18 month old taking very long to fall asleep?

Question

Recently, my almost 18 month old is taking approx. 1 hr. to fall asleep at night. She's doesn't seem to take much less time falling asleep for her nap. Seems she need a min. of 5 hrs. awake time bet. sleep to be tired enough. However, because her nap ranges anwhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hrs., we'll normally put her to bed by 7PM in the evening.

At which time, she just talks to herself (no toys and very dim in her room). When she took an hour to fall a sleep consistently for a week, I tried putting her down later at 7:30 PM. However, that didn't seem to have alter the situation and she only end sleep even later. She's been falling

Can anyone tell me whether you experienced something similar with your child/ren at his age range? Is his another phase she's going through or is it a new behavior I should expect going forward? I'm also wondering if I need to stick with putting her down later and how long typically should I try this before I can see results?

Thank you,
Christine

Answer 1

Hi,

My son is almost 17 months, and is doing much the same thing without playing quietly by himself. He doesn't do that well. He takes forever to fall asleep, but if I leave the room he's up and screaming!

I think it's partly that they need some quiet awake time to get ready for sleep. Much like an adult who reads in bed for 20 min before falling asleep. It's also, I think, partly because they've realized that the world doesn't cease to exist when they're asleep, and they don't want to miss a thing.

In my opinion, since you've tried putting her down later to no avail, go back to her regular bedtime and just let her play. She'll sleep when she's ready to.

Answer 2

My daughter is on almost the exact same schedule. She wakes up between 7 and 7:30, naps from 12:30 to around 2:30-3 and goes to bed at 7:30. She is 24 months now and also started "talking" to herself before falling asleep around 18-19 months. She talks to herself, sings to herself etc. for a little while before her nap and up to an hour before bedtime. I followed the "Baby Wise" series since she was born. I highly recommend these books!! I talked to her doctor about her not falling asleep for a while and she told me it is perfectly normal. They are just "unwinding", relaxing before sleep. As long as she actually is falling asleep and not staying up for hours or all night, I wouldn't worry about it. She is still getting 11 hours of sleep it sounds like through the night. That is a good amount for her. She's not hurting herself. Hope this helps!

Answer 3

You daughter may just need some quiet time before she goes to sleep - imagine an adult who reads in bed for a little while beofre sleeping. It is just her way of preparing herself to sleep, could be soothing herself too. My 20 month old daughter occasionally sits up in bed as I am leaving her room at night, and may babble for a bit. If she wakes up in the middle of the night, I often hear her play with her gloworm - just getting herself back to sleep.
The most important thing is that she is getting the right amount of sleep each day - about 12-14 hours at this age (this includes the nap, which kids do still need at this age).

Answer 4

My daughter stopped napping at around 10 months of age? And never slept through the night until well in her after toddler years...somewhere around 5...

The later and later and later bedtime had no effect on her at all, she'd just sleep later and later...until we were at midnight. Not good... especially since she STILL woke up in the middle somewhere.

If I were to do this again, I'd do a different thing. I'd put my foot down on a bedtime and let her fall asleep on her own. I'd also, as others said, quit trying to force a nap on someone who doesn't need one which unfortunately means I (who needed it!) don't get one either.

Also try the routine route. ie. bath time, story time, bed. lights out. no more checking in on her or going to her when she whines/cries/whatever...

I would give things at least two weeks, if not a month to try something new. Remember, kids revolt at new things so it will get TONS worse before it gets better.

Good luck! :)

Answer 5

This is typical for babies this age....
"Don't" stop giving her a nap she still needs it.
This is a time in her life that she is realizing that she is her own person, separate from you and she is excited about exploring her world, even if it is 7:00 and she is in her crib. She may be figuring out how things look differently with a night light or listening to her self and the sounds she can make. This is a great time in her learning and development, let her have her time, she will be happier and smarter.
BUT it won't last, so you might think about making a recording of her cute baby sounds...you will miss it. :-)

Answer 6

My son is 20 months and had the same problem. What might work is putting him to sleep a little later seeing tha 7 is releatively early for a toddler who tends to be active. Feed her at about 7:30 bathe her at 8 , read her a book in your arms or just hold her and give her kisses so she can calm down and feel relaxed and soothed for about 10-20 mins, and then put her down for bed. The Johnsons night time bath and lotion really does work and soothes baby to sleep.

Answer 7

The 18 month old takes too long to fall asleep for who? It is obvious that she is falling asleep at the perfect time for her but not for you. Sorry but your schedule is not fitting to the needs of the child but is being forced to fit your needs. How can you let the poor little thing just sit in the dark talking to her self for hours. You need to move her bedtime to a more realistic hour so she does not spend so much time in that enforced isolation. put her down to sleep at a late hour hopefully when she is sleepy. If you know she needs 5 hours to be tired again why are you letting her sleep so late and so long and then try to force her to sleep when she plainly is not tired. See results? of her getting out of your way early or of her having a well adjusted childhood/ Which is it really, Mom?

Answer 8

at 18 mths all they wanna do is play and explore. lessen there day time naps or move it an hour early. so when bedtime comes,they would be tired by then. you also have to keep in mind that a 1.5 yr old toddler needs less sleep than a 6mth old baby and a 1 yr old. I hope this helps.

Answer 9

They are just learning to talk at that age and are discovering that they like that skill. She'll probably talk her self to sleep for a while but it's probably just a phase. Is she in the room alone? Are there siblings she may keep awake? If there are then put her down earlier and let her jabber herself to sleep then out the older ones down. My youngest one (1) likes to scream at the top of her lungs for a little while before we put her down. Not the I'm in pain or I need you scream but the squeals of delight as loud as she can. Then all suddenly goes quiet and the older 2 know its bed time.

Answer 10

try to get her to nap earlier . she still needs the nap. the first answer is wrong she still needs her midday sleep. put her down at noon and wake her at 2pm and try tiring her out more like going for a walk or a swim or to the park. this is more a sign of needing a later bedtime. this is normal. i have no clue when it passes since my son is four no longer naps and is still up late. try feeding her 30 minutes before bed then a bath with bedtime bath soap made by johnsons and johnsons and then lay her down for a story and night night hugs and kisses