[Gwen42]

I spend many hours a day reading to DS (14 months). It's fantastic that he loves books but he's more demanding than I can handle. Here's an example of what happens at nap/bed time. I read for about an hour & DS hasn't fallen asleep, although he's obviously tired. I don't mind if he stays up and plays but he follows me around with his book & screams. I hand him off to DH who will only read for a few minutes and then just lets him scream. Today I took him to bed & pretended to be asleep while he hit me in the head with his book until he finally nursed himself to sleep. Any other suggestions? DS is definitely teething & I'm not sure how that is influencing his behavior.

 

[Valkyrie9]

That's got to be frustrating. I know how it feels when 16 month old DD hands me "Green Eggs & Ham" for the sixth time in an hour. (And it isn't like she doesn't have fifty other books!)

Are you able to nurse and rock him to sleep? What about trying to identify when reading time is over and when nap time begins? I'm thinking, "We are going to read the book about the train and then the book about the puppy, and then it is time for you to go to sleep." Maybe that would define a limit to him, rather than let him continue to think reading time is open-ended. You'd only have to use that for the pre-nap reading, and he could go on getting you to read as many books as you can handle during regular play time.

And good job for reading to him so much! Remember that this is a fairly short time period to deal with, but the good reading habits will last him a lifetime and you'll all reap the benefits of your time investment.

 

[Decca]

Does he sign at all? The signs for "more" and "all done" have really been transformative around here. If he wants another book, he signs more, without grunting or whining. If I or my husband feel like we are through with reading, we can sign and say "all done!" in a cheerful but firm way and he gets it. It might take awhile, but I've found signing has eliminated a lot of my son's frustrations.

 

[fiorio]

I do the same thing PP suggested with setting limits on reading time. DS and I pick out two books and I frequently remind him "we will read these two books and then it's bedtime", "when we finish this book it's time for bed" and so on. I have been doing that since he was around 14 months and even though there are sometimes mini-fits when the stories are done usually he settles in for sleep fairly quickly and easily. I think it is better for little ones when it is explained how things will progress (brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, reading two stories and then sleep) so they feel more involved and in control of things.

 

[rzberrymom]

Whenever DD is sick, teething or is just feeling off, she always gets obsessed with books. Hours and hours and hours of books. Nothing else will do.

She also gets obsessed with books right before she has a language spurt--every few months, we notice that she gets more into books again (wanting to read them all day long), and then her language starts to increase a few days later.

I don't know if that helps, but maybe it could be one of those things with him? Or maybe he just loves the connection with you.

 

[Cujobunny]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fiorio I do the same thing PP suggested with setting limits on reading time. DS and I pick out two books and I frequently remind him "we will read these two books and then it's bedtime", "when we finish this book it's time for bed" and so on. I have been doing that since he was around 14 months and even though there are sometimes mini-fits when the stories are done usually he settles in for sleep fairly quickly and easily. I think it is better for little ones when it is explained how things will progress (brushing teeth, putting on pajamas, reading two stories and then sleep) so they feel more involved and in control of things.

We do this. Also when we are done I ask him "Would you like to put the book away or shall I put it away?" He's very independent and likes to do things himself so he puts the book away. Then I tell him "I'm turning off the light, time to go to sleep" and we lay down together. I'll sing him songs or tell him stories from my head and then he goes to sleep.

 

[Stinkerbell]

I keep the book sin a different room and have always told DS, "pick 4 books to bring into bed for me to read with you". And he picks 4 books. Every night. That's all i will take to bed so that's all he gets.

 

[NicaG]

I find that having a really consistent bedtime routine is helpful for everyone (tired cranky toddler, tired cranky mom and dad). Every night we do it exactly the same; bath, pajamas, brush teeth, read 3 books, hugs and kisses, help turn out the light, then bed. If ds asks for another story, we tell him we already read 3, and we can read more tomorrow. Ds really likes to stall at bedtime, and if we vary the routine at all, ds gets rambuctious and overtired. I think he likes the routine and finds it comforting, even as he tries to bend the rules.

 

[Jay'smom]

We don't read a "bedtime" story for just that reason. DS LOVES books and we read dozens every day. (Or, technically, we read one or two books dozens of times.

) It's not worth the struggle to try to read a "bedtime" book anymore. Instead of falling asleep he just keeps saying "again". It makes for an unpleasant bedtime routine. So now either I tell him a story (no book) or sing.

When DS gets older and past his book obsession we'll pick up the bedtime story again.

 

[joliara]

Bedtime stories are a really important part of our routine. However, we stick to two books (usually the same two, by his choice) every night. 3 or 4 would be a good limit, too. But set a limit and stick to it. It's a boundary to set, just like anything else. And tell him what's going on and what you expect, as a pp said. "We're going to read this book and this book, and then go to sleep."

I also usually finish with Goodnight Moon, and the last thing I say is, "and goodnight to you, my little Quinn-bear!" (cause bear rhymes with the last bit in the book, and I've always called him that, anyway

) It's got a good air of finality. Then I give him his water, kiss him, and leave!

 

[Gwen42]

Thanks for the suggestions! It was feeling counter-intuitive to me to limit reading books, especially at his age. I'm not sure whether he is intentionally procrastinating sleep or not, but I think a more structured routine will help.

 

[rmzbm]

This is something I also struggle with. I LOVE (I mean LOVE) reading! Huge reader. I read everything! I know this is because my Gram (who raised me) ALWAYS read to me. All day. At night I slept with her and she read to me for HOURS! Good memories. I so want my kids to have that & DD1 (5 yrs. old) LOVES to have me read to her. But I have 4, not just the one like Gram was dealing with and I simply cannot read that much! I do as much as I can and I know you are too. It's ok to set a limit. Per your description you read alot. I wouldn't feel bad.