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18 month sleep regression

10 replies

HP07 · 23/03/2018 13:36

Hi,
I wonder if anyone can give me some advice. My previous brilliant sleeper has turned into a devil. He’s 17.5 months old and I know what you will say it’s the 18 month sleep regression but I’m not sure what to do to help him/get him to sleep. He previously would go down for a nap really easily, just lie him down and he might squark for a minute then drop off. At night he is usually breastfed to sleep as that has always been our routine. This last week he has started rolling over and getting up/standing in his cot every time you put him down. The worst being last night and now for naptime. Then he stands and screams in his room. Last night he was breastfed as normal and fell asleep and as soon as I did the transfer even though he was sound asleep he rolled over and stood up straight away. He then stayed up til 11pm as I had to go out and my husband was at home and despite multiple attempts could not get him to stay lying down/fall asleep. I am trying to do his usual after lunch nap. I know he is tired as he’s been yawning and rubbing his eyes. I must’ve tried 50+ times to put him down but he is absolutely refusing. He just rolls over and gets up. His nappy is clean and dry, he’s had lunch and plenty to drink. He has his usual comforter (muslin) he just stands and screams in the cot. I’ve tried going in and put him back down and ignoring him, shushing him, giving him a quick cuddle and leaving him to calm down but nothing is working. He needs to sleep and I need rest too as I’m 6 months pregnant and it was a bad night.
Am I doing the right thing. What else can I try? Do I stick to my guns here and just continue until he wears himself out? Do I give up and accept no nap this afternoon (which I really don’t want him getting into the habit of as I know he needs it and will just fall asleep in the car later - I need him to still Ben napping when the baby arrives or I might lose my mind!) or do I breastfeed him to sleep?
Thanks

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
HP07 · 23/03/2018 13:38

Him not Ben! That’s not his name! Grin

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Namechangemum100 · 23/03/2018 13:44

Hmm it's a difficult one given his age. If you have tried 50+ times then I would say give up for today and opt for an early bedtime instead and see how he does.

It's most likely just a phase that you will need to ride out.

HP07 · 23/03/2018 13:47

When I say 50+ times that’s how many times he has stood up in defiance. Would you give him a feed and hope that send him off? Just so I can get a rest? Or completely give up? He is quiet now but he is still stood up in the cot at the moment as far as I can tell as he’s is not in the camera shot.

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MySockIsWetAgain · 23/03/2018 13:53

Dear god, I didn't know there was an 18 mo regression as well! Is there one every month? When will it end??? I'm now terrified my DS will get these ideas...

On a serious note, it sounds tough. Flowers 50+ times is a patience of a saint.

Namechangemum100 · 23/03/2018 14:03

It sounds as though the feed could be the key to the problem, if he is always settling to sleep with a feed and is now waking as you transfer, then you will need to work on getting him to settle without it.

That said, in your position, I would feed for now until his sleep is back to normal, and then work on this issue.

I feel for you, my dd has spent the last 2 weeks fighting naps and has just in the last few days gone back to "normal"...I'm 39 weeks pregnant so was not best pleased!

HP07 · 23/03/2018 14:03

Yeah apparently it’s the worst one, I’m beginning to see why, because it’s all about behaviour and defiance of not wanting to nap! Where is the teary emoji?!

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HP07 · 23/03/2018 14:05

Thanks namechange. He has always napped in the day without a feed. It’s just he falls asleep at night with a feed as I do one just before bed so his nap routine has not changed.

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HP07 · 24/03/2018 03:47

He’s awake again screaming in his cot. It’s been an hour now. My husband has been in and comforted him. He will not lie down and gets up every time you put him down. Anyone know what we should do? Confused

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birchygoo · 29/03/2018 20:44

HP70 sorry to jump on your thread but I was thinking of you from the first pregnancy after infertility thread - it's so lovely to hear you are having another! I'm currently 5 weeks pregnant so hoping all goes smoothly.

HP07 · 29/03/2018 22:53

Hi Birchy, lovely to hear from you, yes I remember you from that thread. Hope all is well? Congratulations on the pregnancy, I hope things go smoothly for you too. I’m finding things much more relaxed this time round. Did you know there is a babies after infertility thread on the post natal board with many of the ladies from our original thread there if you wanted to catch up? One of the posters ‘Boris’ is now a friend in RL as we live locally to each other and she is also pregnant with her second baby with the same due date as me! It’s mad!
Baby HP (who is now 5 days shy of 18 months so should probably be graduating to Toddler HP) learnt to walk today. I think this goes some way to explain the sleep regression. He was so pleased with himself. It was lovely. I hope things start to get back to normal a bit now he’s achieving this milestone. Please let me know how you have been and catch me up with life, I can’t believe how things have changed in the past 2 years! X

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