Screaming before sleep (her, not me...)

[WineSpider]

I think I may have posted about this before - but the problem is still here (and I can't find my old thread to bump!) so apologies...

The biggest sleep issue we have is that our 5 month old DD always screams before sleep - day naps too but always worse in the evening. I'm confident I've spotted and acted on tired signs at the right time and that she is not overtired. It's like she's just angry that she is being put to bed. She can become hysterical and often inconsolable - we've tried leaving her, not leaving her and usually end up doing something in between.

It's not an allergy or wind etc, we have a good bedtime routine but it hasn't got better over time. I have a horrible feeling that it's just her "thing" and am live in hope that she will grow out if it. In the meantime though it's a pretty grim way for her and us to end the day.

Does anyone have any experience of this? Will it get better on it's own? When?!

[DelBot123]

My lo does this too. Not for her bedtime but for most naps. However usually for her its because she's overtired or if she's been overstimulated. If I time it right, usually an hour after waking she's better. She won't cry if she's relaxed before I try to get her to nap. I stop playing with her 15min before, give her a massage with no stimuli in the room (tv, voices etc) and put on her gro bag. She still grumbles as she feeds but often drifts off wo screaming. I know it sounds daft but I kind of think it's their way of winding down enough to sleep.

[WineSpider]

Thanks delbot. How old is your baby out of interest?

[DelBot123]

She's 4 months

[WineSpider]

We try and relax her before sleep too but it is so hard to strike the balance between tired enough to sleep yet not overtired. I think she suddenly realises she has been put to bed and gets upset about it then it becomes hard, hysterical crying. If we pick her up and distract her somehow to calm her then she will often go to sleep as soon as she is put back down again. Weird! I keep reading about people who have one year old who still scream before bedtime so I am really hoping she grows out of it as it shreds my nerves as I'm sure your baby's cry is designed to do...

[WineSpider]

Bump - does anyone have any more experiences to share? Did anybody's baby do this then grow out of it? Or did you find a way to help? (Desperately hoping so!)...

[Ginnytonic82]

No advice but I could have written this about my Ds. It is very distressing. Hope someone can help.