16 mo old having difficulties settling down

[walkinbluesmama]

DD is 16 mo old and over the past week we've had a new sleep problem that has left me stumped.  Typical bedtime routine is: bath, books with papa, boob in bed (we co-sleep).  Recently she will stop nursing and snuggle with me until she falls alseep, which is awesome (she seems to be night weaning herself in a way!).  However, for about a week, the "snuggling" has been more like wrestling- she is too wound up to sleep, which leads to a power struggle of me scolding her for wiggling, crawling around, giggling, etc.  I feel horrible about it, but get so frustrated by her inability to settle.  I feel like I'm working harder on sleep than she is!  Last night we hit our rock bottom, with her screaming while I scold her, me giving up for awhile and letting her wiggle, then resuming the power struggle while she freaks out.  Bedtime ended up taking over 2 hrs before she finally collapsed into sleep.

I'm reviewing two of my fav books (No-Cry Sleep Solution and Sleepless in America) for some ideas on strategies to help the wiggly toddler, but thought I would also turn to some veteran mommies for advice.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Super~Single~Mama]

I don't have much advice, but my ds was, and still is, a sleep hater.  16mo was really bad - I think it was partly b/c of teeth, and partly b/c he hates to sleep.

One thing I did at that age was switch up the bedtime routine.  Nursing, bath, books, then snuggles.  It worked sometimes.  Later I started sitting in a rocking chair in the room while he fell asleep - it was necessary for my sanity, b/c he treated me like a jungle gym when I just wanted him to sleep. 

It gets better eventually!

[walkinbluesmama]

so glad to hear sitting in a chair worked for you (or at least for your sanity!)  I've been contemplating that just so I can feel somewhat productive, knitting or reading, which I can't do while I am laying with her.

[merrymaryallegr]

Our son is 14 months and he does what we call "Rotisserie Baby" before bed often....his head might be down, but his body is twisting and turning, spinning in circles...if he is REALLY TIRED, he'll just crash out, but usually there is about 20-30 minutes of RB before sleep.  I hope it doesn't get worse before it gets better.

[carmen358]

DD (also 16 months) recently started doing something similar but I've noticed that it's only when she goes to bed late. And by late I mean, when she's over tired. She normally falls asleep within 5-10 minutes. She used to nurse almost to sleep then I would unlatch her and she fell asleep on my lap (we cosleep as well) in bed. Now, she doesn't want to nurse to sleep most nights and wants to lay beside me to fall asleep...which is great! However, as I said, when she's over tired she gets off the bed and wanders around in the room, walks on the bed, etc, etc. I just sit on the bed (darkened) and wait for her to get back into bed. I've found that if I plead with her to come to bed it takes longer. Usually she just needs to get some energy out and wind down I guess - she's never crying or anything..usually quite happy). It never takes longer than 20-25 minutes.

[anarchamom]

I have nothing to offer except commiseration. I'm just do glad to hear that this is common at this age. I feel like I'm losing it, and I get way too mad. The craziness, not being able to settle down, the mama jungle gym--all of it. I've been blaming my self for not being able to help my child settle into sleep. I spend so much time waiting for him to calm down and be ready to sleep that I've been able to finish entire issues of the New Yorker magazine which has in depth articles that are frequently longer than 10 pages. 

I'm really trying to stay calm and not expect him to go to sleep quickly. It's been very rough though. I've been doubting my abilities to be the mother I want to be. he didn't go to sleep until after 10 o'clock tonight which is why I'm up at 1 AM trying to have a little time alone.

ugh.