Help Deprive in Sleep

Hi J.,
You didn't specify how long her nap is. Try not letting her sleep more than 2 hours. Try establishing a bedtime routine which includes a warm bath(we use the Johnsons&Johnsons evening bath products with lavender), rocking in her rocking chair and a soothing environment. It took a while but now our 14-month old is ready to fall asleep at 6:30pm.
Check out the book Healthy Sleep Habits Happy Baby. This book really has helped us.
GL!

It may sound crazy, but you could try putting her to bed earlier. She may be overly tired by 10:00. Try checking out www.sleepyplanet.com. It helped me.

It sounds like she's actually overtired. When children are overtired their brain releases a chemical called cortisol. Cortisol basically acts just as caffiene would. It raises blood pressure and sugar levels, thus causing the energizer bunny to start. I would highly recommend 1-2 naps a day and then putting her to bed no later than 8 pm. I know it sounds contradictory but the longer she's awake, the less she's going to sleep. I bought a great book called Sleep Easy Solutions. Someone actually references the author's website below (sleepy planet). Anyhow, the book explains how much sleep a child should be getting each day based on their age and also offers solutions to the problems that arise. And you are lucky to have such a good kid, but that doesn't mean that she shouldn't have better sleep habits. Good luck!

Hello J.,

Sounds to me like she is overtired. This is a phrase that I found in Dr. Sear's book to describe a kid who actually stays up past being tired because she doesn't want to miss anything. This happens all the time with my 2 y.o.

The best thing we've found is to take him outside for a walk after dinner. If you let her walk by herself, and just go at her pace (which is REALLY slow -- you have to kind of force yourself not to hurry her), she will probably get tired without having to go very far. If she's not walking yet, maybe you can turn on some bouncy music, get down at her level and "dance" with her. See how much you can get her to move. Then, start your bedtime routine (bath, massage with lotion, read a story, etc.) Some moms swear by a post-bath rub by the way. It depends on your baby's personality. You said she's really social, so it could be that what she really needs is quality time. You could try just having a "conversation" with her about a book or a toy or whatever, and try to focus only on her for a whole hour, making lots of eye contact. Then she wouldn't feel like she's missing out on precious time with mom by falling asleep.

Good Luck!
:) G.

Hi J.,

I completely agree with Janice C.

C. : )

J....
I've had several friends who's kids stopped napping early on. Your daughter may be one who no longer needs naps. Is she cranky during the day if she doesn't nap? If not, I'd stop the napping so she goes to bed earlier. If you don't have a regular night time routine, start one now. Kids respond to routines. Also, try some aromatherapy with her routine at night to help calm her.

Good luck!

What time is the nap and how long does she sleep?

Hi! I found that when my son does not nap in the afternoon then in the evening he has a really hard time falling sleep. Maybe your daughter needs a second nap in the afternoon?

g

Hi J., My twins didn't sleep through the night until they were 14 months old! It was torture. Here is what I did to get them to bed. I did the normal bedtime routine, bath, milk cup, brush teeth/gums, story and I let them watch a little Baby Einstien. We'd say prayers and then I'd tell them to kiss mommy nite-nite. I'd lay them each down in their respective cribs and they crying started. I did the 3-5-7minutes, etc. Meaning, that I would let them cry for 3 minutes then go back in, get them settled down and leave again. Then next time I would let them cry 5 minutes, etc. It took a month, but I finally got them to sleep through the night! Now they sleep through the night no problem! Hope this helps! R.

Dear J.,

Well, you just have to make double sure that she takes her nap right after lunch, and gets up before 2:00, or even sooner, if you think that is too late in the afternoon. She needs to have a good afternoon play time.

THEN at night decide what time you want to put her to bed and do it. Nice and loving and bath and warm milk, and book and all of that good stuff, then let her make all the noise that she feels is necessary. Tell grandparents and neighbors or whoever will hear her and then just keep a good eye on her, and let her go. She will get the idea that night time is for moms and dads, and it is, you know. Do not let her up, if she throws up or gets snotty faced, then clean her up - keeping her in bed all the time, and then cozy her up again, and leave the room saying night night. It is hard to do, but it is the right thing to do. This is not 'crying it out', as some people call it. It is disciplinning your child and civilizing your child, and letting your child know that you and Dad are the bosses, and that there are rules in the world - not made by her. O.K.?

O.K., C. N.

What time does she wake up in the morning? I would think she'd be exhausted if she had to be up at 6am. You could try co-sleeping. Rachel goes to sleep just fine if I'm laying with her. Then when she's asleep I get up again and do my thing. Of course, some kids don't stay asleep when you get up. Just an idea.