Difficult bedtimes - 10 month old

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

I'm hoping you wise mumsnetters can help.

DS is 10 months old (9 months corrected) and bedtimes are a nightmare. It takes about an hour of rocking, music, shushing etc to get him to sleep at night.

Once he is asleep he'll sleep all night 8-7 ish. Daytime naps are also regular and good, no trouble there. It's just getting him to bed for his nighttime sleep is a massive palaver.

Routine is bath, milk and story, bed. At about 7pm.
We've tried black out blinds, music, different noise apps, changing bed times and am running out of ideas!

[GuybrushThreepwoodMightyPirate]

My 10mo is similar. Are you sure your DS is properly tired at 7? What would happens if you just put him to bed at 8? His sleep sounds pretty brilliant overall so that's good!

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

I think I'll try that, thanks. He seems absolutely shattered though, eye rubbing etc. So I've tried adjusting earlier and a little bit later.
Ah yeah his sleep is good really, at least after all the messing about he does actually sleep!
I'm on the November thread with you so have become very keen to get this sorted before Nov

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Oh unless you're not the same person as GuybrushThreepwoodMP. Just realised slightly different username sorry

[FATEdestiny]

I'd suggest the same as Guy, if he is messing around when he generally sleeps well then he isn't tired enough. I sometimes find that when DD gets fussy and I try for an early night (assuming she is tired) that she actually just wants her bedtime milk. Once she has her milk, she gets a second wind. I could easily be trying and failing to get her to sleep at this point, if I didn't realise what was happening.

I stay in DDs room as she goes to sleep (as part of gradual withdrawal), in her eyeline standing by the door. When properly ready for bed I can give her her milk and put her in the cot. She will get dummy and blankie and snuggle down to settle to sleep while I am tidying up in her room and is generally asleep within 10 minutes.

I cant be arsed have too much to do at bedtime (I have 4 children) to tolerate her messing around. And I would never leave her crying. So if she is not settling to sleep within 10 minutes of being put into her cot then I get her up. Out of sleeping bag, downstairs and playing until she is ready. Then we start again when she seeming more ready (so she will get another milk feed and story).

[AbbeyRoadCrossing]

Thanks I'll give it a try tomorrow