CC - Do we have to do it again?

[lazzaroo]

We resorted to CC with our now 17 month old when she was around 9 months old. Prior to this we had to rock her to sleep and she was waking 2 or 3 times in the night. After 3 nights, she was settling herself to sleep within 20 mins, no tears and largely sleeping through the night.

Suddenly, about 3 weeks ago, she is no longer happy for me to walk out of the room when I put her down for bed. IT was all fine until the in-laws came to stay (and attempting to be nice) we offered for MIL to put LO to bed. LO got very upset, screamed hysterically and made herself violently sick. It was a complete nightmare to settle her that night and we eneded up going out in the car to finally get her to sleep. Could that be the cause?! or is it just coincidence?

Since the clocks changed we have gone for an 8pm bedtime, as she generally only sleeps 10ish hours a ight and we preferred an extra hour with her in the evenings than at 5am! WE have the same bedtime routine as always, bath, milk & story then bed.

Her daytime sleep is changing lts and variable from day to day. Some days she will have only one sleep in the monring (1.5 hours if at home), but sometime she sneaks in a late nap at 4ish. Could this be the problem?

I keep racking my brains...is she overtired...is she not tired enough!!!!! AAhhhh. Is it teething?

I want to make sure all bases are covered before I even contemplate CC again. It worked last time but it was REALLY hard. If I knew this was just aphase that would pass I'd be tempted to stick it out. But it's taking it's toll. Tonight I tried to put her down at 8pm, she SCREAMED when I left the room. No matter how sleepy she got, it's like she can smell me taking steps towards the door!

Anyone gone through something similar?

V much gone through similar experience and had to do cc a few times but since ds turned 2 and I am pregnant I can't face it anymore! Now I use gradual (v slow) withdrawal method. Path of least resistance etc... But illness and disruption and bad dreams just meant I needed to retrain too often.

As they get older it's easier to explain. I did have this at 18 months and then 21 months but always Hated cc. Too traumatic for me!

If you sit beside her how long does it take her to get to sleep?

I think at 17 months you should maybe push the morning nap a bit later and then forget the afternoon one.

4pm is quite late for a 17month old IME. Do whatever you can to make sure the AM/lunchtime nap is a good one and then maybe sit with her for a bit whilst she falls asleep at bedtime.

Worth a shot!

Good Luck

Thank you for your replies.

It takes around 30-45 mins to get her to sleep. The frustration is that she isn't just content for me to sit i her room with her. If she was I'd be happy to sit and read! but if I move away from the side of the cot she stands and cries. Wants to be picked up. Then is on the verge of nodding off when in my arms, but when I put her down she wakes!!! repeat the pick up, put down etc etc my back can't take it!

I wonder if naps are the key. But it doesn't seem to make any difference whether she naps at 4pm or not. Last night she went to sleep at 8.40pm. But at least slept through until 7.20!! Lovely :-) That should mean her morning nap will be later so will see if that makes any difference.

Can you try patting her in the cot? Or stroking? Does she settle if you sit right next to the cot?

I was going to suggest same about the nap but they all seem so so different re day sleep. My own ds is hard to work out!

Settling at night for him is often related to how late he napped. But when he was younger he could nap late and still go to bed.

Sounds normal to me judging by DS! he wanted extra cuddles so gave them. He was fine in time. Also try dropping to one nap a day after lunch, say 1ish?

Well, today she just had one nap. Slept from just before 11 to 12.30. Has been asleep about 15 mins. Lots of cuddles and stroking.

We have tried to make her nap later but have found that if she goes too long before sleep then she only sleeps for 40mins and wakes up VERY grumpy! (sometimes she is up at 5.30am and would never cope without a sleep until 1pm) and at nursery she only sleeps 40 mins anyway so she is still having 2 naps there.

We'll see how tonight goes. I can cope with helping her to settle when we get a good night sleep afterwards! it's when I have to repeat the process at 3 or 4am that I struggle. I also worry about going out and leaving her to settle with someone else now, but we'll cross that bridge when we get to it!

DS didn't drop to one nap until recently (19 months). He also was an early riser - 5am (now he "sleeps in" until 6). On early morning days, I'd give him a short nap at 8.30-9 ish then a lunch one at 1. Now he's dropped to one nap, I have made it earlier - at 12.30 although it's easier to keep him going until then!

Wells, night times haven't changed an daytime naps are still a mixed bag due to such variation in wake up times, this week have had 7.20am, 6.15am and 5.30am!! I don't think she is designed to be an afternoon sleeper, as has never taken long sleep in afternoon. The 2 hour lunch thing has always eluded us! so even when we go to one nap I reckon it'll be late morning but that's okay with me.

Hasn't miraculously returned to self settling. Tried slightly earlier bed tonight, but that didn't make any difference. As always, will just keep going unti klit sorts itself out...usually does!!