Go to sleep! ....please

tqsbride

We have been trapped in a bedtime fiasco for nearly a year now.  DS simply can't wind down and fall asleep on his own. DS will stay awake for nearly an hour after the official bedtime. Bedtime was at 8:30--it's now 10 pm. It seems that he doesn't want to be alone, so we gave up on keeping him in his own room--his bed is now in our bedroom.  I find staying in his room until he falls asleep is counterproductive since he stays awake for nearly 90 minutes.  Once he discovers that we've left his room, he comes tearing out of his room screaming bloody murder. We've tried adjusting bedtimes, naptimes, meals (going organic), increasing activities during the day, warm milk at night, night lights, leaving other lights on, etc.  We've had the same ritual for over a year--bathtime, storytime, then bed.   Our pediatrician suggested melatonin (!!!) which in desparation we tried for a while.  It worked, but DS would wake from a deep sleep shrieking. 

Not looking for solutions, just feeling very frustrated and stressed since we're expecting another child soon.  SIGH.

LoveEeyore

Aw so sorry!  Poor guy.  My DD recently developed a fear of the cars on the highway near our house.  I know how sad, frustrating, helpless, furious, , guilty and worried this can make a mama feel.  Good luck.

L&BAug05

I could have written this post word for word! No answers sadly but know you aren't the only one out there!

ryansmamaxo

We have the same problem with DS and it has been going on for a little over a yr now. He started off just great ~ after keeping him in a cosleeper in our room for 6 months we transitioned him to his crib. He would wake up in the early morning hours here and there and I would have to bring him into our bed or calm him down, but eventually he was sleeping great In his room every night. Then out of no where BAM... He wanted NOTHING to do with his crib. He screams bloody murder if I even try to set him in there. So we are back to having him sleep in a pack n play in our room , which he is quickly growing too big to be comfortable in. He also consistently stays up til about 10 pm ...sooooo difficult on DH and I bc we never get any time to ourselves. finally I have started getting him up an hour earlier, and not allowing him to take 2 hour naps during the day. I wake him up after 1 hour and get him running around outside. For 2 weeks I've successfully gotten him to sleep around 8:30 on his own, he is exhausted. DH also does everything he can to tire him out between 630( after dinner ) and bedtime. I give him a warm bath around 8 and by the end he can barely keep his head up. Now the next challenge is to get him outta my room!!!!

groovygrl

I know you said youre not looking for suggestions so I just wanted to say that totally sucks & sleep issues are SO hard. It has by far been our biggest stressor for the last 2 yrs and if you have never had kids with big time sleep issues, it is hard to relate to how defeated & exhausted (mentally & physically) you feel after awhile of doing this...big hugs to you! 

Mine are a year younger so I'm sure this might not work as well but we have finally gotten them to calm down at bedtime by doing the whole 'big boy/girl' thing- big girls don't cry at bedtime, and then talking about all their friends & some older kids they know and how THEY don't cry when they go to bed, etc. It really helped that friends w/ 2 older girls stayed with us for a weekend and they started to look up to them & got to see that there was no crying when they went to sleep so we have continued to reinforce it every night...

GL