10 Month Old Bedtime Resistance

First thing, you have to be consistent. He needs to know that if he cries, it doesn't matter. Stand your ground. Now, with that said, you have to make his room, a good place. Do you have a rocking chair where you can nurse him in there? Stop nursing him in your bed. You might try putting him in his crib, and reading to him at night. Even just sitting in the room with him. Try putting glow in the dark things on his walls to look at.....or on the ceiling. If you stand your ground, pretty soon he will realize it's time to go to bed. And you've only just begun, wait till he gets into a toddler bed!

I agree with the previous post that if you can find a place to nurse other than your bed it might be easier to get him into the crib. You may want to get a toy with lights and soft music for the crib. My 12 month old likes the aquarium toy in her crib. Then you need a consistent routine. In our house the baby gets her bottle in my lap. If she falls asleep I can usually just put her in bed (she doesn't wake up). If she is awake I put her in the crib and read her 1 or 2 short books. Then lights out and crib toy on. At first I stayed until she settled down or fell asleep but now I don't need to. My 4 year old can be more demanding about one of us staying until he is sleepy. I read with a book light if it takes him a long time (my husband usually naps). You need a new routine that works for you. There may be lots of tears the first few days but if you stick with it it should get better in 3-4 days. If the tears are more than you can deal with look for the No Cry Sleep Solution book. Check the library, the one near me has a big shelf of parenting books in the Children's room.

Hi N.:

He may be in upset about the traveling or feel afraid to sleep on his own, for a variety of reasons. You can use Flower Essences to assist him to sleep well on his own.

Flower Essences are made by infusing flowers or other plant parts in spring water. The essences are used internally or topically to balance emotional states. Flower Essences go to the core issue of the emotional upset. One’s feelings, perception, and outlook about a situation, themselves and others can be effortlessly reversed to positive.

Flower Essences deal with the basic emotions and thought processes of a person, as well as how those challenges or blockages can keep him or her from growing and/or being at peace.

Feel free to schedule a Flower Essence Consultation with me so you can find out and address your son's upset.

All the best,
N.
Holistic Healthcare Practitioner
www.wholecreations.com/wombfull.html
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We found a few things helpful. The first is getting clear what you are willing to do. The second is following through on it 100% of the time. If you cave in to his screams when you have decided he needs to stay in his bed, then he learns screaming works. I'd say either start with him in your bed. No screaming. Or decide he is staying in his bed. Put him to bed. Let him cry 20 minutes. Go and comfort him without picking him up. Pat his back, tell him you love him, let him be for 20 minutes. Keep it up until he falls asleep. He is smart as are all kids - they figure out what works and what doesn't. They know what gma lets him do and mom does not and switches rules depending on who he is with. So he will figure out your rules within a few nights - as long as you are 100% consistent. You can do it!!!!