Trouble Getting My 20 Mth Old to Bed. PLEASE HELP!

Well there is the super nanny method that has worked for lots of people. So instead of rocking her you start out just putting her in her crib and just stand next to it until she falls asleep. You don't talk to her or even really look at her (stand so she only sees your profile). It will take a few nights but then she will be used to this and fall asleep without being rocked while still having the comfort of seeing you there. Then once she is ok with that you stop standing right by her crib and instead sit on the floor in the middle of the room so you are farther away from her. Once she is ok with this then sit right next to the door, then right outside the door but with it still open until finally you can lay her down and walk out, shutting the door behind you. This whole process can take a week or two but it works and it's not the CIO method. You could give it a try.

I know that Dr. Sears and The Baby Whisperer both have versions for toddlers of their infant sleep books. I gleaned very valuable info from both when helping my little ones learn how to sleep.

You can't really get frustrated that she's not on board with your new plans. All she knows is the way she has been taught to go to sleep and that is you spending an hour with her. Think about it-she's doesn't see you for what 10+ hours a day so of course she is going to want mommy time when she's at home. I'm not trying to lay a guilt trip on you but look at it from her perspective. This routine is all she has known. It is what is predictable and comfortable to her. It's what she knows she can depend on. She has no clue that you have other responsibilities or things that need to be done. It will take time to establish a new routine.

I would try rocking her for a few minutes, tell her it's nite nite time (or whatever you say), lay her down in the crib and stand with your head down on the crib side with your hand on her till she falls asleep. Once she gets used to going to sleep more on her own you should be able to gradually lessen your involvement.

Well it sounds like you have a pretty strong routine going...and I agree about getting rid of the pacifier.
Here are some great suggestions for getting rid of the paci:

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/search/pacifier?utm_campaig...

Maybe you should find out what the routine is at school for naptime..? In any case here is a link with some good sleeping tips that might help you out...good luck!

http://www.theskinnyscoop.com/search/sleep?utm_campaign=t...

Hi Tangela, get rid of the paci, I never allowed my now grown children to use them. Rocking at 20 months, is ok, I did, but I rocked for maybe 30 minutes and sang to them, them, took them to the potty, tucked them in, read them a story, prayed with them, turned on their fish tank light (blue) turned the bedroom light off said I love you see you in the morning. If there is crying at this age it is rebelion and you should not give in to it. I don't know who made up the CIO never heard of that when I was raising my baby's/toddlers. If your 20 month old cry's it's because she chooses too, and that does not make you a bad parent, discipline is harder on us sometimes than on them, but it must be done, that's part of what makes us good parents. From what I read on mamasource the children are in control not the parents, and that leads to all kinds of behavior problems. Hope this helps. I don't like Andrea's advice, rocking and having a special bed time routine makes a child feel secure so they will sleep peacefully through the night, and those bed time routines are some of my fondest memories from when mine were little, from one mom to another, children do not have to be a sleep before we can get things done around the house that we need to do. J.