Almost 3yo impossible at bedtime!!! Help!!!!!

amother

Orchid

Wed, Jul 08 2015, 7:52 pm

Our 2y9month DS was a beautiful sleeper until 4 months ago. He would be in his crib by 7, we'd have finished his whole bedtime routine, we'd sing him songs before we left the room and he'd quietly fall asleep and sleep until 6 the next morning.

Since February, he's been more and more difficult at bedtime. He resists bath, getting ready for bed is a struggle, he says he's sleepy and then doesn't want to go in his crib. He is still clearly sleepy but having trouble unwinding from the day. We try and keep the evenings calm after dinner to help him but it's clearly not enough...

Somehow we aren't able to leave his room until 730/745 and this is after protestations and demands of "more songs" and tears and asking us to stay etc dragging it out interminably!!! Eventually he will either talk or sing etc and eventually fall asleep but often he calls us back in to fix his blanket or ask a question or any number of reasons. We try and set strict limits with him too!

Weve since had a baby and bedtime is a nightmare! How do we get our happy little sleeper back?!?

mamita

Wed, Jul 08 2015, 9:24 pm

Unless there have been major changes /trauma in his life this is totally age appropiate.
He is tired but has discovered that one can also desire to play.
He has learnt to express opposing desires
He has learnt how to get his momma busy around him;)
You can give him back the security of a set routine
You can help him learn to relax himself independantly
You can help him learn to fall asleep independantly.
Sticking to your original bedtime routine calmly lovingly and firmly will help him learn to deal with new possibilities (like the ability to have and express opposing desires ) and do what's good for him (go to sleep). Talking and singing to himself is an excellent way for him both to unwind and learn how to put himself to sleep.
He's past the calm baby-does-mommas-thing stage . he's at that noisy test-and-see-what-this-is-all-about stage. Its pretty noisy until suddenly you realize you've hit the I-get-it-this-is-calm-safe-and-familiar stage. Well . sort of. There are other stages along the way Smile