4.5 year old napping in a diaper?

bigsis144

Sun, May 25 2014, 4:22 pm

My 4.5 year old DS wears underwear and uses the bathroom with no problems all day. At night he wears a diaper.

He often asks to nap during the day (at any time between 2-4 pm), usually because he's obviously tired (and cranky!). To take a nap, he demands a bottle of milk and to be changed into a diaper.

If I give it to him, he'll drink the milk and come out of his room 20 minutes later with a poopy diaper. He almost NEVER EVER EVER actually falls asleep.

I'm okay with him having some "downtime", but if I even SUGGEST that he wear his underwear and go to the bathroom if he feels the need to go, he bursts into a full blown tantrum. (Like I said, he's usually pretty tired and cranky at this point.) So more often than not, I give in and let him wear the diaper and then just give him some gentle "You're too big for this!" mussar when he comes out complaining that he's dirty.

So what should I do?

5*Mom

Sun, May 25 2014, 4:52 pm

bigsis144 wrote:

He often asks to nap during the day (at any time between 2-4 pm), usually because he's obviously tired (and cranky!).

I'd focus on this. Why is he tired and cranky so frequently, this early in the afternoon? Is he not getting enough sleep? If he is in playgroup, is it particularly stressful?

bigsis144

Sun, May 25 2014, 5:05 pm

luvinlife wrote:

is he scared to have bowel movements in the toilet? maybe he uses this excuse. and yes 4.5 yrs old is way too old to have milk in a bottle.

No, he totally makes bowel movements in the toilet when he's wearing underwear at school or at home.

It's like going to sleep reverts him into a more babyish mode -- asking for diapers, a bottle, etc.

And YES, I KNOW he needs to stop the bottle. But it's going to be days? weeks? of absolute hell and I can't add that stress to my life for another month or so. So it's on the agenda, but not top of the list. Smile

5*Mom wrote:

I'd focus on this. Why is he tired and cranky so frequently, this early in the afternoon? Is he not getting enough sleep? If he is in playgroup, is it particularly stressful?

He's also difficult to get to bed at night, so he probably is not getting enough sleep.

From when he gets home from school around 1:30 to bedtime (7pm-ish, though now that it is still SO bright out at 7, he fights tooth and nail to prevent going to sleep) is tough. He doesn't like to go to the park immediately after school, he's too tired. But if he gets settled at home after school (often including an attempt at a nap and taking off all his clothes), then he drags his heels and makes taking him to the park a major chore. And if we don't spend a few hours outside, he gets bored and very disruptive/destructive at home.

*sigh*