My son is just about 18 months and his bedtime takes FOREVER. My husband and I did sleep training when he was 6 months, at that time he was able to put himself to sleep. Sometime during the summer, I'm guessing during a sleep regression, we began to rock him to sleep. We continued doing that because he would fall asleep quickly and transition from arms to crib fairly well.
Our usual routine is turn night light on, put on night diapers, lotion, jammies, bottle, read books, and rock to sleep. Lately, the rock to sleep part has been taking up to an hour or longer. It is soooo exhausting holding him that long. 2 nights this past week he completely protested bedtime and began screaming when we started rocking him. He also gets a second wind once we get in his bedroom and is having a really hard time winding down. He wakes up between 7:30 and 8, naps from 1-3, we start bedtime around 7:45, he is usually out for the night by 9pm. He mostly sleeps through the night with a night waking once in a while (Thank goodness!).
I think I need to sleep train him again but I am dreading it because he is quite spirited and passionate. We are not opposed to letting him cry it out but it does usually involve him throwing up.
Any tips? thoughts? encouragements?
