Three months ago, after reading books, singing, and rocking we were laying DS down awake in his bed for nap and bedtime and he'd be asleep within 10 minutes. We used this method at home with me, papa, Gramma, Grampa, and auntie. No problems anywhere unless it was more than an hour from the usual time (11 am nap, 7 pm bed) He woke up once or twice a night maybe once a week but there was never any issues, and after a sip of water, hug, nuk and maybe quick rock, he'd be asleep again.
Â
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, this is what nap looks like, now: DS screaming, refusing to use the potty (which he's been doing for 6 months) but then doesn't want the diaper on, then wants to use the potty, then not, then again. Finally I get his diaper on and start to read him a book. He says no to every book and when I put it back he asks for more books. He never wants what book I choose. If I let him down to choose the book he wants, he just swipes his hand over the shelf and dumps all the books on the floor!!!!! So then I just try to sing him our usual sleeping songs, and he screams "No sing mama!!!!" and tries to hit my face no matter what song I sing. So then we just rock and he screams and wiggles to get down and shoves me away. So then I put him in his bed and leave the room and he screams in his bed for me to come back. We do the book, sing, rock, scream in bed portion two or three times and finally one of the times I'll come in and when pick him up he will wiggle into nursing position (he weaned 6 months ago but still likes the side position we used most) and will be asleep in 2 minutes flat. I lay him in his bed, close the door and more often then not break down and cry myself.
Â
I cannot go on this way! I hate leaving him cry in his bed, I don't think it's good for him, or me. Papa isn't home for nap times but on occasion when he is it's about 1/2 as bad but still tons of tears and upset. I have tried pushing nap time back a few hours and it's still the same deal. I know he still needs a nap because when he finally falls asleep it's a solid 2-3 hours. And he's sleeping 10-12 at night. Without a nap, he is falling asleep on his dinner plate at 5.
Â
Does anyone out there have a good sleeper gone bad? is it a phase? What can I do to ease the crying? Other ideas to calm him/ make him let me hold him instead of putting him in his bed to cry? I need help!
