She's 10 months old. Her usual bedtime is anywhere between 7 and 8:30 pm. I don't have problems with her (usually), I give her a big bottle of warm formula, we cuddle, I rock her a little bit, I put her in her crib, turn on her musical "aquarium" and give her her bunny... and she'll go to sleep byherself.
Now, I've noticed that if we go out in the afternoon, and come back about 30 min. before her bedtime, even if I do the same routine, she won't go to sleep. Is this because she's got an "adrenaline rush"? In other words, because the day was different and there was more action, she won't go to sleep?
How do I get her to go to sleep tonight? We went out and came back at 7:45, I did everything we do each night, and she just wails when I put her in her crib... Right now my husband is watching her, but I don't want her to go to sleep too late...
What can I do, and how do I prevent this from happening again?
Thanks!
2007-02-25 13:36:54 · 13 answers · asked by Feed the models! 4 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
GABRIELA: IF YOU DON'T KNOW, DON'T ANSWER JUST FOR THE FLIPPING 2 POINTS!!!!! This is a serious issue, you know?
2007-02-25 13:49:38 · update #1
I hope your baby has gone to bed by now. But, anyway my son will do this exact thing if we go to town and get back late. I guess it's just a change in routine, even if you give the formula, cuddle, etc. They just get excited and don't want to miss anything. I would just try to get back early enough to let her adjust to home again. Good luck!
2007-02-25 14:26:09 · answer #1 · answered by Landi 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I would make sure that you are home by a certain time every night. an hour and a half window is a really big timespan for a bedtime. You need to decide on an actual bedtime for your daughter and stick to it. If you're out and about, make sure you are home in plenty of time to get your daughter settled and ready for bed. I think that she does get sort of a "rush."
At the same time, babies this age are transitioning from two naps to one, so that might cause her some angst. You might want to change the bedtime routine if you think that you'll be out often in the evening. I find it extremely helpful when babies and children get baths at night. First off, it'll help once she's old enough for school to not have to worry about it in the morning. Second, it can be really calming for children. That will also give you added transition time between your outing and bedtime. Maybe give her a bath, read her a book, give her the bottle, and put her to bed. That's an hour long bedtime routine right there, but it may be worth it to make your baby's transition smoother.
Babies do not like their routine to be upset. Chances are you upset more than her bedtime routine--she's used to eating her dinner and playing or watching mommy and daddy eat dinner, plus her bedtime routine. I would just make sure that if at all possible to make bedtime consistent, not just bedtime routine. Make sure you give yourself enough time for the routine. Even being off by fifteen minutes or a half an hour can be confusing to your baby. I'm willing to bet that your daughter gets up at the same time each morning whether or not she went to bed at 7 or 8:30. I hope this helps!
2007-02-25 21:59:56 · answer #2 · answered by Sit'nTeach'nNanny 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Yes, any diversion from the normal routine can mess up a baby's ability to put herself to sleep. It's OK if she goes to bed late sometimes. She's also at the right age for a separation anxiety crisis. Maybe you could try to stay at the house in the evening until she works through this. For right now, just do ANYTHING to put her to sleep! If it were me, I would try walking, nursing in a dark bedroom while laying down, and as a last resort, a long car ride. Maybe she needs some food? Try some heavy protein and starches (grilled cheese, tuna sandwich, french toast) to fill her up, but try to keep the house dark and calm. She will sleep eventually. Good luck, and make sure she gets her naps tomorrow!
2007-02-25 21:51:48 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Babies don't want to miss any exciting moments going on in the world around them. She probably doesn't want to miss a thing. When I put my kids down, I would also tell them, "It's 8 o'clock, everyone is going to sleep" then stick to your guns. It sounds like you have a great routine going, she just might need some reassurance that it is time for everyone to sleep and she will not be left out. There are always some bedtime hangups, and kids not wanting to go to sleep seems like a biggie.
2007-02-25 21:44:43 · answer #4 · answered by chelebeee 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What I started doing a couple months ago is pre-heating the crib with a heating pad on low or medium. I do that, and she either goes to sleep quickly or, if she's already asleep, stays asleep often for a while. If we need to feed her in the middle of the night, the heating pad goes back into the crib. It's been a lifesaver.
2007-02-26 13:51:56 · answer #5 · answered by littlenicola 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My niece was the same way, the perfect little sleeper unless we had her out with us during the day. Once it got til she was up 2hrs later than usual we would take her for a car ride, sometimes she would be a sleep before we left the driveway. The funny thing is it only happened when we would have her out early that day, other than that she was the perfect little sleeper. lol
Try taking her for a ride around the block, it worked for us.
2007-02-25 21:49:15 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
She probably won't go to sleep because she slept while u guys were out. my 3month old son does the same thing for example yesterday we went to visit my sisters and we left the house about 9pm and came bak around 3am so my baby slept couple of hours. so when we came home he wasn't going to sleep and i gave him his bottle cuddle him sang to him the usual. normally his bedtime is between 11pm -12am thats cuz I go to bed at that time too. this way we sleep the same hours. so for example tomorrow try putting her to sleep the usual time and she will notice her acutal bedtime.. good luck
2007-02-25 21:52:21 · answer #7 · answered by Beba 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Let her wail. She needs to understand that bedtime is bedtime, no matter the day's events. A couple nights of that and she'll get it.
2007-02-25 21:49:17 · answer #8 · answered by toomanycommercials 5 · 1⤊ 2⤋
i'd say she is hyped up and awake from going out just before bed time. maybe instead of taking her out just before bed time you could get someone to watch her? she's at the age where she is very in tune with what is going on.
2007-02-25 22:24:52 · answer #9 · answered by three_red_shoes 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2007-02-26 10:17:43 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋