DD (just turned 1) refusing to lie down at nap/night times

[SheWillBeLoved]

That's it really

DD has for the past week taken to refusing to lie down when she is put down during the day and at night for sleeps. She used to do the usual wiggling about to get comfy, on all fours etc but then she'd drop down and settle to sleep, sleeping twice a day for between 1-2 hours, and sleeping through the night.

Now, as soon as she is put down, she sits up, yanks at her cot sheet, shoves her dummy out the bars, whinges, shouts "mama mama mama", and generally does anything she can to avoid going to sleep even though she is so tired that this morning she actually half fell asleep sitting up. As soon as she hears me, she throws herself down and laughs like it is a game. Blardy doing my head in. Took an hour and a half to get her to have her morning nap today, and she was awake and sitting up again after 10 minutes. I'm just struggling to understand why my perfect little sleep machine has broken!

Any ideas?

I think your right it is a game, have yuo tried just ignoring her, assuming she is safe in the cot, and can not cause herself any harm i would leave her to get on with it.

I do ignore her, only when she really cries do I go in to her and the minute she hears the door open, she flings herself down face first and laughs, before saying "Hiyaaa" little madam

I have no idea where she picked up this little game though. I thought it was a game at first but it can't be much fun for her to be falling asleep sat up surely?

How long do you listen to her cry, before you go in? She does sound very clever and cheeky.

The way you have written it makes me think she is putting on the 'real' cry to get you to come in, she can't be that distressed if she is giggling as soon as she see's you.

Maybe you could sit in her room then instead, still ignoring her so she isn't able to play the game. Sit far enough away that she can't reach you, and don't engage with her. Maybe read a book in the corner.

Or you could lie her down and stroke her back and face, to get her off to sleep?

Done all of those things this past week lol. Maybe I need to be a bit more consistent.

I tried the being in the same room until she drops off for the first few days. Laying next to her, facing her, facing away and reading a book, shushing her, patting her back (which worked one night), but then that didn't work the next night so I have sat outside her door listening out for her. I actually fell asleep myself outside the door for 20 minutes last night after a long day out with her

How can she put up such a long fight when she is obviously so tired that she's falling asleep sitting up! Baffles me this whole baby business

Oh, and I don't go in the minute she cries, I wait until it goes from a whinge to a genuinely upset cry - or what seems to be one! She even as tears, but then as I said, laughs the minute I go in.

I think you should probably choose one thing out all those you've tried and be consistent with it.

OK I'll confess I'm not a parent, but i have many many years of childcare experience and have worked with 3 months plus. What i found has worked is rubbing backs, stroking faces, patting backs e.t.c we lay the children on the beds and put them down to sleep, everyday we do the same thing, we do not change the routine, and can be quite hard for new children but eventually they get it and fall asleep quite quickly, some don't need to be sat with at all (sadly only a few).

I have also seen many children cry real tears, to get what they want, its much easier to ignore it when your the child carer not the parent I'm sure.

Thanks for the advice cookie - you not being a parent doesn't make it any less valid

You're right about consistency - it's one thing I have always been good with strangely enough, bed time is always the same. Which is why this sudden change has just baffled me and I'm running round like a headless chicken trying to deal with it

She has come down with a little cold today, and is ready to cut her first tooth any day now, so maybe it's all linked? I guess I'll have to ride it out and see

Thank you, sometimes i give advice and think people will say don't listen to her she doesn't know anything she hasn't had a baby (yet). So i like to put a disclaimer in

Maybe the cold and the tooth is what this all boils down to, i have certainly noticed changes in children when something is bothering them.

I do def think that it is a learnt behaviour, the giggling throwing herself back down, gives that one a way, bless her she prob has just realised she has a way to keep getting her mummy to come back to her, maybe she'll forget all about it in a few weeks.

Maybe she only needs one nap in the day.I am sure my DD1 gave up her morning nap around this time.I think when they are properly tired they do not have the energy to mess about.Could you try just 1 nap just after an early lunch or a nap a bit later say 11.30-1.30pm & lunch when she wakes up

LexieB - I decided on that plan of action today after only 10 minutes sleep this morning, she went down this afternoon without much of a struggle, and tonight too. Had a little mess about, but soon lay down and fell asleep.

I'll try missing out her morning nap tomorrow, take her out to keep her busy as at around 10am she starts getting cranky and sleepy still, but then is wide awake the minute she is put down to sleep!

Thanks for all of the advice so far ladies, tis appreciated