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Sleep

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Original poster

Nightmare Naptime !!

11 replies

Spongebob · 08/03/2006 15:24

My DS (20 mnth) is napping as I type....Thank God! It has taken me almost an hour and a half of reading, stroking, singing and cooing....and he screamed and screamed and tantrumed, whilst rubbing his eyes and yawning, finally I lost my rag and shouted at him (I feel awful)...but it worked!! Prior to having very bad flu, he was the perfect baby (3 weeks ago) now, although hes better, its completely thrown him....His tantrums last for up to 2 hours, he throws things, hits me etc...tell me it will all get better ....Pleeeze

OP posts:

MABS · 08/03/2006 15:26

(Forgive hijack Spongebob - are you coming on Sat? - really hope so xx)

Original poster

Spongebob · 08/03/2006 15:29

Hi MABS...I wasn't aware that anything was going on....Ive been so tied up with Harry having flu. I doubt that I can get away on Sat as my MIL is coming down from Surrey for a few days.

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Papillon · 08/03/2006 15:33

perhaps he needed to be left to his own devices earlier? - is that not the advice given when a child trantrums?

Or does he scream the house down if you leave him to go to sleep like that? Sounds like he is getting into an overtired state.

Original poster

Spongebob · 08/03/2006 15:37

Before he was ill...we used to read a story after lunch and then he'd snuggle down happily. Im trying to stick to the same routine....as for leaving him alone, Ive never had to do that before...and hate the thought of leaving him to cry especially as he has been so poorly. dunno what to do? maybe just knock off the nap? but he looks SO tired.

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bobblehead · 08/03/2006 15:44

My dd is being similar at bedtimes and nap times, although she is only 9 months. I am putting it down to overtiredness, which is turning into a viscious cycle as the less she sleeps the worse it becomes. At the moment I am trying really early bedtimes. Last night she went down at 5.15pm no bother, but woke at 8 and took 2 hours of crying/laughing/screaming to get back to sleep. Rest of the night was ok though and at least I know she got more sleep than she would have otherwise. Perhaps your ds is just needing alot more sleep now he has recovered from being ill, if it has left him a bit run down?

Original poster

Spongebob · 08/03/2006 15:51

I think youre right about him being run down bobble...Its the fighting sleep thats getting me down. I know he needs the sleep, he is knackered! it just a full scale battle....and if I give in and he dosent nap....he falls asleep at 6.30pm and is wide awake and crying to get up at 4.30am !!! My mum came over from Spain to help me whilst he was ill and her first words were "My God....you look 10 years older"...thanks Mum.

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bobblehead · 08/03/2006 18:31

I am being driven crazy by the fighting sleep right now! Especially when I want some! I think that just as they are about to fall asleep is when they feel at their worst from tiredness, whereas when they play it distracts them so they don't feel bad. Therefore they see sleep as the enemy... thats my theory anyway, but probably totally wrong! How is his nighttime sleep?

Original poster

Spongebob · 08/03/2006 20:52

He falls asleep ok at night, protests a bit but is usually ok.....lately he has been waking at about 4.30 and DEMANDING to get up, if I lay with him he kicks me until I get up!!

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mogwai · 12/03/2006 21:59

The fighting sleep thing is incredibly depressing. My husband seemed to think I was over-egging it a bit until today. He worked nights last night and was trying to sleep while our 8 month old was throwing a total wobbly between 9am-10.30am. I went up to her every fiftenn minutes, got her up, put her back, you name it.

So he brought her downstairs (in his underpants) and said "I can't sleep", to which I replied "what can I do about it?". There was a snow blizzard outside, hardly like I could go for a nice walk!

She was so tired, she fell asleep with her face in her lunch (which was quite comical). I took her upstairs and she had just 30 minutes nap. Then she grizzled all afternoon before we fought again at 4pm for another half hour nap.

I'm so bloody fed up about this at the moment. Symathies to all of you, it's making my life hell and I'm worried the childminder will be feeling fed up with her as well.

bobblehead · 13/03/2006 00:26

Mogwai, one thing I have found helpful is keeping a sleep diary. I noticed that no matter when she started showing signs of tiredness, or no matter when I put her down she never actually seemed to go to sleep before a certain time in the morning. Now even if she's tired I keep her up until that time and of course she still doesn't always go to sleep easily, but it is a little quicker and mentally I feel better having not fought with her all morning!

mogwai · 14/03/2006 20:45

you might have something there, I'll think about that

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