9 month old suddenly won't settle for naps - any ideas?

[mandymac]

My 9 month old dd has been great at settling for daytime naps and at bedtime since she was about 4 months old. She seems to be going through a real develomental spurt - almost crawing, rolling, and copying us - waving etc.

Over the last few days, when we have put her down, she screams as we leave the room and carries on shouting and moaning. When we go in to check on her, she has been moving around the cot, which she has never done before, so she's either the wrong way round with her head under the covers, rolled onto her front or most comically yesterday on all fours backed into a corner and looking like she'd been 'caught' when we went and found her .
I can see that her new found mobility etc could mean she is more reluctant to settle, but I am wondering what to do about it.
Previously, before the moving around, we would leave her for 5-10 mins of moaning to settle herself, but now I am worried that she will get herself in a pickle, but of course if we go in to her, the whole process starts again.
Has anyone tackled this one? What did you do?

Our dd was exactly the same. She seemed to have so much energy and wanted to carry on when it was sleep time.

TBH I didn't do anything different. I put her into her cot when it was sleep time and left her. She never really cried and the times she did I did go and comfort her etc.
Around 8 months she did stop her morning nap and now only has one a day (although at 10mths now, this does vary and she will nap somedays). I know what you mean about being all over the place in her cot. LOL our dd is usually found in her cot: the wrong way around, on her tummy, on her side, on her back, sleeping upright with her head on her lap , or even looking as though she is saying her prayers (on all 4's with her head on the matress )

After she has gone quiet for about 5 mins we usually check on her and whatever position she is in we usually "put her right" if she is sleeping weird. Have you tried a grow bag for your dd to sleep in..? These are brilliant and elimate the worry of sleeping under covers etc..

PS many times we hear "bangs" on the monitor, when checking on our dd she has usually banged her head on the headboard and is right up in the corner of the cot.!

bump

why don't you just leave her again like you did before.? She can't get into any problems as long as you have left her secure. Also if you listen out for her you should be able to hear if she has any problems.

DD may also be at a stage where she is more aware of you and is reluctant for your to leave her.She may be more clingy.
DD is usually like this when I leave her to go into the kitchen or to the toilet etc.

Thanks SHHHH. She has got her leg stuck through the bars recently, which I suppose is why I think we need to go in and check on her. You are right too that she is getting more clingly, especially when tired. Somehow that makes me feel worse about leaving her to cry - knowing that she really is shouting for me, rather than just generally protesting like she did when she was smaller. But she won't settle with us in the room, so I guess leaving her to get on with it (within reason) might be the only option.

thats all we do. DH & I hardly ever leave her if she is crying but at time we have to. Although touch wood she usually only cries occasionally and for a short time. She has also had her feet stuck in the bars. Thats why we just check on her now and then and detangle her iykwim!!!

My dd is the same Mandymac. She is 10m and if really tired will sleep, but if less tires/overtired will rampage around the cot throwing things out and crying/laughing/shouting. She wakes up several times a night too and cries until I lift her, standing there with her arms upstretched! It was so much easier when they couldn't move and make their wishes so clear!

Sorry no answers but I'm hoping its just a phase (been a long enough one already for my liking though)

bumping for the evening shift.

Thanks again Shhhh and Bobblehead.

My 9 month old ds has just started to scream whenever I leave his room too. He used to be a perfect sleeper and go straight down with no fuss at bedtime (7pm). Also if he woke up during the night, I would give him a feed, and he would then go down with no trouble. But not now!!! He has definitely got separation anxiety (during the day he screams if I leave the room). He also can stand up now, so it seems like when I do cc it takes much longer. However just tonight I tried another tactic - waiting till he fell asleep before I left the room (with minimal settling techniques). He was exhausted but tried to keep one eye open to make sure I was still there. It only took a few minutes to stay by his cot, but a relief to finally have a night without screaming. Hopefully this tactic will work again!

Hi Mandymac

Well as you know, my daughter is the same age as yours and she's been having similar problems. The daytime naps are almost solved (almost - she's much better for the childminder!). They tried all sorts of tricks with her, because she seemed to be doing just about anything in her power to keep herself awake (even waving her hands in front of her face).

They hit on three things. (1) totally blacking out her window with black card (2) swaddling her and (3) lying her on her side with a rolled up blanket for support. These tricks have definitely improved things, though I don't like to swaddle her at night because she's in a sleeping bag. I'm afraid we leave her to cry, though if she gets really upset, we obviously go into her. To be honest, she sounds like she's moaning and crying but she's often very nearly asleep.

Thanks Cosmicgirl & Mogwai.
How are you Mogwai? These babies do like to keep us on our toes don't they?

I'm going through the same thing... mine is sooo tired during the day but won't nap... she is 8 months and have never been able to put her down and always refused to sleep anywhere but on me... now she won't lie down in my arms, tried putting her in her cot and she just cries...