Natural Calming "Something" for My 2.5 Year Old

The brand Nature's Plus "Animal Parade" makes something called "Warm Milk" which is for things like this.

Look it up online and for reviews. Natural food stores have it.

2) does your son get enough activity and run around time during the day? Preferably in the morning.

3) If, doing horse-play at night, and before bed, all this does is key-up a kid. And then they cannot.... wind-down or sleep. My Husband, used to horse-play with my kids before bed. UGH. And all it did was UNDO, their calmness and get them ramped up. Thus even if I wound them down and made things quiet... his horse-playing with them, UNDID all that and then they could not sleep. Then Husband would say "how come they can't sleep?"
DUH.

Also though, not all kids just fall asleep, in 2 seconds after hitting the pillow.

Some times it's not what you give or add, but what is removed dureing the day. Take a look at foods he craves ( that ususally mean a sensitivity)
monitor the amount of sugar intake.
The whirl because their body is doing what it needs to, to move some "perceived toxins" in their own body.
Just a thought!!

Hi AL-

My eldest kiddo was born in germany...and while in the hospital, between breast feedings, the nurses kept giving him a bottle of 'something' they called 'kinder tea'. Turns out it was fennel tea...and not only did it help calm, it also seemed to relieve gas! He never had 'nipple' confusion. It was a wonder!

Fortunately, my (now) ex was able to get back to germany periodically to get more for each child there after. My kiddos are now 23 to 15...so not sure if something similar is now available in US...but I second toni v's friend....FENNEL!!!

Best Luck!
michele/cat

An older friend of mine w/five grown children and use to run a day care, swares by fennel. She said she would put it in many types of food including cookie dough as well as mac and cheese, pasta sauce, etc. It has a natural calming effect. Let us know if it works for you.

Blessings.....

My middle two struggle a big with sleep. Some things that kind of help...we don't do any media other than soft music after dinner (unless it's Friday dinner and a movie kind of thing)...no TV...video games...etc. I rub their toes with lavender oil. I try to get them outside running around during the day. We have the hardest time when it's really miserable outside. If it's just cold...or just drizzling...I try to bring them out anyway. There's just something that seems to make everybody sleep better when they've done something physical outside. Lastly, they go to bed best when I stick with our bedtime routine...dinner...do their after dinner chore...get in the tub...brush teeth...say prayers...read books...lay down with mom/visit/rub toes/etc. Some nights are still better than others...tonight was a great 'bedtime' night...but tomorrow might royally stink. We'll see.

Oh, the other thing that totally knocks mine out (they're a little older than yours tho')...this free online relaxing...thing. It's some visualization thing...some guy with a deep brittish accent (?). Even I'm out within 5 minutes of listening to it.

I like Vicks Vapor Rub on the chest. It works for my boisterous 5 year old.

have you tried moving his bedtime EARLIER by an hour? I'm not kidding. The thing about kids is the more tired they get the more HYPER they get. Lots of the time a hyper kid is really just an overtired kid. Make sure also that he is getting enough sun and exercise during the day, a solid nap in a dark room for at least 2 hours, and a dark room for night as well. I use 2 layers of black felt as my room darkening and it's great. Use the scratchy velcro on the window frame to have it stay up and be easily taken down.

This is a tough one! I'm in the same boat...if my son naps during the day he has so much trouble falling asleep at night. If he doesn't nap he is in bed by 7pm without any problem! On the days where he naps we give him a bath, read books then I turn on the Rock A Bye Baby cds. It still takes him a little while to fall asleep but I really think the music helps. My son also tosses and turns --I think that's their way to "process" their day and find comfort. It probably looks tiring to you but that's probably his method. I wish I had better advice...just fast forward to when he's a teenager and he'll have no problem falling asleep...and you'll have to wake him in the morning :)