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Original poster

19 month old obsessed with Monkey Puzzle book and won't sleep - serious problem!

15 replies

movingalot · 12/09/2014 20:56

DD 19 months loves books, so I recently bought a load of the lovely Julia Donaldson books, but she has become absolutely obsessed with Monkey Puzzle Confused - it is as though it is the equivalent of Breaking Bad for babies and she just can't get enough of it and just go to bloody sleep at bedtime!

She wants us to read it together again and again….and just cannot settle. Her usual bedtime is 7.30 - 8 ish, but over the last few nights she has just refused to settle (like 9.30 - 10 ) despite being really tired, and if put in the cot screams for the monkey book and actually gets very upset Sad (even if the book goes in with her, she wants it to be read to her).

I have just put the book away as it just seems like more trouble than it is worth, but she got really upset at bedtime again. She also spent ages hunting out the monkey pictures in her other books at bedtime just to get her fix! Should I just give the bloody book away to one of her cousins? Or I was thinking of getting her a monkey teddy to bring to bed with her? Any other suggestions?

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HansieLove · 12/09/2014 22:17

Don't give her book away! She loves it. I think getting her a monkey plush toy is good. My GD likes the ones with long arms that go around her neck, hands have Velcro on.

And now I will google to check out Monkey Puzzle.

NoraRobertsismyguiltypleasure · 12/09/2014 22:19

Do you say to her that you will read it twice/three times whatever you can stand? My dd loves stories and would have us read a dozen before bed every night. What we do is my partner reads 2 or 3 while she has her milk and then I go up and do her teeth and then she has 2 more stories. To avoid her getting really cross I tell her w hen I go up that it's teeth a nd then two more stories. After the first one I then say last story and then bed.
You will probably have to persist for a while, but tell her you'll read it 3 times and then it's bedtime. Could you get a small monkey toy for her to take to bed?

HansieLove · 12/09/2014 22:20

I see there are two Monkey Puzzle books.

Blueistheonlycolour · 12/09/2014 22:21

Could you get her a monkey clock?
like this?
My son has one and loves it. You could tell her that you will read it until monkey falls asleep....?

PetiteRaleuse · 12/09/2014 22:24

Move that book to another time of day. It can only be read after breakfast for example, or on arriving home from nursery, then it has to go in the cupboard to sleep until tomorrow. She can even help put it to bed. But disassociate that book from bedtime.

MegBusset · 12/09/2014 22:27

Oh dear! DS1 went through a similar stage with Duck In The Truck. I ended up throwing it out because I couldn't take any more!

If it's any consolation he's now a strapping 7yo who reads himself to sleep at night without my intervention so it won't last!

Original poster
movingalot · 12/09/2014 22:40

Ah thanks for all the advice. I'll try letting her read it tomorrow but not at bedtime. If there's still tears at bedtime it's goodbye monkey!!

Hansie I'm not sure about the other one, in this one the little monkey has lost his mum and a butterfly helps him find her. It really is a lovely book

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HansieLove · 13/09/2014 13:57

I think it would be such fun to take her to a bookstore (check Amazon so you know the other title, and make sure the bookstore has it before you go), and discover the other book. She would be delighted! She is still a baby and I think it would be a very sweet moment to see her excited about a new monkey book.

SavoyCabbage · 13/09/2014 14:02

I would get her a little monkey and a butterfly and whatever else is in there and let her act out the story to her hearts content with the characters.

Rockinghorse123 · 13/09/2014 14:03

My DS was the same with The Gruffalo. now banned at bed time! I can see us going the same way with "Room on the Broom" Julia Donaldson should come with a health warning! Grin

Original poster
movingalot · 13/09/2014 21:59

Hmmm it looks as though the monkey puzzle issue was symptomatic of a much worse problem - possibly a late 18 month sleep regression... she was up for hours screaming last night, refused to nap today, and is currently asleep in bed with me (not complaining about the early night but probably storing up mega issues for the future...) hopefully a temporary measure only!

However I did get her a lovely monkey teddy today which she adores and is cuddling currently, it's almost a big as her, bless!

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Gab3478 · 15/09/2014 19:33

Sorry you are struggling and no advice but I just have to say I literally know monkey puzzle word for word off by heart! it's my DDs favourite as well, although not to the extent of your DD. My DD just calls it the 'mum book' Smile hope the toy monkey helps your little one get over it a bit Wink

rembrandtsrockchick · 15/09/2014 19:45

Put the book under her pillow when she goes to bed. Tell her that monkey will be with her when she sleeps and that he needs his sleep too.

Iggly · 15/09/2014 21:04

I say sleep regression. I don't think it is the book. Be firm. Let her read it but only 2 times. Then bed!

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