I'm losing it

[DBZ]

I'm totally and completely losing my mind. It's 11 pm and my 4 year old and 2 year old are still awake. My 4 yo would go to sleep if my 2 yo would let her. They are both still nursing. I've cut out naps unless it's early and she is desperate for it. Right now they are in the room awake with the lights off. There are no other noises to bug them. Some friends have suggested using melatonin. This week I've resorted to rides in the car for the 2 yo. One night it was 1 am. This is really screwing things up. My 4 yo is sleeping through preschool...well she is waking at 9-9:30 and school gets done at 11 so why bother. I'm always tired because I feel compelled to stay up after their late bedtime to get my mom time. Please help. If I nursed her to sleep it would take hours which pushes me to the edge of abruptly weaning them both.

[kiwiva]

I'm sorry you are going through this. Sounds like the overtiredness is keeping them up. I only have one, so I don't have the issue of sibling interference.

What is your routine like? I found it so helpful to get a predictable flow. It really cut down on the length of nursing down (which would go on and on forever for a while). Until I got that down, really some nights I would feel like I was going to lose my mind, not knowing when I would ever be free of a child and if I had had a second to get down as well, I am sure I would have lost it. Once DD had the ability to go to sleep without nursing to sleep, I swapped the order of the routine, so books came after nursing and that was so helpful, bc it eliminated those unending nursing sessions.

It was also really helpful to get the routine started MUCH earlier. I found that if I started too late, when DD was overtired, she would just not go down.

Also I am sure you are very anxious during all this (I know I was). That will also contribute to it, so whatever you can do to calm yourself over it, will help.

It really seems like sleep deprivation is the problem here, and it is a vicious cycle. At 2, if my DD didn't nap she would have been horribly overtired by the time bedtime came around.

[LadyCatherine185]

You NEED to read Sleepless in America. It is a GREAT book that gives you a way to structure your day to help nighttime sleep. First thing I would do is wake them up earlier in the morning. If they're sleeping in until 11 am, of course they'll be up untill 11 pm or later at night. Hope you find some things that work for you soon.