success with bedtime trick

[buttercup]

i thought I'd share this with you - it might be useful to someone. We've been having problems getting our one year old to go to sleep. If we stay with him he thinks that's a signal to stay awake and play. If we leave him alone he bellows and gets very upset. So we've been putting a chair in his doorway and sitting in it with our back to him, not saying a word. He knows we are there but knows its not for playing. He goes to sleep within five to ten minutes, without a whimper. It works in the day-time too. FOR NOW. Sods law, writing this will probably put its success!

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I used to sit at the top of the stairs reading a book. DD knew I was there but I completely ignored her until she went to sleep. It was much better than her screaming for an hour.

I think that's called the "Withdrawal" Method, what you're doing, Buttercup. You stay but don't interact, and stay a little bit less over time, until you rarely have to stay at all. It's considered the "third way" between "Sleep TRaining" and co-sleeping. I'm really pleased it's worked so well for you!

zebra, I didnt know this was an actual method, naively thought I'd invented it!! I am wondering as the chair slowly get further and further away. Eventually it will reach the top of the stairs. What do I do then?

LOL! Had visions of Buttercup flying down the stairs!

Buttercup, you might need to invest in a Thora Hird type automatic-stair-chair!

found the answer. Get DP to do it. Found him hovering around top stair pretending to read last night while DS was laughing from somewhere inside his bedroom.

zebra - I thought that was a method of contraception - not recommended

Mears!