BabyWhispererForums.com
SLEEP => Sleeping For Toddlers => Topic started by: MommyofAlexis on March 23, 2006, 05:16:57 am
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Alexis is now 25 months old and we battle her to bed every night. She has now resorted to taking her pajamas off, which wasn't bad in the beginning, to now taking her diaper off to and saying screaming until she gets a clean one. It can be a battle for up to 90 minutes a night sometimes. We are not sure which direction to go.
Our routine is:
6:15-7am wake (depending our on work schedule)
at daycare by 8:30am
12pm lunch
1:00 - 2:45pm nap - sometimes less but always awake by 2:45pm
6pm dinner
645- 7:15pm brush teeth, read books, sing songs
7:30 - 7:45pm bed.
She is tired but 8pm, we are still at this moment trying to get her to bed and it is 9:15pm. She is rubbing her eyes and yawning but she wont settle down.
Not sure what to do. Looking for suggestions.
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Hi
My daughter has just started battling at bedtime too - but she is only 12 months old. Before this she has been good at going to bed - since she was about 3 months old - besides a few exception of course.
Is this 'normal' for your daughter or a new thing? When did things change? What else has changed?
I thought my DDs changes had come out of the blue but I recently realised that I had changed a few things - like bread instead of rice, and carrot in her veggies. I've just eliminated them to see how it goes. She's been having night wakings too and last night didn't wake - so maybe it is food related for my DD?
I'm not saying it is something like that for your DD - but have a think and see if you can work out when the change happened.
I guess as far as the bedtime battles go you just need to be consistent and patient. I would just go in to her, put her clothes back on, not say a thing except it is time for bed, you need to wear your pjs to bed, lets get ready for bed because I can see you are tired.
Maybe some praise and positive reinforcement for the good times. If she has a nap and settles ok - maybe she could get a smiley face on her wall. At night when she is battling she can get a sad face? I've got friends with older kids who've had success with strategies like that.
What has daycare said? Can they see a reason for it? Have they changed afternoon activities so they are more stimulating?
Sorry I'm probably not much help. But hang in there, hopefully somebody else will have some other suggestions.
(hugs)
Jo
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I don't have any suggestions. Just wanted to sympathise! We have been battling the same sort of thing, instead of stripping she demands to go potty but then refuses to put her pants back on, since Katelyn turned 2yo. I"ve tried changing her routine, waking her from her naps, putting her to bed early, waking her earlier in the morning, we've since moved the bath to day time as that really riled her up. It is 9:30ish now and she is in her room still kicking the wall and dh put her down at 8:15! If it is like everyother night, it will be 10pm before she falls asleep. ::) Hang in there! It has to get better!
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I am going through exactly the same thing and our los are the same age. She strips off her sleep sac, 2 pairs of pyjamas and her diaper. It must be some kind of statement of independence (my do it!) I also am panicking about it, but I bet if we try to maintain as much of our normal routine and minimal intervention, it will subside. That's what I've found at every step with my 2 kids. I panicked when my son was 2 1/2 and refused to follow any directions at gymnastics, etc.... and then a couple months later that went away. So I try to remind myself of that lesson with both kids ~ but it's hard! I'd just stick with your routine and give in to her bedtime stalling as much as possible. I know it's easier said than done. We've been in several times tonight, and the last time her top pyjama and sleep sac were all twisted around her like a straight jacket!
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Same thing over here, Dale. It was 10 pm on Monday when DS fell asleep (that was British summer time, mind !). I will be working this week on getting DS back to his 8 pm bedtime by increments because he's supposed to be up by 7.30 am and I don't want him to lose out on sleep. So many times I've sat by his cot in the dark while he was quite happy dancing in his cot and playing with his music box without showing any sign of being tired. And that was after bath, books, milk and cuddles ! Besides, it's a bummer when they go to bed at 9.30 pm, you still have a minimum of 1 hour of chores to do still then it's bed time with no chance to put your feet up :(
All I can recommend is to be persistent and patient. Do you think it could possibly that, having been in daycare all day, she wants more playtime with Mummy or just plain attention ?