Normal for 1yr old to suddenly have difficulty sleeping?

[ariannasmama]

My dd has always been a great sleeper. She's always gone down easily in my arms and although she's woken up through the night to nurse, she's always gone right back to sleep without issue. Now, all of the sudden at 1 year she's been fighting sleep like a ninja! It takes over an hour if not longer to get her down. She still nurses, but then she doesn't want to sleep in my arms, which I have no problem with b/c I know she's gaining her independence. BUT she won't go to sleep next to me either. She just tosses and turns and kicks her legs, flails her arms, smacks her head into the pillows, sits up, lays down, sits up.... etc. for hours. I don't know what to do!?! I won't leave her in our bed to cry it out and she'd probably just come out and find me anyway. We have a wind down routine at night. I read a couple of books before she nurses and then I turn the lights down. I've tried talking to her and trying to explain that we lay down to go night night but she isn't getting it. I don't want to start a bad habit and I just can't sit in a dark room watching her do gymnastics on our bed for hours. Is this just a phase that 1 year olds go through? Am I doing something wrong?

[ThundersCry]

I am not saying this is the answer, but this did happen to us, after my son got over what I thought was jeeest a little cold.
Turned out it must have whomped his immune system and now we have eliminated milk, soy, and apple from his diet. All of the sudden he started to sleep through the night. This, from ALWAYS get up at least three times a night. Never mind after he was sick, doing exactly what your dd did. Makes you want to bang your head against a sidewalk, I know.
The only way we figured it out was one day when we gave him an oz of milk, and he actually had blood in his stool. Then that very night was insanity. Next day, we decided no dairy. THAT night, wondrous. Next night, a little crazy, and we eliminated what we thought was best, etc.
Try eliminating what you think your child eats the most... just for a day, and see what happens!

[ThundersCry]

ETA- Almost forgot, to add a double whammy, he was getting three molars as well, which adds to the insanity factor. Check it out, if you can get in there. Hope you get some rest soon!! My DS may have broken my brow bone tossing his head upon mine one of the nights, so I do feel the pain!

[TulsiLeaf]

also, did your child just start walking? or are they close to walking?

milestones make some good sleep disturbances.

[Maluhia]

For us we got crazy around the start of walking and with the 1 year molars....this too shall pass Mama!

[makuahine]

My daughter is also a year old and has been acting similarly about going to sleep. It almost seems like she just can't unwind, there's too much going on in her brain and body. She's about to walk and is teething like crazy, so I'm sure that's most of it. What has worked for us is using the ergo carrier to put her to sleep. I used to be able to nurse her to sleep lying in bed, but now she is so restless it's almost like she needs to be physically restrained in something (the ergo) to relax. I put her in it and walk around in a darkened room with some sort of white noise. It doesn't always work but it's been pretty reliable, especially for nap time which she absolutely will not lie down for anymore.

[ariannasmama]

Thanks so much for all your help!

She's been walking for a few months now, she started at about 9m. She's definitely teething, but she's not fussy about it or anything. I was giving her ibuprofen at night, but then felt guilty like I was constantly drugging her without knowing if she really needed it so I stopped. She did recently start whole milk, I could try eliminating that from her diet and see if it helps. Today I woke her up earlier to try to establish a new routine. She went down for her nap much easier than usual and didn't even need to nurse to go down which was a shock! We'll see if maybe that will help also. I know that children go through phases and if thats all this is then I can bare with it but I'm constantly hearing all the "baby training" advice and being told that I'm spoiling her and creating bad habits. I try to stand firm in my own beliefs but it's hard when everyone else makes you feel like your screwing up big time!! SO thanks for all the support and encouragement!!!