DD Takes 2 Hours to Sleep & I'm Going Crazy- Developmental Milestone? Insights, Help Greatly...

[gracemamma]

For the past week, our one hour of bedtime preptime to sleeptime has extended to 2 hours.  DD is sleepy- rubbing eyes, yawning, putting head on me- all the signs are there but then she reves back up and becomes the energizer bunny.

Yesterday, she was ready to sleep at 7:30 all the signs were there including closing her eyes and resting on me in the ergo.  But after she had closed her eyes for a bit, I put her in her bed(sidecar crib) with me next to her and arm on her as usual and she slowly started reving up again so that within 5 minutes she had gone from eyes closed just about asleep to standing and running a toy back and forth over the top of her crib. This is sooo frustrating! She usually falls asleep in the ergo so its down into bed, rev up, back into ergo- reading etc, because so awake, slowly rev down, about asleep or asking to be put in crib and yawing then rev up, running around bed, back in ergo etc. She doesnt want to go back in the ergo either- she wants to play.

We usually start our bedtime ritual at 7 for a sleeptime of approx. 8 She wakes between 6-8 and sleeps 1-3 hrs per nap.

Is this something that happens around 18 month sometimes?

DH is away for a few days and she misses him alot but this behavior started even before he left. We've been kind of tense with each other so i suppose that could be part of it. We've also had some guests recently. She has some food sensitivities but I try to be very careful of them because of our sleep issues (nightwaking is her primary symptom of food issues)

I have moved her nap earlier and am trying to do lots of running around during the day.

If you have experienced this, what has helped?

Its got me thinking about bringing in the closed crib(never used) we have in the garage just to contain her and prevent her running in circles on our bed and sliding off to go chase the cat!! Has this worked for anyone? I thought maybe if she was comtained she could play indepedently a bit instead of me having to be ON as she winds down. Not sure how to then transfer her mattress and her into her sidecar then to be ready for nightnursing though.

I really need to figure something out. I'm so tired and completely on my own for several more days and I just want her to sleep and get the rest she needs without completely wearing us both out.  TIA!!!!

[Momo123]

It could be a combination of different things, many of which you mentioned. My DS has food intolerances and it affects his sleep too, but have you ever heard of sleep regressions? They correspond with developmental milestones, and some babies do go through it around 18 months. Here's a description: http://www.askmoxie.org/2009/01/qa-18month-sleep-regression-redux.html

Mine went through it and it definitely affected his sleeping patterns, including taking a long time to fall asleep. Also he would randomly wake up in the middle of the night and be totally awake. I think he was just so stimulated and trying to process everything that he was taking in during the day. It did get better (after about a month?), though he still takes about 30-45 minutes to fall asleep. The crib might work if she does not get upset about you leaving her to play on her own, but my DS would not be left alone :) I don't have any great advice to give you but hopefully things will improve soon.

[KJunebug]

18 months is a classic time of sleep issues, though I must say that bedtime routine sounds just exhausting...  sounds like maybe you could take advantage of what is likely to be a rough time anyway to make some adjustments to protect your sanity!  Maybe its time to make the adjustment to the crib and find a different way other than the Ergo to get her to sleep....  obviously you know your own situation best, but I had made those changes by then with both my girls......  I sometimes wonder if there is an age where they need that independence to thrive, but I am not expert on the matter, I just know what worked for us.

Take care of yourself!

[gracemamma]

Momo123: thanks for reminding me of sleep regression. In my hazy state I didnt think of this. That link was very interesting and useful- as well as all the follow-up posts to remind me I'm not alone in this boat! She had regressions before crawling and walking and  she's been getting alot of words these days and hanging out with visiting family. I always look to diet but I'm so careful about things- could mean there are other allergens Ive missed. 

KJunebug: Thanks for your gentle remender that I can change the routine, as well. It is very rare that Ive been able to get her to sleep without the ergo. My husband succeeded once before he left on his trip. She's napping in it right now which is tough because she's so heavy and it's not good for me physically but it works. I usually get a 1 hr nap if I transfer her ergo to crib and up to 3 hours in the ergo. I know I need to transition from that too though.  Mama's health and wellbeing has to factr in here too, I just try so hard to get her the sleep she needs.

Maybe I'll try letting her wind doiwn in theenclosed crib with me nearby and see if that helps- I doubt it can get much worse for bedtime! Not sure how to get her & mattress to sidecar though.....

Thanks for feedback and commisseration.