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 ...
Sorry I will post this also in the gentle sleep methods thread as well.
Oh thanks sneakysparkle! That makes me feel better -- still going crazy, but better!
Better go, he's up crying AGAIN!
Oh I just hope this ends soon! I have not been out much at night because he's been so 'bad' at sleeping and I was really hoping that at last this would change (at least for one of my BFriend's Bdays coming up!)
Is the nanny's routine different from yours? If so, maybe use that one. It might be a preference thing for DS.
My DS1 used to sleep to a similar routine to yours (FF instead of BF). Anyway, DH put him to bed one day differently (bath, play quietly for 5 mins, FF, read then sleep). From then on it was a battle. Once I changed the routine to the one Dh had done, he became a good sleeper again.
They are confusing little critters aren't they? My DS who is about the same age is going through a bad patch at the moment because he is sick and teething (two molars are almost through).
I find that he is a good sleeper but whenever he is sick he becomes a terrible sleeper. Try not to worry too much, he will go back to normal. I just realise sometimes that it is going to be a struggle and sit up cuddling him instead of putting unrealistic expectations on us. The other thing I do which seems to work is put his favourite toy/book in bed with him. I know it isn't the best thing to do, but I will hear him playing with it and in about 10 mins he is fast asleep. Perhaps worth a try to get you past this rough patch.
Oh and I should say it took DS until about 12 months before he slept 12 straight hours so it sounds as if our boys are very similar.
CourtRach -- Yes, I had thought of that ... she doesn't do anything that different adn I have tried to put him to nap at the same times she does, but he just won't! I am really at the end of my tether with it! Unless he doesn't want to feed to sleep, which of course is fine, but even after he gets up and walks around (after BF) he won't settle at all.
SpringAngel -- ARRRGGGHHH isn't it terrible! I know he is sick and teething but it is seriously driving me insane. I get NO time to myself now at all -- can't even eat dinner because he's always awake and needy. For the first time I am thinking 'go cry to sleep' but he's sick and teething and I know it's not the right thing for us to do at the moment especially!
He does have a lovie that is always with him. Nothing is working. I just don't get it. Today he only had a 30 min nap as well. We are trying a much earlier bedtime, but it doesn't seem to be working either!
Reply With Quotehang in there, you are doing an awesome job with your son
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GOING CRAZY! 14mo fighting all sleep!
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