not interested in sleeping.

Arun at 3 months

We recently started to have some problems getting Arun to sleep.  I know this is a journey that all parents have to go through and yes, many have it much worse.  I know parents of three year olds who still wake up three or four times to nurse their baby back to sleep. 

Not us.. we thought we had overcome all of that.  Upon our return from India Arun seemed to have a major developmental leap.  At 15 months he started to walk, to talk and to finally sleep through the night on most nights.  We were able to move him into his own bedroom where eventually we just kissed him good night and he chatted to himself for a few minutes before falling into a long and deep sleep.  I felt very proud of this, like we had overcome a major hurdle of parenting.  I think I even bragged a little.

But no more- he simply does not want to sleep.  It all started about a month ago when he figured out how to open his bedroom door.  Since that day he will not stay in his room if we leave.  He will run in and out of his room, giggling and calling for us until we eventually give in and come into his room, lay him down and lie perfectly still until after at least an hour of squirming, baby yoga and other stalling techniques he finally succumbs to utter exhaustion.  This is repeated at both nap and bedtimes.  All three of us are losing sleep and losing patience.

When I try to coax him into just lying down and going to sleep, he tells me 'I am not interested in sleeping'! This, coming from a 22 month old, would be quite funny if we weren't all so tired. 

How does your child go to sleep?

Comments

[jenny]

hi Rachel! so sorry to hear that. i hope i'm not one of those mamas who nurse their 3 year olds that often in the night!!!

i do still nurse Tulsi to sleep. she is very attached to me that way and because she still doesn't eat much real food, she nurses a lot still (day and some at night). but going to sleep...we have a really nice routine that is the same every night (sometimes the time varies depending on nap times). we eat together, then lights start dimming, she takes a bath, has naked time and runs around and gets out last bits of energy, dim more lights, jammies+massage, brush teeth, cuddle together reading a book 2-3 times til she gets really tired and closes the book and says "Bye, bye!" we say prayers, nurse and she rolls off when she's done. she seems to have a lot of energy right before bedtime, but the reading helps her calm down and 'focus', i think. another thing we started doing that i think really helps, is we talk about our day when i'm putting her jammies on. i just sort of narrate what we did and she often smiles and chimes in. then i briefly say what we're doing tomorrow. this was an idea i read. it seems to help her 'let go' of today and any thoughts of tomorrow, so her body and mind can 'rest'.
i love our routine. it seems to really be important to her and feels good to us. hope that helps.
keep us posted.

[Rachel]

Sounds sweet Madelon! Is he still waking up in the night?

[madelon]

I read to him, then I sing to him which turns into humming and then I even mirror his breathing, which works of course, by putting me right out! Luckily he has a large bed.