Tips for new sleeping problems for 16 month old?

Question

My daughter use to go to bed just fine. We would take a bath, read a book and then I would lay her in her crib with Pooh bear. Sometimes she fussed, but she always went to sleep on her own. Now, she only wants to go to sleep with me holding her. She will scream for 30 minutes straight if you let her. What can I do to correct the problem? I thought I had done everything right.

Answer 1

I know it sounds mean but you need to just let her cry it out.  She's crying because she knows it will work, you'll come running.  Usually it only takes two days and then that stops.

If you want, you could get one of those fancy monitors where she can hear you, maybe hearing your voice would help.

If you hold her every night, it's only going to be harder in the long run.

Answer 2

I have a 15 month old who has been doing the same thing.  He will wake up a couple times during the night too.  I know it can be frustrating and don't have any answers myself just wanted to say your not alone.  Good Luck!

Answer 3

Sounds like she is going through a stage.

Put her to bed like normal, but tell her you can't hold her until she falls asleep. I'd rub her back for a few minutes, even sing her a song. But then, get up and leave the room. She may fuss, or come out(if she's able) but be firm and put her back to bed.

She will get the idea that you are not going to give into her.

Eventually you will not need to do any of these things anymore

Answer 4

If she takes a nap in the middle of the day maybe it causes her to not be tired later on at night.  

Answer 5

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Answer 6

I had the same problem with my little ones . I will tell you what I started doing to correct my mistake I would read the a book and then laid down beside them until they were drifted away in lullaby land and finally as they got older they went to sleep all by their selves  

Answer 7

I found this happened with my son too at a similar age - we used the controlled crying method which was hard. this is the method where you leave them crying then go back after 5 mins make no eye contact, cover them up say goodnight and leave them then go back and do the same after 10 mins 15 etc , this worked for us.

A friend used the gradual retreat method where you move further away from the crib each night.

it sounds terrible and its very hard but you have to resist holder her til she goes to sleep as this habit is VERY hard to break!

Im sure you havent done a thing wrong, it maybe that she is going through a period of insecurity or teething and she just wants you to be near, children can be affected by the tiniest things and because she is unable to tell you whats wrong it makes you feel bad

Im sure you are a fantastic parent - just the fact that you have asked for advice makes me think you are because it takes a lot to admit you have a problem!

Good Luck

;)

Answer 8

You are doing everything right.  She is testing you and doing a dang good job.  You pretty much have to let her scream til she falls asleep.  Taking her otu of bet lets her think she won (and she kind of did) and she will continue doing it....what I did (my boys are 2 now) was put them in bed, tuck them in.  Then wait 15 minutes, check on them and say good night again (no tucking in the second time though) and shut the door.  I would check on them in 15 minute intervals about 3 time. More than that and they are winning again.  After the third check, your done.  She'll got to sleep.  Maybe, after she is for sure asleep, check on her one last time.

Answer 9

Keep the old routine but maybe get a longer book.  That way you are still reading to her & holding her a little longer.  But don't give in to the screaming, or she will have won!

Answer 10

why don't you just hold her, everyone needs tenderness. i'm not a mother or anything, but i'd hold her until she'd say it's ok :)

Answer 11

you could take her for a long ride with a bottle of warm something and a blanket. tht gets my friends baby sister asleep every time.

Answer 12

She's a baby.  Rock her to sleep.  She wants comfort.  We are social creatures and her desire to be with her loved ones is entirely normal.

http://www.kathydettwyler.org/detsleepth...

Answer 13

My son started to do this.  We got an egg timer and would set it to something like 5 minutes when my wife would sit down and hold him.  We cant explain it for sure, but it works- we kept telling him "when the timer goes off, its time for sleep".  And he just goes to bed when it goes off.  We've been using it for a number of months now, it works every night.  Worth a shot for you I would think.