bed time

[mills01]

my 14 month old had a good bed time routine going to bed at 7 30pm. Over the last few weeks bed time has become a real struggle with her keeping herself awake till 10 - 10 30. I'm exhausted. I don't feel i am doing any thing different. Any tips?

[BlueBumedFly]

Poor you, a jump from 7.30 til 10 is a lot.

Have her day time naps changed? I think it is about this age that they can go down to one nap at a push - does she nap in the day?

Could she be overtired? Hence she gets a second wind? Could you try an even earlier bed time like 7pm to avoid this? Overtiredness is the worst thing, when DD is OT she keeps on and on and on going getting more stroppy and hideous as the bedtime routine goes on.

How about a baby lavender room spray? I used to swear by it for relaxation when DD was tiny.

[mills01]

Hi, yes she does nap in the day usually 11-1. However due to late bed comes late mornings, then late sleep. 1-3. Its a visious circle.
will give the lavender a go.

[mills01]

I think I may also try an earlier bed time, As she may well be over tired?

[kolakube]

Maybe try waking her up in the morning at a time closer to her "normal" one. My DD would start the day in a foul mood if I did this by going into the room myself but a bit of loud pop music and she was all smiles!

[BlueBumedFly]

I would try put her down for her lunch nap at midday perhaps, irrespective of what time she gets up in the morning and then let her have 2 hours then wake her gently and slowly. Then I would try a bedtime routine that starts at 6.15pm with her going down to sleep by 6.45 - 7pm.

Or, maybe wake her in the morning at 'normal' time and put up with a tired baby for the morning then get her down at 11am to try to 'reset' her pattern, you may have to do this for a few days but it should work in the end?

I think she must be very tired, lots of nights of this won't matter how long she sleeps in the morning, the night times will be exhausting her so I would imagine she is very overtired.

Hope it works, a few days of 'resetting' should work. They say about habits '4 days to make and 4 days to break'!