Help!!!!! My 10 1/2 month old throws tantrums now when I try to get her to go to sleep... I try to put her down @ around 8:00pm to go to sleep, but she likes to try and stay up and play... So when I lay her down to go to sleep she likes to scream to the top of her lungs and fall out. I don't know where she has picked this up from, but clearly it needs to be addressed now...
Thank you all for your quick responses and advice. I have implemented some of what you all suggested, one being to feed her first and give her a warm bath. I admit I am guilty for not having my daughter on a routine schedule. I am a single mother doing this all on my own, and having to go to school full time, I myself need to adapt to a schedule, it's just hard sometimes when you're doing it by yourself.
Oh, and what I meant by falling out is she throws her arms up in the air falling back when Im trying to rock her to sleep, and she screams... Again, thank you ladies for the suggestions.
rent a video called "1, 2, 3 magic". It will teach you steps you need to do now in order for her behavior to stop. it's a boring video, but so well worth watching.
Updated
rent a video called "1, 2, 3 magic". It will teach you steps you need to do now in order for her behavior to stop. it's a boring video, but so well worth watching.
Just wanted to chime in that her behavior at bedtime sounds like classic overtired. I also think you're missing her "happy bedtime" window. 8:00 is late, I think 7 or 7:15 might be better for her. Good luck!
Also get the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. It's priceless for sleep issues!
HI. Mine used to do that too. I think they go in phases, but i totally agree that you need to address now. Otherwise, no rest for you. By falling out, do you mean that you switched her to a toddler bed? Maybe she is too young for that. Mine is almost 16 months, and I don't want to switch her yet for the same reason that she will just not stay still and start playing instead of sleeping.
I agree with the previous post about a routine. Our routine is bath (every other day), brush teeth, change to PJs, watch 10 minutes of Sesame Street with the lights dim, then we say good night to Daddy, walk to bed, put her in the crib, and I read for about 10 minutes, kiss her good night, turn off lights and walk out. In her crib I she has 3 stuffed animals, that if she is not fully tired when I put her down she still can play around with her toys before she fully falls asleep. She does cry sometimes and wants to come out, but I just ignore her, or if it gets bad, I send her Dad in becuase if I go in to check on her, I make things WORSE!!
Hope this helps.
I created a routine, bottle bath bed. basically get their belly fed, bath is relaxing & if a little warm will cause the body to go into a natural sleepy state. Just don't let them get cold as that wakes them up. Then cuddle a bit in the bedroom with lights dimmed or off. I used to stand holding my little one and say prayers in a soft monotone voice. then about 5 minutes in, put baby down awake and let them learn to self soothe. your job is to give her the opportunity to sleep. Her job is to learn how to do it. If she gets physically upset, go in take a few minutes & calm her. mine were worse with me, so I had daddy take over this duty. they both learned that bed time was for sleeping. Just know that the habits you start now are going to work or you long term. If you rub her back for 10 minutes, just know you will be doing so when she is 4 too! Those habits are very hard to undo...My two are just 4 & 5 now & they still do supper bath & bed. Bed is us walking in with them and saying a prayer, kisses, & lights out. Takes us 5 minutes. I know friends that have a 2 hour process where kids ffalls asleep in bed with them after having special blanket & back rubbing then they carry kid to their own bed only to have kid return in the middle of the night for more back rubbing to go back to sleep etc.... Best of luck. Oh & I'm proud of my two also cuz they get up and use the potty without disturbing anyone else & are able to go back to bed with out help. All they've known is sleeping on their own & so they aren't scared to be alone or in the dark. ;)
Can I ask what you mean by 'falling out' ?
I would take a look at her nap schedule and see if it needs to be adjusted. Is her last nap too close to bedtime? Too long before? Or perhaps the duration of her last nap is too long. Being cranky due to overtiredness is a common cause for tantrums. I would take a look at that first.
Good luck to you,
J.
You've gotten great advice. That bedtime routine will help things a lot - especially bathtime and cuddletime (whether it's nursing, a bottle of storytime). There's research out there that bathtime before bed makes people sleepy. Also, for what it's worth, grab the book Healthy Sleep Happy Baby by Dr. Weissbluth. It is a life saver and especially if you're doing this on your own, you'll need some solid recommendations as sleep problems pop up from time to time. It talks about healthy sleep from babyhood all the way to adolescence. Good luck!
you may be missing her window of sleep - try putting her down earlier. Bet it works - I'd try 7:15 at the latest.
