I am completely at a loss with DD's (14 months) sleep. I know there has to be a gentler way to do this, but I don't know how.
DD normally wakes up for the day at 10am, crying. Nap around 2, wakes up crying. Nap around 7, wakes up crying. She's up until 12-1am and about half the time is really really cranky from waking up from her 7pm nap until bed and half the time is happy giggly baby. I've tried to keep her sleeping instead of letting her get up from the 7pm nap, but it ends in a hysterical toddler who is pissed and will not sleep. Once she starts to rub her eyes (her tired sign) I nurse her, but she usually pops on and off until I can't take it anymore. She'll be rubbing her eyes while nursing and fussing b/c she's just so tired. Once in a blue moon she'll fall asleep nursing, but most of the time I have to hold her on my chest and keep her there until she falls asleep. She'll cry/scream (this is the part I hate) for 1-2 minutes, stop, cuddle me and repeat for 5-20 minutes until she falls asleep. If I put her down she screams and climbs back up on my chest. I have no idea what to do. I hate that she's crying, even if it is while I'm holding her.
DD normally wakes up for the day at 10am, crying. Nap around 2, wakes up crying. Nap around 7, wakes up crying. She's up until 12-1am and about half the time is really really cranky from waking up from her 7pm nap until bed and half the time is happy giggly baby. I've tried to keep her sleeping instead of letting her get up from the 7pm nap, but it ends in a hysterical toddler who is pissed and will not sleep. Once she starts to rub her eyes (her tired sign) I nurse her, but she usually pops on and off until I can't take it anymore. She'll be rubbing her eyes while nursing and fussing b/c she's just so tired. Once in a blue moon she'll fall asleep nursing, but most of the time I have to hold her on my chest and keep her there until she falls asleep. She'll cry/scream (this is the part I hate) for 1-2 minutes, stop, cuddle me and repeat for 5-20 minutes until she falls asleep. If I put her down she screams and climbs back up on my chest. I have no idea what to do. I hate that she's crying, even if it is while I'm holding her.
my DS is very similar. The crying goes in cycles.. we will have weeks where he will peacefully go to sleep, then days where he fights it/cries no matter what. I think during those times, for whatever reason, he is just TIRED and is having a hard time going to sleep. Just keep holding her, nursing her, whatever she needs. You are doing a great job, sometimes we cannot keep them from crying.
