22 month old refusing to go to sleep

[StylishDuck]

My DD has always been a relatively good sleeper. And even now when she does go to sleep she very rarely wakes up during the night. The problem is getting her to sleep. We've had the same routine since she was little. Bath, milk, story, bed and she did through a phase of settling herself in her cot no problem around 7.30-8.

For the last couple of weeks it's been a different story. She screams when you put her down. Demands the tv on. We don't let her watch much tv and never after 5pm but that doesn't stop her demanding it. She's rarely asleep before 10pm and although she is happy enough to get up in the morning for nursery at 7, we have to wake her. If we left her to wake herself she would sleep til 9-9.30.

She still naps for 1-2 hours after lunch. Any suggestions? Should we be trying some kind of controlled crying or other training?

[StylishDuck]

So after me saying she normally sleeps through. Last night she woke and screamed inconsolably for an hour from 2.30

Hopeful bump!

[JohnLapsleyParlabane]

Has she got all her teeth through yet? Maybe it's time to consider shortening her nap?

[StylishDuck]

I think we're still waiting on 4 back teeth but I don't think it's that. She's not showing any symptoms of teething.

I get what you're saying about the nap. We've tried shortening it in the past and she just gets overtired and hyper at teatime. I think she still needs the nap in addition to sleeping longer at night.

[JohnLapsleyParlabane]

Have you tried bringing bedtime forward? Or does she just get herself all het up? I only ask because my one year old is in a phase of needing to be in bed asleep by 6.30 at the moment, when she's used to a 7.30 bedtime. Good luck!

[Eminybob]

My DS did this at around the same age. Just wouldn't settle at night, wanted us in the room, more books etc etc. The only difference was he wasn't sleeping in, still waking at the same time in the morning.

Tbh I just waited it out. It lasted for a couple of months then he suddenly went back to his old routine and self settling again.
I didn't shorten naps, he still has one now for 2.5 hours, goes down at 7.30 and wakes at 7/7.30.
I think it may have been a growth spurt/phase of some sort.

[StylishDuck]

Thanks John, unfortunately bringing bedtime any further wouldn't work as we're both not in from work until 5.30-6 so by the time have tea, bath etc it's closer to 7.30 anyway. I have a feeling she would just protest even more loudly to me putting her down any earlier too.

We did attempt controlled crying last night but it didn't go very well. She got herself so worked up we couldn't even calm her down when we went into her

DH is in the room with her walking about and singing to her just now. She isn't crying though - which has got to be a good sign!

Eminy that's encouraging that it was just a phase with your DS. She had a bad cold a few weeks ago so her sleeping went all to pot. Maybe she just needs to readjust to her routine again. Like I say she's always been a good sleeper. Last night she slept 8.30-7.30 so there was a definite improvement! Fingers crossed you're right.