HELP-- 14mo DS is REALLY fighting sleeps!!!

[nox]

I have also posted this in general toddler discussion page -- sorry if that is an overlap ...

DS was never a 'good' sleeper and only spent about 2 months sleeping for 12 hours or so without waking. He is now 14mo and is fighting me at all sleeps.

I have a nanny for 2 days and she can put him to nap no problems. Lately with me though, both for naps but worse -- for night bedtime he just fights it.

I have had a routine for him since he was born that has been pretty consistent -- bath read BF bed. He is now walking and of course teething, but he will take his BF then runa round the house. It can take me over an hour to get him to finally settle.

I have been letting him get out of his room when this happens and let him have quiet play for a little longer, because I don't know what else to do and he seems very happy, sometimes even putting his own head down momentarily on the floor. I tell him he has 5, 4, etc mins then bedtime. Then, like tonight, we go back into his room, I try to BF him. Then as he tries to push off again, I don't let him out, or I hold him and try to rock him, or put him in the cot. He cries and cries, then eventually will take a BF again and fall asleep. (tonight it was an hour overall from the first BF) While he has a cold at the moment, this can't be the only reason? I think it started just before the sniffles also...
He has one nap with me (2 with the nanny) during the day and it usually lasts 1.5 hours with me. He wakes around 6.30-7am in the morning but it's not like he has slept 'through' by any means and I know he is tired ...



Any thoughts?

[luey]

Sorry no solutions but I hope things are improving for you. MY 7month old DS is exactly the same, he fights sleep. If he doesn't want to go to sleep he won't despite providing opportunities for him and he being so so tired - yawning double eye rub, girzzle the works.

I wonder if he "misses" you? You mention a Nanny so I assume you are at work. Maybe he is trying to get your attention and spend more time with you. What does the nany do differently? Is she firmer? Maybe he knows that mummy will "let" him get up or he likes any reaction it provokes from you. Does he get more kisses and cuddles and stories trying to get him to settle?
How long are his naps? Maybe he needs to consolidate them down to one or two for the day?

No doubt you have thought of these things.

Good luck