Help with 11mo who will not lie down

[Badgerthebodger]

Can anyone give me any advice as DS is about to finish me off. He’s just turned 11mo, cruising and starting to get brave about letting go. The problem is that he now will not lie down.

He’s gone from being a pretty good sleeper who would go down awake but drowsy and nod off. He was sleeping through from 6.30 to 7 (I’m sorry, I know how lucky I was) with a dream feed at 11pm.

He’s now not going down till 9ish - which is fine, but then he’s up again at 11, then again around 4am. The problem is that as soon as he wakes up, he stands up and he absolutely will not lie back down. I lie him down, he pops straight back up. I’ve tried put my arm across him and he goes crazy, bashing me and scratching and screaming his head off. I tried 30 mins of lying him back down last night and he just got more and more upset

The only way I can get him back to sleep is in bed with me and about 20 mins of stroking his face. I absolutely cannot co-sleep, I’m on heavy medication and it’s not safe. This means I’m absolutely exhausted because I have to stay awake until he’s settled then try and transfer him back to the cot without waking him!

Sorry that was long, does anyone have any suggestions?

My DS1 did this when he was learning to walk - we used to joke that he was so eager to learn that he wouldn't stop practicing.

It was just a phase. Hopefully it will be for you too, especially as sleep was so good before.

Why transfer?!

It’s developmental. Don’t leave him to cry, it’s cruel in my opinion.
I would persevere with laying him back down. He will eventually get the message, even if it takes you a few nights to crack it

@pastabest, my reply was to the op. The same behaviour can be observed during other developmental leaps too. It can also be habit, teething, illness, night terrors, hunger and on and on... The op's situation is quite an obvious one. Cruising and about to walk during the day = Cruising and about to walk at night. Biological imperative overriding sleep. It flipping sucks but it's normal.

OP can’t cosleep @TittyGolightly as she is on heavy medication x

"Lie down or mummy goes out"

"Ok, lie down now or mummy goes back out"

Ohhhh we’re in for a fun night I think, the monkey has just managed to get out of his sleeping bag

It’s DH’s turn tonight, I’ve passed your suggestions on so we’ll see what happens. We won’t leave him to cry but will try pointing at the bed and potentially ignoring if he’s just happily shuffling about

Out of interest OP what time is he having naps.

DD only got 30 mins in the car this afternoon instead of her usual 1hr - 1.5hrs in her cot at home, and she has gone down like a dream tonight...

Pasta he’s had a good nap day today, he’s not really a napper at all. An average day would be two 45 min naps, 9.30am ish then mid afternoon ish. Today he had an hour after lunch plus his usual morning one, then a 20 min catnap around 4pm. I think that’s why he does such a good stint at night, he barely sleeps in the day.

Spoke too soon. She's just been up for an hour

I'm with you again ladies. My DD was up until 8:30 last night and screamed every time we set foot in her room, let alone put her in the cot

9 months old dd has been doing this for a few weeks. Reassuring to read these comments. Will just ride it out.