Struggle getting her into pajamas

amother

OP ↓

Sun, Sep 29 2024, 3:36 pm

I need advice. I'm a first time mommy, my toddler is almost 3 years old and she is bright and verbal. She generally doesn't tantrum because she can articulate what she wants and we can talk things through
When she is tired though she is like a different child. She cries and kicks and moves her body so much it's impossible to get her from the bath into pajamas.
I do bathtime early so that afterwards she will have time to play again before bedtime. Often she gives such a hard time that it takes forever and then it's time to go to sleep. I've tried explaining that the quicker she gets into pajamas the more time she will have to play. If it takes too long then she might use up all her time crying and kicking and rolling around on the floor...
I'm at a total loss what to do. I get so frustrated when she acts so out of control. I hate that I end up wrestling it on her while losing my cool.
Please help me, all advice tips and tricks welcome
Tia

amother

Blonde

Sun, Sep 29 2024, 3:37 pm

It’s ok to wrestle kids into clothing you don’t need to feel bad. I’d bathe and change her way earlier so she’s ready before her tiredness hits.

amother

Gardenia

Sun, Sep 29 2024, 3:39 pm

We pretend a monster is coming to eat my son up if he’s not in his pajamas. The monster comes to eat toes/ thighs/ bellies of kids not in jamas .we even rawr. Works every time

Brit in Israel

Sun, Sep 29 2024, 3:44 pm

If you can do bath even earlier.
My DD is nearly 3, she likes to suprise me and do it by herself, she sometimes goes to sleep with backward pajamas but who cares.
The other day we got her in pajamas 'with her eyes closed' or I have had my eyes closed so she did a suprise for me whilst I helped her...
The main thing is it's before the exhaustion fight and it's a fun thing not a task.

amother

Tangerine

Sun, Sep 29 2024, 3:48 pm

We try to settle down early too bath and pjs
Can be a struggle depending on the day and how my little one was that day.

Each kids different one might enjoy it, some don’t I find that with their foods they like, clothes some are sensory about their clothes some don’t care.

A lot a lot of patience and it’ll pass it’s a phase

amother

Cappuccino

Sun, Sep 29 2024, 4:01 pm

Does she have a blankie or paci that she sleeps with?
Give it to her while your getting her into pj's.
I do that with my 3 year old if I need to and it works like magic. She instantly calms down and let's me get her dressed.

amother

Apricot

Sun, Sep 29 2024, 4:04 pm

At some point when she isn’t tired have a discussion. Ask her what about her pajamas bothers her. Maybe it’san annoying zipper etc.
if not, maybe order a pair of pajamas she likes and is excited about. (An exciting print for example)
If this doesn’t work, put her to sleep in underwear and dress her while she’s sleeping.
It isn’t worth the fight. It really isn’t.
Never make an issue out of something that you don’t see being a very long term issue.

amother

Mint ↓

Sun, Sep 29 2024, 4:09 pm

She’s still 2. Her verbal skills are likely more advanced than her reasoning abilities, especially when she’s tired. So skip the logic and pull out the games… races, songs, surprises, etc. and if all else fails, don’t feel bad to force her into pjs or skip it entirely. It’s a stage and it’ll pass.

giftedmom

Sun, Sep 29 2024, 4:59 pm

She’s not as big as you think she is. Toddlers are babies just bigger sized and talking more. Totally normal how she acts when tired. She isn’t old enough to understand your complex explanations about time. Toddlers don’t yet have a concept of time.

amother

Cantaloupe

Tue, Oct 08 2024, 9:29 am

Could the pajamas be uncomfortable? Are they polyester or cotton? Did you try giving her a choice of two pajamas to wear? Does she have a high body temperature, maybe they make her hot? As long as the room is warm enough, ask if she wants to go to sleep without pajamas, maybe she'll be more comfortable.

amother

Chestnut

Tue, Oct 08 2024, 9:36 am

amother Gardenia wrote:

We pretend a monster is coming to eat my son up if he’s not in his pajamas. The monster comes to eat toes/ thighs/ bellies of kids not in jamas .we even rawr. Works every time

That's just plain cruel. At that age they are not able to discern the difference between fantasy and reality.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Oct 08 2024, 9:54 am

She has adorable pajamas and she picks which ones to wear...she loves them all really
She gives me a hard time in the morning too, but it's easier because she isn't tired...

amother

↑ Mint

Tue, Oct 08 2024, 9:56 am

amother OP wrote:

She has adorable pajamas and she picks which ones to wear...she loves them all really
She gives me a hard time in the morning too, but it's easier because she isn't tired...

Did any of the suggestions work?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Oct 08 2024, 9:58 am

giftedmom wrote:

Thank you. It's hard to remember just how little she is because she talks so much
I don't know if the way she acts is normal though, the way she tantrums seems excessive

amother

↑ OP

Tue, Oct 08 2024, 2:11 pm

amother Mint wrote:

Did any of the suggestions work?

Trying my best to remember it's a stage and it'll pass
I do try to do bathtime earlier, and skip bathtime if she comes home from playgroup in a very very kvetchy mood
Also started giving her a sticker if she gets into pajamas or dressed nicely, she loves stickers