Talk

Flip

Talk to others about child development and behaviour stages here. You can find more information on our development calendar.

Behaviour/development

bedtime tantrums!

5 replies

sunglasses · 20/02/2007 19:22

My 19 month old has recently taken up a new bedtime routine. She goes to bed following the usual routine, settles down with her dummy and favourite toy then as soon as i go out of the room throws both out of the cot and then screams and cries and shouts dummy, dummy, mummy, daddy etc ad infinitum. she as yet has not slept without them so at first we were keen to return them to her so she could get to sleep but we have quickly realised she does it in a fit of temper tantrum to get us to come back. Tried controlled crying last night- was horrible but she did eventually collapse to sleep after 45 mins- we returned 5 ,10, 15 min intervals. Doing it again tonight-for 20 mins so far and still hysterical. she immediately lies down and is quite as soon as i open the door so i know she is just playing up. Anyone had a similar problem and did cc work? How long did it take, its really stressful!!! She up till now has been really good about going to bed but a recent bout of illness has knocked her all out of routine. Out of interest do you do the same intervals each night with cc or do you wait longer the first time before going in on subsequent nights?

OP posts:

Report

sunglasses · 20/02/2007 19:50

30 minutes tonight so a definite improvement!!
Still feels horrible hearing her crying like that but I am telling myself its for the best as she needs to learn how to get to sleep.
Oh no she just woke up and the same thing is happening all over again
Help!!!

OP posts:

Report

GooseyLoosey · 20/02/2007 19:55

Sounds like you're doing the right thing to me. We let my dd get into a similar pattern and she started doing it every night between 2-3.00am! It will escalate if you don't deal with it. What happens if you put her down without either dummy or toy?

Report

ScottishThistle · 20/02/2007 19:55

Be strong, she is indeed playing a game & if you're consistent she'll give up eventually!

Report

ellieandhattie · 20/02/2007 19:58

Sorry no advice as my dd1 can be a nightmare and shes 2.5 the only way we dealt with it was that she was in a bed at 15months so could get out and get them if she wanted them but we did have to put a stair gate on her door for a few weeks as she kept trying to get downstairs.

Even now she can be a little madam normally its wanting to come into our bed by 11pm and her dad to get out and sleep in her bed so its just me and her (and dd2 when I was pg but shes just gone into her room at 6 weeks old to persuade dd1 to stay in her room) but so far the last 9 days the dora sticker chart is working although may be another story when we build up the courage to take her dummy away at night

Report

sunglasses · 20/02/2007 20:02

Havent tried putting her down without dummy and toy as they have been so much a part of the bedtime routine up till now didnt want to change it. Every time I return I give them back to her although in the end she seems to fall asleep without them when the intervals between returning are longer. Have been back in once since she woke up again tonight and she cried for a minute when I left but I didnt hear the dummy being hurled and I think she is asleep. Fingers crossed!