Problems Falling Asleep

The book The No-Cry Sleep Solution for Toddlers and Preschools has TONS of ideas for how to get little kids down better/faster. From mapping their schedule and planning out how to do it to ways to get you out of the room while she's falling asleep. It's too much to post here, but I got some great ideas.

The biggest things are to try earlier and to have a longer bedtime ritual to help the child calm down for the night.

Good luck.

I would also suggest limiting the time you are spending in her room at bed time. There was a time that my daughter did the same things... I found that if I kept it short and sweet when tucking her in, I was less of a distraction to keep her awake. I generally tuck her in, read a story, kiss her goodnight, turn off lights and tell her that I will check on her when I am done cleaning the kitchen. By the time I check on her she is always asleep. Turns out she sleeps better when I am not keeping her awake! She may cry and throw some fits but ignore them and they will stop!
Good Luck!

Hi there.
When little ones take that long to settle down and relax it usually can mean they are OVERtired.
I have a 20 month old and a 3.5 year old and BOTH go to bed at 7 & 7:30. So 8:30p may be too late.
Try putting her to bed earlier and see if that works!
Good luck.
M.

Though it seems early you may have to consider shortening or eliminating her afternoon nap. She needs the good rest as much as you do!!!

Hi! Just wondering when and if she naps. Maybe that is too close to her bedtime. If so, move her nap to earlier in the day. When does she get up in the morning? Some kids just don't need as much sleep. I think 10-12 hours at night is good for that age. I am a strong believer in sleep so I hope this helps. Good luck!

We had a HORRIBLE stretch of several months when my daughter took two hours to go to sleep every night. If she fell asleep right away, she would wake up for two hours in the middle of the night. She was around 32-36 months when this happened. We gradually had to phase out her naps. No longer than one and a half hours, and no later than two in the afternoon. It was a brutal and protracted process, but eventually it worked. Now she never naps but is in bed by 7:30 every night.

Good luck!

Hi,

I am the mom of 6 year-old boy/girl twins. I had a similar issue when they were about your dauhter's age. I am a Weisbluth reader as well. I adjusted their schedule and made sure they did not sleep later than 2 in the afternoon. I moved their bedtime up to 7:30 and they went to sleep. Be aware of naps taken in the car. Even a 15 minute nap taken at 3 in the afternoon can upset the sleeping schedule.

I hope this helps.

Frist i would ask is she still taking naps during the day, if she is i would make sure she is up by 1 30 in the afternoon and keep her busy. My son was like that but i had to keep him up even when he was sometimes so craby. I would also try a soothing bath before bed about a half hour before. Also sometimes kids do things to keep you in there room, and it helps them to stay awake longer. Try putting her in bed and walking out after bedtime kisses or after reading her a short story, being only 22 months a page or two should help her settle in then her kiss and leave, if she gets up have her go back to bed and give her a kiss, if she continues to get up start making her get back in bed and then no more kisses have her get in bed tell her to stay there and walk out, it will take some time but it will pay off, just dont give in to the game, kids are so good at the bedtime gsme, before we know it they have sucked us into it. I do know it helps even if it takes a week or so or the same thing.....good luck and i hope this helps you....stay strong it will get easier.....

I.,
Try J & J Chamomile/Lavender before bedtime, warm milk, Baby Einstein's classical music,bedtime story or favorite tv program and watch it in the dark. See if that helps!

All the Best,
D.

I don't have any answers for you because I'm going through the same thing with my daughter! She's 27 months and she's been doing this since about your daughters age. It's VERY
hard because she is still co-sleeping with us and we don't want to go to bed at 6:30pm, So we have the same situation as you. We all go to bed together at 8:3opm. The only thing that seems to help a little is to tell her "I'm only reading one more book then were going to bed", this is after 4 books! She's very strong minded so sleeping has been hard since day one. Good luck, I feel your pain!!!!

When my little ones did't go to sleep when they should, I would take them for a ride in the car, but not to often. Habits are hard to break. We would only go around one or two blocks, but that most often did the trick. I now, do the same with my grandkids when they visit and can't sleep.

Try adjusting her nap-time schedule and limiting the time that you spend in her room. It's not unusual for kids to reach an age in their development when they change their sleeping schedules. You shouldn't get in the habit of "having to be there every night for 2 hours while she falls asleep". To break that habit, she will probably put up a fight. Just get in a good routine before bedtime, promise her a couple books to read or a bedtime cuddle, give her a little leeway, at first, when it comes to your being in the room. Assure her that you will be close by and close the door, kiss her and her stuffed animals good-night and leave. However, at some point, it may become necessary to set a (soft timer) so that she can hear that it is time for you to leave. You may deal with crying but ... it's a habit that needs to be broken. Only make one or two re-visits in her room when you tuck her in or she'll get in that habit, too. If she is in bed by 8:30 - that means - you are still dealing with an AWAKE child by 10:00 -10:30 pm. Yes, I have experienced this. It can be challenging - bedtime routines haven't always been my strongest parenting skill. Good luck breaking this habit.

Try putting her to bed earlier! I have a 14 month old, a 3 year old, and almost 5 year old. They are the most good natured kids I know and I think it is because they get the sleep they need. 6:30p to 7:00p is the latest I'd put to bed a 22 month old. My 14 month old goest bed 6p-6:30p. I know this seems early! But he wakes up at 7a and he is so good natured!

I learned what I know about sleep from the book Health Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. Some parents don't like his advice, because he discourages music, holding, rocking, driving, etc. and with a pitch dark room - - but I love his strategy: Kids need to learn how to soothe themselves to sleep on their own. He says to watch for the first yawn. Not the second, or the eye rubbing that comes after. On the first yawn, put your child down for their nap. If you wait longer, their body gets more sleep deprived and cranky and they have problems falling asleep. When I started doing this with my first son, I felt like it worked like magic. Some people have to let their child cry it out a bit (I would always check on my child every 15 mins or so, without them seeing me) which is the hard part about starting a new sleep pattern. But know that your child is yearning to sleep according to her body's needs. It's possible that she is not getting enough. Just one thought~

Good luck!

Hello I.,
Myself and all of my friends/family use Dr. Ferber's book. He has great techniques for helping toddlers and adolescents who are struggling to sleep.

Good luck!

8:30 is awful late..maybe she is over tired. My kids are in bed by 7-7:30....ages 4 1/2 - 18mo

I haven't read through all your responses, but 8:30 is too late to be going to bed for a 22 month old. He should be in bed by 7:30, 8 pm the latest. He is probably so overtired.