My 17 month old daughter refuses to go to sleep in her crib at night.?

Question

I've tried everything from laying on the floor beside her crib to letting her cry it out, including warm baths before bed and those "calming, bedtime" lotions. The only way to get her to go to sleep is for me to lay down with her with no one else in the room (usually downstairs in our livingroom after everyone else is in bed asleep). Even then, she's not going to sleep until at least midnight (sometimes as late as 3:00 am). I've tried getting her up at 8:00 am, only letting her take an hour's nap (which she refuses to take until at least 4:00 pm), keeping her up through the day with no nap(she literally falls asleep aroung 6:00 - 7:00 pm while she's playing the 2 times I've tried this and then waking up a couple hours later, only to be up for hours more). Nothing is working! By the time I get her to sleep, it takes me at least an hour to wind down to where I can go to sleep - I'm exhausted! I'm desperate! Please, if you have experienced answers, HELP

Unfortunately, the 2 times I did try to let her cry herself to sleep, she cried so hard that after 7 - 10 minutes, she did get sick everywhere. Not cool. And I really don't think putting her in a toddler bed is a good idea because a) she shares a room with her 3 yr old sister and b) she could very easily fall down the stairs if she gets up in the middle of the night or if one of her brothers would happen to open her bedroom door. I've got safety issues to consider with this situation; I have to keep her safe!

Answer 1

I went through the same thing with my daughter...DO NOT get a 'big kid bed' yet...she's too small for that. NO NAPS after 3 pm. It may sound harsh but by 8 pm she'll be so tired that she'll want to go in the crib. And when you put her in you have to leave the room and let her cry. Get a night light but that's it. If you get into this routine of laying with her and waiting till everyone else is asleep you will not get a good night's sleep for a few years. It takes persistence. Set a bedtime, same time every night, and if you have to let her cry it out. I learned this the hard way, but it works! And remember no naps after 3 pm.

Good Luck.

Answer 2

This is going to sound really stupid but I promise it works! Put her to bed by 7 pm no matter what. Let her cry it out but keep your ear on her to make sure she isn't making herself sick (some children will) after a week or two you shouldn't have an issue. I started putting my son to bed at 6 pm when he was 4 months he nursed to sleep but only woke up once until he was 5 1/2 months and normally slept about 12 hours. He is now 19 months old and still sleeps between 11 and 12 hours a night. Do not move her to a big girl bed until she is going to sleep on her own or you will have a mess in her bedroom because she will be into everything!

Answer 3

Establish a daily routine including meals, snacks, naps, bedtime, etc. Do not stray from it. Also establish a 'going to bed' ritual...such as the bath, laying down next to her with a book, a kiss, nightlight and good night or whatever works for the two of you. Talk to her about what's coming next so she knows what to expect. Then stick to your guns. Let her cry it out...it'll be rough for the whole household but do NOT enter her room at ALL because that will just tell her crying works. You might as well get used to this because if she hasn't started already...the age of tantrums is fast approaching and the best way to deal with those is to ignore them.

Someone suggested a toddler bed...that's not a bad idea. If you have it already, set it up in her room and give her a choice.

Good luck. I know you are probably very tired. She doesn't go to bed til after midnight and she probably wakes up early every morning...ahhhhh!

Answer 4

I absolutly agree, time for a big kid bed. Someone mentioned making sure they were on a schedule, that is absolutly neccesary. Also try putting a cd player in her room and playing some soft classical music and sitting with her for a while (do not talk to her). Once she gets calmed down quietly get up and leave. keep your ear out for her and if/when she gets up just go in and pick her up and put her back in her bed and leave (again do not talk to her) i know this will be hard but she will eventually get the idea that she is not going to get attention from mom and dad when it is bed time. We play classical music for the kids in my day care center and they are asleep for nap within 10 minutes. Good luck and i hope this helps.

Answer 5

Try getting her her own big gril bed. let her help pick out bedding and pillows. Also try giving her something that smells like you.
If you try to let her cry it out it may take up to a week for her to sleep. If possible leave the house once she is in bed. My husband had to visit family for a few nights while trying to get my son to sleep for the night. Also have a bedtime routine, and a daily routine may help her know what's coming next. Be Consistent! Make sure that there is nothing medicaly wrong with her. Also take time for yourself, if you are stressed about her going to bed, so will she.

Answer 6

Well I found my son hates the crib because he feels kinda trapped in there. Plus being our first he was spoiled bad and was in bed beside me all night. We are trying laying beside him in a toodler bad to see if we can work up to him sleeping alone. My 4 month old was in the hospital for while when she was born so she has not problem going to sleep in the crib it makes her feel safe.

So it all depends on the child. Good Luck

Answer 7

my daughter is 17 months old as well and i have gone through the exact thingh as you are. right now i am going through night terrors which are by far worse then not sleeping in her crib.
has anything changed in her lifestyle? has she had a growth spurt? she might just be trying to express herself and going through seperation anxiety. she also could be going through a change of schedules on her own. toddlers do that just the same as babies do.
please email me and let me know how things have worked out and give me more details on the sleeping shcedule and the way her room is to better help you.
thanks,
nikki

Answer 8

if she 17 months old...its time to get her a lil kid bed....take her out the crib...and get her a toddler bed. she is getting to old for the crib when she doesnt want to be in it anymore. Some children develop different from others

Answer 9

I have this same problem. Keep putting her back into her crib. I didn' and my seven year old. Is still trying to sleep in our bed. Everytime I catch her coming iiiiiiiiiiiio our room send her back to his room. We are going on two weeks of him staying in his room. Just keep trying.

Answer 10

it could be multiple different things...my cousin did that when she was little...only to find out she had been raped by the next door nieghbor...it could just be early stages of insomnia...give her one of you shirts and spray it with your perfume...let her sleep in it...so she can feel you with her...my dad works for days at a time and i have his colgne on my pillow :)