16 Month Old Staying up Way Too Late!

My son just went through a complete schedule make-over at 18 months. Since he was 4 months old his schedule was:
7:00 wake-up, breakfast, play
9:00-11:00 nap
11:00-12:00 play
12:00 lunch
1:00 - 4:00 nap
6:00 dinner
7:30 bed (in the crib and asleep)

His new schedule is:
7:000 wake-up, breakfast, play
9:00 snack
11:00 lunch
11:30 nap (2-3 hrs)
3:00 snack
6:00 dinner
8:30 bed (in toddler bed, asleep by 9 at the latest)

It did take about a month for him to fully adjust and get his schedule down. We have always let him guide the schedule.

At 19 months we converted the crib to the toddler bed because he climbed out of the crib, so he's made that transition too!

just thought i would say something funny but when i clicked on your request i thought you it said 16 year old and when i began reading it and it was saying 8:00 I was thinking this woman is crazy thinking a 16 yo would be asleep by 8 but then i began reading and lol......

I have 3 friends whose babies (18 months, 12 months and 23 months) who don't sleep. One of them tried a liquid melatonin - just 2 drops of it and it worked, so I tol the other 2 and they tried it...and it worked! This, of course, is after giving them liquid calcium/magnesium (Bluebonnet or Lifetime) at night, since lack of calcium can lead to lack of sleep, restlessnelss and itirability. Calcium is a natural nervous system relaxant. I think they used Source Naturals. One of them used the spray. ALL of them are saying it's working.

Get the book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child," by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. It saved my sanity and has answered every sleep concern I've ever experienced with my 7 kids. At this age my kids took a couple hours nap in the afternoon, from about 1-3, then went to bed by 6:30 or 7pm and slept through until about 6 or 7am. The book walks you through the process step by step to teach your baby to get to sleep and stay asleep. Good luck.

My daughter went to 1 nap around this age , what time does he nap , if it is later in the day then this may be why he isn't tired at bed time. You are not being mean trying to keep his bedtime , kids need a routine and a decent bed time is part of that. Maybe try and get him down for a nap around midday for a couple of hours (this may mean having lunch a little earlier). My daughter is 19 months and has a nap start around 12.30 for 2 hrs....enough to make her happy for the afternoon and still leaves her tired and ready for bed at 7pm.

Kids thrive on routine. You need to set the rules and stick with it. My daughter will act like she isn't tired when she doesn't want to go to bed. She runs around just like you describe, but once I put her into bed, she goes right to sleep. He may cry about it a few nights, but if you are consistent, he will finally get it and understand it isn't punishment.

C.,
At this age, children who sleep more during the day, sleep more at night. Sleep brings on sleep. It is only as adults that too much sleep can interupt our sleep cycles. Your son it getting his second wind and that is why he is staying up so late. He is old enough now to realize that going to bed means separation from you, his toys and some of the things he loves. It is natural for him to protest and he protests by crying (and screaming if that is what is takes to get your attention). Put him back on 2 naps per day and start putting him back to bed at his normal bedtime and let him fuss it out. He will be sad and angry that his protests are not being recognized. But he will eventually give it up and go to sleep. Parenting starts at a young age. He doesn't realize he needs to sleep, nor does he realize that you do to. You are not hurting him and you can check in on him to reassure him that you are still there, but let him be in his bed. The first night is the worst followed by 2 more nights of less and less drama and usually by the 4th night everyone has accepted the new ground rules and the fight against them stops. He needs to sleep and he needs you to allow it to happen. Hang in there and good luck. You have a normal and healthy little boy that simply doesn't know when to say when. Welcome to toddlerhood, it isn't always easy, but I wouldn't have missed it for the world!!!

Ours never went to bed by 8. They were not tired! 9 if I push...then they get up at 7. 10 pretty easily, then they get up at 8.
ages 3, 2 and 5 months. (The baby is more 10-7 each night with lots of eatung in the night).
The older 2 don't nap. They won't!