Sleep Issue with 12 Month Old

My son is 2 1/2 now and did the same thing to me when he hit about 9 months.
All I could do that would help was to let him watch his favorite movie on the floor with pillows and a blanket, and sometimes he would fall asleep like that. If not, than I had to take him for a ride in the car...which usually worked every time, it is a bad habbit to start but when you're exhausted and need to sleep that's sometimes the best thing to do.
He grew out of that stage when he hit 2.
Hang in there!

We always layed down with our DC if they wouldn't sleep. I would sing to my DS and he would be asleep within 2-3 songs. He is 11 now, and my DD is 22, and there are no sleep problems.

A. :)

Hi K.. This is so normal, but I know it's frustrating. You want to hold him and love him before you put him to bed. Unfortunately that's not always easy at this stage. I have three kids and my youngest in 14months. He was still not sleeping through the night, if we tried to put him in his own bed, at 13 months. I finally had to start putting him down and letting him cry it out, both at nap and bed times. He has a Tad doll from leap frog and I Put it on "night time" and it plays soft music. I have a 15 minute rule. If he is still really upset after 15 minutes I go back in there and get him, and try again in 30 minutes. He is almost always asleep in the first five minutes. I always hug him tight and give him a kiss and tell him I love him, even if he's already fussing. Then I put him down and walk out the room.
You could read him his book before he goes upstairs, before he realizes what's happening, so he still gets that experience.
I know it's hard. Hope this helps some. I asked around about what to do to get my baby to sleep too. Let him cry it out, was what I heard the most. It's not easy, but it works. And like I said before, he usually falls asleep really quickly now. It takes some time to get used to though. Many Blessins.

Ok- weather we like it or not- they gotta learn to obey at bedtime. Start telling his naptime is coming Before you take him in for the routine. Tell him it's naptime as you are rocking etc. After all of whatever he does- kiss him and say nite nite and say again: its naptime. Or - time to take a nap! Then lay him down and quietly walk out of the room and dont give in. He will try to get you back in there to get him out of bed. But, if you dont get a handle on this now-- it will be harder later. He will be controlling you. Just be in charge and take good care of him as usual. When he wakes up- praise him for taking a good nap. Be consistent every single time. You gotta loy of naps and bedtimes ahead of you. Just because he screams and sounds so pitiful doesnt mean you are being mean or bad. He is just wanting to not do what you know is best for him. I wish I wouldve learned this on my first one. Good luck. It gets easier. Then you soon will wish you woulnt have fought with the little guy.

wake him up earlier. he's getting older and doesn't need as much sleep. that way his nap time stays the same.

hey K.,
it sounds like your little baby has started to grow up, something all us mothers dont want to happen. i have 3 kids and they all did the same thing at that age. they have a sense of independance and want to do things when they want to do them. here are a few suggestions for you that worked for me.

1. give him a bath in lavendar scented bubble bath, it soothes them and somehow makes them really sleepy. have no idea why but it works.

2. try laying with him in your bed or on the couch. once he is good and asleep put him in his bed or leave him there and just make sure he will not fall off. if he doesnt fall asleep after 30 to 45 minutes let him get up and play and try again a few hours later.

3 also make sure he has a full belly, babies seem to go to sleep faster after they eat.

4. take him to a park or outside to play and get him really tired out.

5.take him for a car ride most babies fall asleep on the move.

6 if nothing else works then just let him fall asleep by himself when he is ready.

i hope some or all of these work for you. keep in mind babies dont stay predictable forever. keep in touch and let me know if i have helped in anyway. J.

I totally agree with Judy L. Also, you don't mention if he is still taking more than one nap per day. If so, he may be ready to only take one nap per day.

Hey I know what your going through. My son did the same thing. You have to know that this is just a phase. He is testing you and trying to impose his own will. You might just have to put him in his crib and leave him there at the start. It will not harm him to scream and cry for a little while. I had a real hrad time with this because I was afraid that he would cry so much that he would make himself sick. It will take time for him to understand that its Mommy's way or no way. You just have to keep it up. I know that you want to comfort him but every time you comfort him it tells him that what he is doing is working. You have to show him who the boss is. I hope this helps you as it helped me.

Sounds to me like he's testing you. I'd just tell him it's naptime and put him in his crib for awhile. Yes, he'll fuss and, yes, it will be hard for you but he'll learn that not napping is not an option. The sooner he learns to self-soothe the better.....he'll be happier and so will you! God bless!