How can i get my 15 month old to go to sleep in the crib??

Question

She has always slept through the night. Up until a month ago i would put her down in her crib at approx 9pm and she would go right to sleep...now NO WAY. She screams so loud I know she is waking the neighbors and she doesn't stop or calm down until she is out of the crib. I am basically beat, i have been letting her stay up super late and fall asleep on the couch or in my bed and then transferring her to the crib. I know the importance of a nighttime routine and i follow one that has always worked up until now. Does anyone have some good tips or a good routine to follow for a toddler???

Answer 1

That is so rough. If you are sure she's not over tired and that you shouldn't be putting her down earlier (8 is the recommended time) then I'd say you need to do what I did. I call it a modified Ferber:

1. Put her in, rub her back 1 minute, rest your hand there, 1 min and then step away.

(If she gets up or screams, walk out for one minute)

2.Stay one minute, back away.

(By the way, she will scream. You are training her to stay down while you soothe)

So continue soothing less and less time, and staying out longer and longer.

I know that you don't want to let her cry it out, think of this as you communicating with her. I did it for about 3 nights and it worked. BUt I never felt like I was abandoning her, only teaching her that I was still there, but she needed to be laying down. She actually asks to go to bed now. Your daughter may be old enough for a comfort object too, ask the dr. A blankie or teddy is very helpful.

Don't turn on lights or talk, by the way, and of course, stop picking  her up!

Answer 2

I can totally relate.  First things first.  Make sure she isn't sick or has an ear infection....my kids when they were sick they never went to sleep good for me.  If her health is fine and you have done your routine then just let her scream.   It is okay.  She knows that she cries and then mom comes to the rescue. Now I know it is hard to listen to your child scream and you think your bothering the neighbors....but your not.  If you really can't handel it sometimes running a vacume cleaner at night works.  

Another option but this one is very time consuming but it does work.  Lay your daughter in her crib after her nightly routine.  Then lay down on the floor next to her crib and tell her she is okay and tell her to go to sleep, but make sure she can't see you if she is laying down.  She will have seen that you are still in the room.  if she wants to make sure you are there and she probably will she will have to look to see you.  When she falls asleep sneek out the door.  Eventually you will get to the point where you don't have to be in there as long.  If she cries wait about 5-10 min before going in and instead of picking her up tell her that she is okay.  She needs to learn how to self sooth if you keep going in there she knows what she needs to do to get a response out of you.  

Something else that might help is one of those music and lights bubble machines that you can attach to the crib.  When my son would wake up he would just touch the button and the lights and music would put him back to sleep.

Other then that some time and lots of patients will be the key.  You could also ask your doc or pedrician for any other helpfull hints!

Good luck!

Answer 3

She may be overtired and also now realizes that she can have more time with you if she stays up late.  Check out the Elizabeth Pantley books to find some good solutions.  

She also may be teething or have an ear infection- both of which will make it difficult for her to fall asleep.

Answer 4

Check out the book called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" by Marc Weissbluth, this book is a great reference and i really believe in what the author has researched and experienced--the Elizabeth Pantley book is great too.

Sleep issues are so hard, aren't they?  Good luck mama, I hope better sleep is on the horizon for you!

Answer 5

Is she walking?  Maybe there is another milestone she's about to reach which is why she doesn't want to sleep (?).

Answer 6

Maybe cut her napping down to a shorter time period i just got my son to start sleeping in his bed he likes to have like a mobile on or we have this thing that lights up and has fishes in it and it plays music or water noises and that puts him right to sleep

Answer 7

You have to just let her scream, it sounds horrible but she knows that you're giving in, so she's going to keep doing it, once she knows that you're not going to give in to her screaming, she'll eventually stop...I hated doing it but I did it much younger, because I refused to have the kids who wont go to bed on their own, mine are no 3 and 2 and I read them a story and put them to bed and they fall asleep on their own, sometimes I put on a movie for them, if they're really ina mood, but they usually fall asleep within the half hour!  Hope this helps!

Answer 8

She may be napping too much during the day.

Answer 9

I agree with kell. I have a 15 month old boy, and about 3 or 4 weeks ago he started getting the two top molars and eye teeth in the same time, so bed time was rough for a few days. But you are going to have to teach your little one that bedtime, is bed time. Go in lay her down, sing her her favorite tune and leave, wait 5 minutes go in cover her with a blankie, and leave. Wait 10 minutes, keep doing this until she sleeps. Its a phase and it will pass, my son now FINALLY!! goes to sleep on his own and will only fall asleep now by laying down awake in his bed.