will only let me put him to bed...

[notperfectmum]

Hi not sure if this is the right place to post this but it is sleep related... DS is 20 mths old and is refusing to let DH put him to bed. Since I stopped feeding (about 6 mths ago), DH and I have been trying to take it in turns to put DD (4 yrs) and DS to bed. DS has consistently resisted this but unless he is ill, in a strange place (visiting family etc) he has eventually settled for DH. However over the past couple of weeks, he has become hysterical at bedtime crying until he makes himself sick on a couple of occasions and then settling quickly for me. DH is getting increasing annoyed, my poor DD is being patient but it seems unfair that she doesn't get me to do her stories etc without her brother screaming in the next room and I feel like I'm caught in the middle, hate to hear DS crying but aware DH is becoming quite fustrated. Have tried leaving them to it but last night DS screamed for 20 minutes and was then sick all over DH. DH sticks to the same bedtime routine as I use. DS will allow DH to put him down for his lunchtime nap over the weekend. Help!!!

hi my son went through something similar when he was a toddler. and at 20 months your DS is a toddler. it must be so distressing to have him so upset until he is sick. you have 2 choices. you can let him call the shots or you can show him that he needs to let either parent put him to bed.
if you decide you want him to drop this ridiculous behaviour then you need to be firm. when he makes himself sick, quietly clean up, change him if required, and stick to ur DH putting him to bed. if he pops out of bed, calmly walk him back to his bed and say, it is bedtime or something like that.

i did that with my DS and he is a very strong willed boy. it took about 3 nights and he soon worked out that if he popped out of bed i will only take him back to bed. it took about 2 hours the first night.

so good luck, it can be very upsetting. but as long as you and ur DH work together, it can be done. and bedtime should be a happy time again.

Thanks. Might need to invest in some earplugs!