sleep question

mamablase1

Hi! I'm new to this board (posted intro earlier today).  LO will be 12 mo in a week and for the last 3 nights, it's been very hard to get him to sleep. He's usually been a fairly easy baby to put to sleep. Ok--I digress, I probably help it along a little too much and I know my mom does (she watches him everyday). However, the problem we've been having for the last 3 nights is he is fighting so hard to stay awake. The poor thing will have his eyes almost closed and he sits up in my lap and starts clapping. Last night, he head kept bobbing while he was sitting up in my lap and he'd lay his head on my chest, then the minute his head hit my chest, it was like he said to himself 'No, I'm not going to sleep!' and he'd sit back up. Last night was a 2.5 hr process!!!! Is this just a phase? I know sometimes when they just learn new skills, etc their sleep is messed up, but he hasn't started walking or anything really new right now, so I'm sort of lost.

 Any thoughts?? TIA

Ms5586

Sounds like a "brain spurt", as we call them.  He's more aware of his surroundings, and wants to stay and play.  If you want, you could implement a routine that would help him fall asleep on his own, so if he decides to sit up and clap, he's not getting a reaction from you.  Or, you can just try to wait it out.  The new skills and awareness won't be as "new" in a couple of weeks, and he'll probably settle back down again.