Hi mamas.
My LO has been resisting bedtime for the past 4 nights...throwing a major fit.
We have always had a wonderful bedtime routine, quiet play/books, bathtime, mama gives a small, top-him-off bottle in the rocker (in his room with dim lights and mobile music on very low), walk around room and say goodnight to things/turn things off and then crib. Normally he might "talk" for about 5-10 mins, but then is out.
Lately he's been whooping it up in the bath (tons of splashing) and getting himself riled - and I think that might have to do with him being hard to settle down. Last few nights he has cried/screamed for a good 45 mins...I'll pop in and shh, give him his paci after about 20 mins of that...and then again if he just sounds crazy. Last night I even went the extra (don't want to have to do this but he's getting himself really upset and crazy) step of picking him up and rocking him for a few minutes with shh'ing to settle him down.
He's getting really great naps (2 hours, 2x day - not too close to bedtime) during the weekend, but at daycare it's been a little less than optimal lately (not sure if other babies are waking him up), so maybe he's a bit OT by the time we get him in the bath?
I'm going to try to put him in the bath earlier tonight and then try reading him a book before I give him his bottle, so that if he gets riled at bathtime, at least he'll have time to calm down before I really want him asleep. What do you think?
He might be close to crawling...but he seems content just scooting around on his belly, he has had a few more teeth pop out lately, but I'm pretty sure he's through the worst of that right now....maybe it's fully realized Object Permanence with a little bit of Separation Anxiety?
Any one else dealing with this/have suggestions?
Thanks in advance!!
Love and hugs in motherhood...
He may just be ready for a later bedtime. Either that or he's teething...once they lie down, the pain can become worse.
Good luck,
Lynsey
I think this is the beginning of him realizing that he is having so much fun with you and doesn't want the party to end at night, hence the fun bathtime. He probably just wants to have more of the "whooping it up" time with you--maybe try a tummy time mat, rolling on your bed, singing and cycling his legs. You might just need to shake up your routine a little prior to bedtime to make him feel satisfied with his quality of time with you and wear him out a bit.
Have you tried the Johnson's bedtime bath and lotion? Adding the lotion may help with the routine and a little baby orajel on the gums before putting him down. Do you have the fisher price aquarium? This mesmerized my tot (and she still loves it) but also kept her occupied in her crib many nights. :)
Your son may just be going through a phase. My daughter, an EXCELLENT sleeper, would sometimes go through this for a couple of weeks, but luckily has always gone back to sleeping well and going down easily. We do rock her before bed, but don't put her down asleep - but I would if she fell asleep.
Check out his naps, his food and milk intake, etc. but know that this, too, shall pass :)
I really like all those advice here so far. I just wante to add if he's teething and sometimes we are not really sure, give him the Teething Tablets which are homeopathic and it's great and if always helped my boys. Give him couple andsee how he acts. It could be that he's not tired enough and it could be that he wants more fun time with you because he's enjoying you and time together and especially bath time to splash, they all love that. It could be separation anxiety. My two older ones didn't have that much of a problem with separation anxiety, but my third son had that and still occasionally out of the blue he cries when we go to the Y or to church nursery. They are babies and still leaning that we are coming back. Whatever it may be, check things out and see if giving him a bath earlier be the answer. I pray that Jesus will give you His Wisdom in this precious baby's life.
It sounds like he might not be getting enough stimulation at the daycare. He might be trying to use his energy during the bath causing the splashing fun for him. If the daycare cannot give him more activity, then you or your husband will have to try to play with him more before bath time and quiet time for bed.
