18 month old wont sleep. Help!!!!!!

[jupiter]

hi, I need some advice. Joseph is 18 months old and has been in his own cot in his own room from approx 6 months. Over the last three weeks he wont go to sleep by himself. He has to be put in his cot by his dad and cries as soon as his dad leaves the room. His dad now puts him down to sleep both wrapped up and with his arms free cuddling a teddy bear depending on Joseph's mood.

 Even tho the room is dark and Joseph has always been put down awake and fell asleep on his own. over the last three weeks he screams when left alone and his dad now has to stay in the room with him till he falls asleep then crawl out of the room like the SAS to avoid waking him.

However he somehow senses that his dads left the room even tho its dark, he couldn't see his dad in the room in the first place cos he lies on the floor waiting for him to fall asleep.  As soon as this happens he  stands up in his cot and screams till someone puts him back down to sleep. He is also throwing his dummy and teddy bear out of his cot so we have to go in to him because he wont settle without his dummy. He is doing this at least three times a night and it can last up to an hour each time.

He has one nap of of 1 - 1.30Hr mid morning and then bedtime is 8pm.

Any advice at all please.

thanks

[imsmum]

How long has he been on the one nap?  If he is only napping once per day it should be at least at noon because otherwise he is awake for more than 8 + hours before bedtime and he is probably so overtired by then he needs help winding down which is why he is crying if Daddy leaves.  I'd make his bedtime earlier by at least an hour while trying to push back the nap in 15 minute increments every 4 or 5 days.  I think once you get past the overtiredness you'll see some of this behaviour improve.

[binxyboo]

I agree with pp. That seems like an awfully long A period before bed. Here is our general routine at 16 months:

7-8: wake
12-2 or 3 : nap
7-8: bed


Maybe something along those lines would help a bit? I know I always have problems at bedtime if Riley doesn't start his nap at around noon. Any earlier or later and it just throws the whole day off.