Need help getting 18mo back into his room

[~inbalance~]

But  to be honest it was more that she was cross and disgusted she wasn't getting out of the cot as opposed to needing me or needing anything to be honest so that helped me continue.

Yes, I think this is T's attitude as well.  He is just mad and wants his way.  Like I said, once he gets it he is happy, so I know he is acting up on purpose and not because he needs something.

T has NEVER taken a lovey and still has no interest.  He's had several in his bed for as long as I can remember - I actually just took a few out because it didn't seem to matter.  So now he has two blankies, a teddy, a bunny, and a monkey.  He does not give a hoot about them, nor does he care about any other items around the house that could be loveys.  Figures, I have the only lovey-immune kid!     Tonight will try one of my dirty shirts and see how he likes that! 

[*Liz*]

Hoping hoping that you had a better night Martina.

Still no lovey, hey? Do you think he might like to choose a few random items like Shiv suggested? Just so he is deciding something about bedtime and going to bed rather than you just doing it to him, as it were?

J is getting really funny about his bedtime books ATM - wants to choose them himself and SCREAMS if I don't let him go through all the books he wants. But if I let him pick and do it his way he goes to bed nicely. I guess this is the 18 mo stubborness coming out.

[~inbalance~]

We let T choose his bedtime books, but no screaming if he doesn't get the one he wants. 

I will try letting him decide on a lovey.  TBH, he probably couldn't care less!!  But always worth a shot!

Last night WAS much better, thank goodness!  It didn't start off good at all, took an hour to get him to sleep and I had to stay in there.  I tried wiwo but with no luck so I just sat there.  I did go dig out his sleep sheep (noisemaker) and set it on ocean, which meant I didn't have to sing or ssh, and it helped him settle better.  Went to bed at 9 thinking he'd be up soon, but he didn't wake until 4:30!     He hasn't slept that long in at least a week.  I used the sleep sheep to help him settle again and slept on the floor.  We didn't have any major dramatics, but he never really slept properly after that, stirring or waking every hour or so but settling after I would ssh him, until 7.  So better, at least he was in his bed all night!

I also went out and bought some homeopathic chamomilia and gave him some before bed, and I've been adding diluted chamomile tea to his water in an attempt to get him to chill out a bit.  The ND also suggested putting 1cup epsom salts in his bath (providing he won't drink it) to help him relax at night.  Will try that tonight.

[*Becky*]

so glad it was better. I think the chamomilla really helps some kids x

[*Liz*]

Sounds a lot better  . Thank goodness.

O/T but J found his old sleep sheep a few weeks ago and was terrified of it!! Guess that puts an end to the idea of giving him white noise again to help stop the new baby waking him  .

[~inbalance~]

LOL Liz!!!  What about more continuous white noise, like a fan?  We have a fan in T's room for background noise, I actually put it in the closet to muffle it a bit.  The sleep sheep was more for lulling, wave-like noise (so I wouldn't have to ssh  ).  Maybe a fan will help muffle background noise once the baby comes.

[Roseii]

But  to be honest it was more that she was cross and disgusted she wasn't getting out of the cot as opposed to needing me or needing anything to be honest so that helped me continue.

quote author=Martina Rae link=topic=167092.msg1868727#msg1868727 date=1268259839]

9 times out of 10 I know this is the case with DD too and it makes me much more determined to ride out the screaming (from the mattress next to her cot I mean!) and not feel guilty about it. I do think that gets easier the older they get, there's no way I was able to take that attitude a few months ago.

Glad you had a better night Martina, hopefully they will keep getting better.

DD is lovey immune too, she had no special interest in any toys or blankies and chucks them out her cot if I try and introduce them! She used to have a dummy but decided she didn't want that when she was teething really badly a few weeks ago so now she is totally comforter-less!
Good luck [

[Shiv52]

Glad you'd a better night.   Hope that continues xx

[Tweakster]

Yay Martina, glad to hear you got some much needed sleep!  How about lavender in his bath as well?  It's supposed to be relaxing too.  Your ND will know where to get the essential oils.

It's funny but I often find myself going back to basics, white noise, shushing etc.  It's like it's just part of them from the womb hehe.