My 20 month year old used to be really good at bedtime but for the past 2 or 3 months it is a battle. I'm a first time mum and need some tips please.
What happens is: bedtime routine is all fine bath, milk and story and then when I put him in the cot (turn on Ollie the owl music) he usually cries or just messes about for ages (sometimes I give him a book to look at) and then cries to come out. He has a bunny comforter which he loves and has a dummy for bed only.
When it first happened we got him out and calmed him, let him walk around a bit and then put him back in the cot. This may have been a massive mistake as now he cries to come out but he was getting in a real state and getting to the hysterical stage. Now we have a pattern of him crying and us getting him out, telling him clearly he can have 10 mins and then it's bed time but it can go on to 9:30, 10pm or on a couple of occasions almost 11pm which is terrible for his sleep and us.
We recently moved from a house to a flat all on one level so I sometimes wonder if that has affected things (he was fine for the first week of moving and then the issues seem to start). I wonder if it could have unsettled him or if it's because it's all one level so he knows if he can get out of the cot he can access all rooms (used to be really strict about keeping him upstairs when it was bedtime).
At 20 months would he understand us being strict with him? I've just tried telling him firmly it's bedtime and he needs to lie down and I'll check on him in 10 mins. He is crying but the tolerable, whingy type of cry.
One last thing! He is getting close to climbing out of the cot so that's another reason to crack down on bed time before he moves to a toddler bed. But mainly it's terrible for his sleep routine and him getting enough sleep.
Any tips or solidarity would be amazing - is it just a phase?