My 13 month old has always been great at sleeping, other than the odd night if she’s unwell or if it’s been too hot, we do dinner, bath, play with quiet toys (books etc) in her room then cuddles and bed. She usually sleeps anywhere from 7/8pm until 6/7am.
Since she turned one, it’s all gone out of the window. Put her to bed as usual last night and she woke at 11pm crying. I gave her some nurofen at 11:30 as she wasn’t settling and I’d noticed she’s been chewing a lot on her right side so think she has another tooth coming through, thought maybe it’s that. Checked nappy, no poo. She’d had her usual 3 meals plus snacks and an 11oz bottle of milk so knew she wasn’t hungry.
At midnight, I ended up putting her into bed with me and DH went on the sofa (not something I really want to do, I’ve never co slept and would like her to be content in her own space). She was just trying to play/climb off the end of the bed/shouting for our dog etc.
I gave up at 2 and took her back to her cot and left her in there, finally after 30 mins of crying then playing with her dummies she gave in and fell asleep.
I’m still having to rock and cuddle her to sleep at bedtime which I don’t mind as I see it as one day she won’t want me doing that and it only takes 10 mins max for her to drop off.
Now I’m thinking maybe it’s time for me to establish some independence within her, do her usual dinner, bath, story and cuddles then gentle sleep training.
Please help with where to start?! I'm also having a hard time dropping milk x