18 months and won't go to sleep

[goldeline]

DS has been sleeping through since mid December (a very welcome Christmas present indeed) and even before that he usually settled well at bed time.

For the last two weeks he's been awful. His routine hasn't changed - bath at 7, then pyjamas, bottle and bed - but now when we out him in his cot he screams. Sometimes he'll chat to himself but it always turns into screams eventually.

Almost every night we've given in and given him a second bottle, which settles fine after. This has led me to think perhaps it could be a growth spurt? Although he doesn't seem much hungrier during the day.

I've read about 18 month sleep regression, and whilst I'm usually a bit dubious regarding these things it does seem to hit the nail on the head.

I suppose I need advice regarding how to deal with him at bed time. I know giving him a second bottle is only making things worse but DP and I are both under a lot of stress at the moment (exam time for him, new promotion for me) and are utterly exhausted. Probably a shit excuse but we're struggling.

Thanks :)

[cpic]

hello, I have a 19m ds. How much food/milk/sleep is he getting in the day? if genuinely hungry try upping food and milk offered earlier than bedtime, iyswim.

[cpic]

also, how long do you give the screaming to subside before you go in with bottle #2? We had a little period at 17m where he cried at bedtime but beamed as soon as we went back in - nothing wrong just wants more mum and dad! ergo we ignore ruthlessly after ruling out nappy, illness etc and it only lasted a week or so.

[Cherrybellyboo]

I have no advice- my oldest didn't sleep through till she turned two and moved on from the cot. I hope it gets better though, it's really hard when they don't sleep. Have all his back teeth come through?

[nottheOP]

Does he feed to sleep?

I'd ditch the bottle altogether, you're supposed to brush their teeth after they've had milk anyway.

If you think it's hunger, try a weetabix and a banana at 6.30, especially if he's having dinner at 5pm or something.

Have a sippy cup of milk after Pj's but before teeth and storytime.

[goldeline]

Thank you all for your replies. :)

He eats reasonably well during the day. Always eats all of his breakfast (Weetabix with fruit or yoghurt). He then has a sandwich or similar for lunch along with some snacks (cheese, fruit and veg). Dinner is usually a hot meal and then similar snacks.. He eats between 5:30 and 6. Dinner is the meal he's fussiest over, sometimes he refuses the main point blank, so we resort to more snacks. I think weetabix at night is a good idea - I'll try some with a banana tonight around 6:30 after tea at 5:30 and see if that helps.

He doesn't fall asleep during his bottle but it does calm him down and get him ready for sleep, or at least it used to! We brush his teeth in the bath and then use a tooth cleaning wipe subtly after his bottle - I know this isn't the best but brushing his teeth at this point seems to wreck routine. I know we also need to move onto sippy cups but I'm choosing my battles wisely, I don't want to rock the boat again until we get over this saga.

I'm going to try extended story time after bath and pre bottle to see if that helps tire him out a bit.

Thanks again for all your suggestions, very very much appreciated.

[nottheOP]

I know what you're saying about choosing your battles but it seems from reading that the bottle is the issue - he is almost too dependent on it to fall asleep or get sleepy. I think if you move the routine out a bit and use storytime to get him sleep and calmed down rather than the milk, it might help.

Just one thought is that we've had to recently add blackout curtains as well as a blind to DS's room and it has really helped in getting him down in a good time. The light evenings were not helping the situation at all!!

[goldeline]

Thanks nottheOP - I've just ordered some blackout blinds for next day delivery! I think his reluctance to settle has coincided with the lighter evenings so hopefully that will help.

I agree that his bottle is a crutch - probably for me more than him to be honest, I've just never out him to bed without milk beforehand so I feel like I don't know how to. I think I need to just suck it up and commit to it..

[cpic]

ok my suggestions would be hot meal at lunchtime and lighter tea in the evening - more likely to eat his hot meal and be more full over the day i think. We do milk before bathtime, with the first five mins of night garden, then bath teeth story bed. have you tried a comforter? mine has been sleeping with a muslin since 6m! good luck

[goldeline]

Not sure if it was a fluke but he went to sleep without any crying/whinging last night. I gave him a very big dinner - by his standards - so perhaps it is a growth spurt.

Thanks again all :)