler beds. They don't seem overtired and sleep great at night, so I've just given up. We do quiet time watching a movie instead to decompress. I miss naps, but we were driving ourselves batty trying to force them.

 

We just transitioned to toddler beds and was ready for the naps to go but mine are still taking them. However they still play in their room. My dd hates her door being closed so I put a gate up at it and that helped.
Good luck! Oh and when ever mine do give up naps we will do the "rest time". I need my lunch break

 

we're not there quite yet, but I'm sure if we were in toddler beds that's how it'd be!

as for the hand washing... UGH! that happens around here all the time! I feel like we waste so much water with the whole potty training/hand washing thing! I want to give them access to the bathroom to go potty, but we've put a gate up on that end of the hall so they have to tell me so it alleviates the free for all handwashing.

 

I afraid we're going to be going this route soon as well - and not even because of the twins, but because their baby sister (11 months and walking since 9) has also discovered the toilet, and the little potty and the cloth diaper pail. She's too much LOL

 

I think naps are a thing of the past and tehn you can move bedtime up to 7 or 8. I hated giving up naps we did at like 28 mo but the 12 hrs at night was wonderful. Mine would sleep 7 to 7.