Operation: Tire the Toddler

I’m not sure if it’s the long break from nursery over Christmas but my poor toddler appears to be bored and not tired enough to sleep. I know writing that makes me look like the worst mother which is why I’m trying to do something about it.

This week is Operation Tire the Toddler. I’m going all out to physically exhaust him. Monday was soft play, Tuesday was a trip on the tube and the London Transport Museum, Wednesday was rhyme time at the library (which included a long walk there and back), Thursday he’s back at nursery for 4 hours and Friday is a trip to Battersea Park Children’s Zoo.

I’m not sure about him but I’m exhausted and feeling pretty poor too.

Our normal routine includes two weekly sessions at nursery, lots of trips to the park, and at home we bake, paint, colour, create, do puzzles, and watch our favourite films. He goes to bed at 7pm but we often watch him on the monitor sitting up and reading, sometimes for over an hour. For some reason he doesn’t get out of bed to play with his toys or train track, just sits reading. Half of me thinks he’s just relaxing and it’s good he can spend time on his own; the other part of me feels sad he’s wide awake at the end of the day.

I’m selfish and want him and his sister to go to bed at 7 so I can have some time to myself. Although he’s been more tired this week all our fresh air hasn’t had an effect on his sleeping. So next week Operation Tire the Toddler 2 starts – trying to mentally tire him out which I fear could be more difficult!