Since my son was about 5 months old, bedtime has always been at 9:00pm. As of two weeks ago my 15 month old son has decided he does not like that rule. Now, he stands in his crib and screams his head off. Its not just fake crying, there are acually tears in his eyes. I tried tough love by just letting him cry himself to sleep, but he cries for hours. I have also tried night lights, sitting with him, reading to him, and nothing works he just screams. He does eventually go to sleep, but not until 11:00pm or later and that does not work for me. What should I do? Any ideas?
Thanks soooo much for your advice. I took a little bit from everyone. I found that the primary problem was the time change (I feel stupid for not thinking of it). I tried putting him to bed later, and will work my way back to 9:00 by laying him down 15 min earlier every night. Also, I started a doing more of the same things before bed, and did more exciting things earlier to make him tired. So far we are doing better. Thanks again :)
Remember that clocks were changed 2 weeks ago. That always messed my kids schedule up for a bit. Good luck!!
D.
My daughter does the same thing sometimes. What me and my husband try is one or both of us will lay down with her until she falls asleep and than I put her in her bed.
glad u figured out the time change, was what was causing it!... it really screwed my sons schedule too! .. i was not a happy camper with no sleep lol...
The best advice that was given to me was to establish a routine that is performed exactly the same every night. For example, my daughter is 15 months old, just as your child is, and has been on the same routine since she was 3 months old and it works!! Here are the steps that I use:
1. 7:15pm- bath
2. 7:30-7:45pm- snack (milk and any type of snack except sweets)
3. 7:45-8pm- read a few books (I prefer to do an activity that is calm, no T.V.)
4. say "I love you" and put to bed (immediately walk out of room and shut door, do not respond to cries)
If you stay on a routine your child will eventually get the idea of what is expected of him and know that it is bedtime!
I'm not a strict mother but in order for me to be able to live "sanely" and peacefully I must utilize this.
I hope my suggestion works!
I was having this problem with my son who is 17 months old for a while with the same thing. Things became much easier at night once he made the adjustment into the toddler room at his daycare but it was when he first switched from the infant to toddler room that we had the most difficulties. In the infant room he could nap whenever he wanted and usually took 2 naps but the toddlers only take one nap. At daycare they all nap at the same time in sleeping bags and I eventually figured out that if I lay him down in his crib and cover him with a blanket that it's time to go to sleep. I think the sleeping bag routine at school helped him to learn that laying down covered in a blanket means sleep.
As far as night time rountine we don't have a super strict one but we usually read a few stories then watch a short DVD or something on demand like one Thomas story or one Curious George story, something that's slow and calming and then I bring him up to his crib. I usually put him to bed around 9:30 but we can go earlier or later depending on how tired he is and what we're up to that evening.
Have you tried putting him to bed earlier? I noticed with my son that everytime we approached the "spring ahead/fall back" dates his whole sleeping schedule got messed up. I think it affects adults as well as children b/c I have not been sleeping well for the past two weeks. I would move my son's bedtime around in 15 minute increments to find the time that worked. I almost always found that earlier was better. I know it sounds strange but if he got overtired forget it, I couldn't get him to sleep. Try moving his bedtime back in 15 minute increments to see if it gets better. Once I had to move his bedtime back a whole hour. Good luck, it sounds like you have your hands full.
I would try moving his bedtime earlier. My son did better when he wasn't overly tired. We also have a very set routine -- bath, snack and some playtime in our family room, brush teeth, diaper, in bed, story. He knows the routine well enough that by 8:20 he is ready to go upstairs. Good luck!
H.
this problem really depends on his night time routine my kids dont go to bed until 10 but I try to keep there bedtime routine the same they eat dinner at 5 everyday and they get one snack at around 7 then after that they get a bath and story time then they get there teeth brushed my son had more problems adjusting to bedtime but they do get the idea that when they put on there pajamas that it is time for bed they know bed time is close when they sit down and have there cooling off time were they sit quietly and look at a book or get a story read to them hope this is some help
What's his napping schedule like? Maybe you can cut down or maybe make the nap earlier in the day, if it's already a little later.
A couple of things.... how many naps does he take at day care, and what time does he take them? If he's still taking 2 naps, he may be ready to drop the morning nap, at which point you can move the afternoon nap earlier in the day and hopefully he'll be ready for bed earlier. What time does he get up in the morning?
That's such a tough one... It sounds like you are really working hard.
GOOD LUCK!
check and see what times you are putting him done for a nap. my little girl used to get a nap from her grandma at 7 or 8 at night and then we wanted her to go to bed at 9. maybe his nap times are too late in the day.
my son did the same thing and its the hardest thing in the world to do but you just have to let him cry. try playing some soothing lullabies on the stereo. my son cried for almost 3 hrs the first night the second night he only cried for about 20 minutes and then after that we were set. now that he is in a toddler bed the same thing is happening again but he doesnt have walls to contain him anymore.
My son was doing the same thing.He just decided all of a sudden that he wasn't going to bed and that was that. It was truly making me crazy until I figured out that he was getting too much sleep during the day. He had missed his afternoon nap because we were shopping one day, and he went to bed that night without a tantrum and went right to sleep. Now I just keep him up all day. Sometimes he seems to need a nap and I let him take one, but since he has been not getting one regularly, his little internal clock seems to have adjusted, and he is usually sound asleep by 10 at the latest. I see that you and your son go to daycare, so I don't know how you could work out keeping him up, but if he takes a late afternoon nap, maybe you could eliminate that one. Good Luck!
Perhaps you should ask your mother what she used to do with you and your brothers when you were that young.
Oh yeah, that would be me. Keep the time he goes in his crib consistent, don't change it. Turn the lights off, a soft rain forest and other natural sound, or Sleep Sound in Jesus CD on (I still have them if you want them) By the light of that adorable little lamp his amazingly wonderful Nennen gave him, you can sit and read to him before turning on the CD, if you want. Once the story is over sit quiet, bring your own book, or better yet, your homework and just ignore him.
There should not be any toys in his crib or within reach since he's such a monkey. If there are move them, you're sort of trying to bore him to sleep. In keeping with this theme, don't run in and out or answer the phone, or your friends' questions. Sit with Noah.
He's going to be hyper, especially when tired, just like all of you. ADHD is hereditary, you should expect it. I found out the hard way when it came to naps and bedtimes that you were all more than just a little hyper. I strongly advise you play hard and heavy before bed time, like the baseball game you're playing right now downstairs with Dad. Save the bath time for right after school or morning, it'll actually wind him up.
If his bedtime is at 9:00pm, why are you still here? Be more consistent. Love ya, Mom
If its nice enough outside, spend lots of time out there and encourage him into active physical play. Fresh air and excercise does wonders. My daughter had a lot of energy at that age and I noticed she always would go to sleep earlier and sleep better if we spent a lot of time outside. The only other thing that worked for me was taking a drive in the car around the same time you want him to go to sleep. Good luck!
It's possible that he needs to go to bed earlier. My husband and I have found the book "Sleeping Through the Night; How Infants, Toddlers, and Their Parents Can Get a Good Night's Sleep" by Jodi A. Mindell to be an invaluable resource. I keep my copy next to my bed and still refer to it regularly.
Good luck!
