Overtired wind down suggestions

[mkoontz]

My daughter is a Touchy Sprirted child (Yay, it's fun in our house  ) and by the end of the day if she hasn't napped well she's overtired by the time I get her to bed.  I do try to watch her, but I'm just not great at it yet.  So there is the usual problem of very overtiredness which is that she SCREAMS for about an hour before going to sleep.  I used to just give in and breastfeed her, but that made everything worse (no surprise there) so I'm determined not to do that.
So I'm after suggestions of how to calm down enough to sleep an eleven month old who's screaming cause Mum missed her cues.  She is in bed by 7.30 at the very latest, but sometimes if the afternoon nap has been short that's toooooooo late 

Thanks for you help.

PS.  She usually goes down OK at other times, but we are still working on it.

[Scrapbooker]

I don;t know much about babies that old, but in general, be sure to keep A time low key if she cannot/will not sleep.  And, if you know she needs the sleep, try to extend earlier nap.  From what I hear, cues are sometimes hard to see in those types of babies (I have a spirited DD) and I use the clock to guide me too.  Not sure if this helped much, but I offer you support and a hug too. 

[Scrapbooker]

Forgot to add too to make sure you are not stimulating her (jostling, bouncing, etc.) her when she's trying to settle down.  Mine cries before every sleep, but she does much better now that I just lighlty hold her without any movement.  She calms down much quicker.  Something to try anyway.

[Peek-a-boo]

I hold my 10 month spirited overtired baby on my shoulder up against my body very firmly and then sing softly and maybe rub his back with a little circle motion.  If he struggles too much then I loosen my hold and he'll wriggle around a find a more comfy spot as I continue singing / rubbing.  I also have white noise on in the back ground.  Only when he seems really relaxed do I move him to the crib.

Bethany

[mkoontz]

Thanks you guys, I to try to follow the clock, but at this age it seems to change so much.  I'm at a loss with her crying though.  I'm just not good at having her cry for 45 mins or so with no break, I have to confess that I loose it and walk out for 2 mins.  Of course she's worse when I go back in, but at least I'm better!

[Scrapbooker]

HUGS!  That's what you're supposed to do if you cannot take it anymore-she is safe in the crib.  It can make you feel guilty, but we're here to support you.  The crying got bad for us too and it breaks your heart and can even make you angry/frustrated.  Once we got our dd on prevacid (for her reflux) and started holding more still while she cried she started doing better.  We used to keep trying new things every few minutes to try to make her stop crying-walk around thehouse for 15 minutes with or without bouncing/singing, music, different positions, etc.  I feel like we tried everything, but I think that just overstimulated her.  Sitting with her in my arms fairly still (used to pat her back at the same time, now don't) where she is safe and my back is safe too.  I am with her and trying to comfort her while she cries so I feel better and she has responded.  Don't forget to act confident (Tracy says) because babies can tell.

Take care!!