SLEEP > Sleeping For Toddlers

I'm officially desperate

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tylersmommy:
I don't know what else to do. I need a new plan...what we've always done clearly isn't working this time. It's been a week, and there has been zero improvement. Tyler usually babbles for 45 min at bedtime and falls asleep on his own. Naptime, he was usually out within a few min. About 2 wks ago, he started babbling for much longer at naptime too...up to an hour sometimes. That was all fine. About a week ago, the antics began. He throws his loveys out of the crib, cries, we put them back in and say "night night," and it starts over again before we're even out the door. It isn't sep anx, because he does it even if we stand right next to the crib. So after the first lovey toss, we give them back, tell him if he throws his stuff it goes bye bye, and leave. Of course, he throws them, and they get taken. So...now what?

He stands there whining, then escalates to crying. Saying "night night" from outside the door doesn't settle him. If I stand in the doorway, he flops down, all smiles. Then he pops back up immediately, before I even have a chance to turn and walk out. If I continue to stand there, he cries, and I have to up the ante...start to walk toward him. Flops down, pops up, cries. Ups the ante again...I have to do PD. Pops up again. I have to put a hand on his back. Then, and only then, does he settle and stay that way. He immediately starts to doze off. I move my hand, he sits up and cries.

He's not teething, he isn't sick, and this has been going on consistently for over a week now. It goes on for a good 1.5-2 hrs before he finally gives in. He's done this before (never this bad, though), and we've managed to break the cycle within a few days, and he's never fought sleep for this long. He's wound down when he goes in the crib...half the time, he's blinking back sleep when I put him down. Nothing triggered this, and I'm out of answers. He turns off the tears and starts giggling so fast, I'm convinced this is all a game. I just don't know how to break the cycle.

My patience is just about gone, and I don't know what else to do. Please, any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm sure there has to be a BW solution, I just don't have one!

GraceKellysmom:
Tracy has some good suggestions on toddler sleep in her newest book, there is a whole chapter devoted to toddler sleep. I don't know what kind of toddler Tyler is, but maybe something there can help?

It really sounds like he is testing his boundaries and you just need to keep on being consistant. The PD thing can be frustrating at that age, but it is really the only BW way to go. He is also learning cause and effect - he drops his loveys, you come back.

So how much sleep is he getting. What time is bedtime, when does he wake for the morning, and when is his usual nap time?

tylersmommy:
Tyler's normal day looks like this...
7:30 - wake
1-3ish - nap
8:30 - bedtime (talks to himself until 9:15)

Normally, he gets somewhere around 12 hrs of sleep. He's spirited/angel, and has generally gotten back on track within a few days. He's never dragged out sleep issues this long, and it's odd that our usual BW way of doing things isn't working. I guess I'm just at a loss...what do you do when they think even a firm mommy's face in the doorway is hilarious? I feel like I'm part of his game at this point! :roll:

GraceKellysmom:

--- Quote from: tylersmommy ---I feel like I'm part of his game at this point! :roll:
--- End quote ---

 8)  I agree. You could try not playing the game, but like you said, that isn't very BW.

I know that as Grace has gotten older, she has required more and more physical activity to "wear her down". We have also been limiting tv more, keeping her more active during the day, limiting sugar intake. That is all stuff you can control. I get her to chase me up and down the back yard.

It sounds like he is being given the opportunity to get plenty of sleep from that schedule. Tracy suggests a set winddown routine for naps and night time, that gets them into sleepy mode. And consistency, which you are doing, continuing to PD. She is all about early bedtimes, since kids who go to bed early and kids that go to bed late all usually wake around the same time - 7am.

Khyan & Sahria's mum:
Hi Melissa

No real advice for you here cos I'm pretty much in a similar situation  :roll: especially the testing the boundaries thing  :shock:

My only thought would be that maybe he needs a little longer before his nap so that he is really tired or maybe a HUGE fun dance or running session before you start his wind down routine

How is he at going to bed in the evening ? does he play the same game or is he more settled?

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