Getting a 12 Month Old to Sleep in Her Own Bed

C.,

I don't have an answer for you. Just wanted to let you know that I'm dealing with the same thing with my 2 1/2 year old son. I feel like I've tried everything and nothing has changed. From what I hear he's an angel for daycare and for my Mom when they have sleepovers. Go figure. I'm feeling all of your frustrations, and sleeplessness. You're not alone.

T.

My son was pretty stubborn too. He would take his blanket and pillow (when he was about 3yo) and sleep on the floor rather than his bed. Slept on the floor most nights from about 3 to oh maybe 6 yo. Even now, sometimes I still have to move him from the floor to his bed (he's 7 1/2 now)

We finally trained him to stay in his room at night when we put an hook & eye on his bedroom door so he could not leave the room (he was about or almost 3 when we did this.) After that first dreadful night and the not so bad next night, he then would stay in bed (bedroom) when we put him to bed. That was hard but sooo much better!

Hi C. - I'm so sorry to hear about your sleep issues - I know from experience that sleepless nights make for a rough time during the day. The book that totally helped me out was "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. I looked at quite a few books on child sleeping habits but found that this one was far the best.

Dr. Weissbluth goes into great detail about not just how to correct the horribly bad sleeping habits that kids can get into, but also about what's healthy and typical in terms of sleep habits for kids at every age. (which was especially super helpful to me with my first one because I didn't know what to expect when his sleep habits started changing as he got older... he'd been a great sleeper & then turned into a monster at nighttime all of a sudden... and then during the day too at nap time... but not any more of course though) The author gives tons of case studies in there about what seems like completely hopeless situations with kids of all ages who refuse to sleep during the day and/or night but in the end he helps the parents fix the problem every single time... so it's comforting to know that you're not the only parent who's had to go through this, & that there really is hope & light at the end of the tunnel. It won't last forever. :)

Anyway, I initially checked the book out from my local library but after just a few days with it I bought it online & now it has become my #1 reference for sleep issues. Whatever you end up deciding to do though, good luck & I hope you get some sleep soon. :)

PS - hitting the 1-year mark means a definite change in sleep habits for most kids out there. Your daughter is probably going through some of that right now. For us it just meant going from 2 naps to 1 (but who would have known it would affect my little boy's nighttime sleeping as well?). Once I realized what was going on it didn't take too long to adjust and then my little boy was back to sleeping like a charm at night - and during the day - again.

I feel your pain. My daughter will only fall asleep in her bad when daddy is home.....and he works nights, so he is only home 2 nights a week. I can only get to fall asleep on the couch with a sippy of milk, when she is ready to go to sleep. We did manager to get her to sleep though the night by playing classical music on the radio in her room

Can you put her bed in your room, lay with her until she falls asleep, then go in to your own bed? That is what I find worked best for my son. The book The No Cry Sleep Solution by Elizabeth Pantly has some great advice on how to work through this also.

I haven't read the other replies yet, so bear with me if this is repetative.;)
I have had the same issues with ALL of my children around the time they figured out how to get out of their cribs and/or were moved to a toddler bed.
My husband and I tried everything!! I realized they wanted to participate in whatever dh and I were up to, and tended to fall asleep while sitting with us on the couch. We went through a night routine as usual, and instead of us both getting anxious and geared up for a pending battle, I have told them it is quiet time and as long as there is silence and everyone sits nicely, they can stay up with us. So the little kids who have a little more trouble sitting still cuddle on dh and my laps. I also use it as a good training opportunity for getting them used to sitting still at places like dr.s offices, etc. They have since stopped the bedtime resistance. They don't feel like I am shoving them off to bed and hating every second of the battle with them. I think the sudden adversarial (me against the kid) nature that can take over at bedtime and the frustrated ' you will obey or else!' and the kids ' durned if I will!' attitude and equal bullheadedness back and forth escalation can throw a kid into uncertainty about where they stand with a parent, and why the parent doesn't want to be with them. At that age they just don't understand. After a year of this EVERY night I realized how terrifically unhappy(usually in tears) and wired everyone was by the time one of gave up us out of sheer exhaustion. My oldest is five- six in two months, and he goes to bed pretty much on his own now when the 'relaxing' time is over.
I try to keep it welcoming, relaxed for everybody, make sure needs are met, ( thirsty, hungry, attention needs, cuddles, cheerful attitude, low key play, tickles, kisses and ALL the kids blankies and pillows around, OF COURSE:)
We put everyone to bed around 10ish. The atmosphere is ten times better, and when a kid doesn't want to go to bed, their is usually a need for some one on one or they had a bad day and need extra cuddles, etc. etc.
Hope this helps- I don't stick to a system of parenting- I try to do what works for my children and our family.:)

Um, even if she makes some noise, she will eventually sleep. Put her in bed, and let her know, that's where she is sleeping. If she wails, and you don't give in, she will sleep. Really.