13 month old bedtime hell

[Frustratedmummy79]

Over the last 6-8 weeks my 13 month old has been refusing to settle at bedtime. We do the same routine every night (it's like Groundhog Day!!) - bath, pjs, sleeping bag, milk, cuddle and into her cot. We were patting to sleep but managed to break that habit and she would mostly self settle. Suddenly she is taking upwards of an hour to settle to sleep and we HAVE to be in the room otherwise she screams until she's sick (sometimes does this if we're in the room too). We've tried lying her down every time she stands up (worked a treat til 6-8 weeks ago - only taking about 15 mins) now it's just a great game that she finds hilarious. Tried sitting quietly in the room (probably takes longer!). She just will not settle before half seven and is up again by 6am. Messing with naps makes no difference - she prefers to have one long (2hrs plus) nap at 10.30 ish but then she's having to go 7 hours til bedtime - if I put another nap in there then bedtime is even worse! As we have a 4 year old it means bedtime just can't be done by 1 person unless 4yo doesn't start his bedtime books til 7.30 which isn't fair. What are we doing wrong????

[fluffikins]

No advice (and not much sympathy) as my 12 month old is up half the night every night but I'd suggest changing the routine, swap the order about, maybe try leaving music on or something as she falls asleep? My dd just screams the minute she's near the cot though so this hasn't worked for us!

[pocketsized]

I've got a 14 month old, 7.30-6 sounds like bliss!

[Frustratedmummy79]

Thanks - just to reassure you 7.30-6 is not continuous, just less of a nightmare than bedtime!! Tonight was a mammoth 2 and a half hour marathon so I don't think I'll be doing the same routine tomorrow!!!

[WorldsBiggestGrotbag]

7.30 seems like a pretty reasonable bedtime to me... My 11 month old does 7.30pm-6am with a couple of wake ups in the night and has half an hour nap in the morning and an hour after lunch. My 2.5 year old does the same but without the nap. Maybe you're trying to get her down too early?

[TheEagle]

My 13.5 month old twins get up at 6.30ish, nap 11-1.30ish and in bed for 6.30pm. Usually asleep by 7. Mostly they sleep till morning but might wake once for a cuddle/drink of water.

The last few nights have been a bit mad at bedtime. I think it's heat and teething - a dose of Calpol and one less layer seemed to help a good bit last night and tonight.

Good luck! It's so stressful when they won't go to sleep!

[TheEagle]

We've tried keeping them up past dinner for a later nap but they just get far too tired. Also tried two naps but they flat out refuse a second nap so an earlier nap and quite early bedtime work well for us.

[tiredybear]

yes, it's all gone (even more) to hell the last 2 weeks with my LO, who's just 14 months. AGES to settle at bedtime, even though we've brought it later and is now more 7.30 than 7. Still up anywhere between 5am and 6am, and now is up most of the night too. I'm ruined. Haven't had a more than a few hours sleep at a time since he was born. pretty sick of it, tbh.
I'm sure it's just another (awful) phase, wondering when the good phases are gonna come......

[Frustratedmummy79]

I feel your pain - just 45 mins of nap all day today. I just want a break!!!! Bedtime was marginally less awful tonight but that was because we didn't get home til half seven so she was too tired to put up much of a fight after bath and books! It's just a phase, it's just a phase.....

[FATEdestiny]

12pm to 7pm is a massive length of time to be awake at that age.

I would push nap time later, aim for it starting 11.30-12.00

[minipie]

Molars?

If not then agree it's likely to be overtiredness... It's a tricky stage as they are not quite ready to do just one nap after lunch but they don't really need the morning one any more. Could you try enforcing a short nap at 9.30ish eg in the buggy, then a longer nap later eg 2-3.15? That mostly works for my 14 month old (atm we are on hols and she's in bed late and we are having similar screaming sessions... )

[tiredybear]

yep, molars are a factor with us. his poor little gums are purple/black...but have been for about a week.

Glad to hear bedtime was a bit better. Let us know how you get on with pushing the nap back a bit as that's something we might try.

we did actually have some sleep last night though! result.