We sleep trained a long time ago at 6 months, and then he started STTN at a year. He had a 6-week long 18-month sleep regression.... but lately protests bedtime like no other. He just cries and cries and cries, and now he's a pacifier addict again (after not having had it for 6 months). It is soooo hard listening to him. He wants to rock in the rocking chair for an hour and sing songs. But I just cannot do that until 10pm. ughhhhh. It's so hard. 
how long would you let your toddler cry?
persimmon / 1026 posts
We are going through this right now, it's so frustrating! We usually have a 10 minute rule and will go in and comfort him, but lately we've been stretching to 15 or 20 minutes, just because we can tell he's more whining and not hysterically crying. Last night we were all awake from 11pm-2am because we don't want to get into the rocking habit and he would just not go back to sleep. We are going to try starting the bedtime routine 10 minutes later tomorrow and then 10 minutes later the next night to see if a later bedtime will help so he's more tired and falls asleep faster on his own.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
Depends. We can tell the difference in her cries. There's the regular I just woke up but want someone to soothe me cry. Then there's the I'm scared/I had a bad dream cry. If it's the latter we go in right away. The former up to 15 and if she doesn't stop we go in to soothe her.
Do you think maybe he's ready for a later bedtime?
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@littlecasita1122: how old is he? I'm fine with rocking, because he's already two so I'm not too concerned about a habit... but I don't like him staying up this late.
@locavore_mama: it's possible... but am *I* ready for him to stay up until 9 or 10 pm 
And his cry is neither of those... It's different. Like, I just don't want to go to bed and I feel so betrayed by you cry.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@Mrs. Pen: LOL but on the flip side you're stressing yourself and him out spending so much time trying to get him to fall asleep.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
BTW - totally coincidental but LO is crying right now! LOL
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@locavore_mama: I think it could just be a case of cabin fever... he hasn't had the chance to be outside, burn energy, etc... so he's not getting as tired as he used to.... It's finally warming up so we've been trying to get him outside everyday
persimmon / 1026 posts
@Mrs. Pen: he is almost 22 months. And what do you know, he just started crying! Sigh.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@locavore_mama: @littlecasita1122: omg! all our babies need to settle down and go to sleep!!! It still makes me so sad to hear him cry.
cantaloupe / 6751 posts
@Mrs. Pen: we are going through this right now. I've been dreading bedtime with my 25 month old - she begs for another book, another song, etc...and it's awful now that she can talk and asks me to stay, pleeeeease we have been trying lots of "forewarning" about bedtime - like , "ok, three more books and then it's time for sleep sack and song and bed," "time for your sleepsack and then song," just so that she can expect and know that bed time is imminent. Some nights are better than others... Last week was awful. We let her cry for ::10-15 before going in and each time she was so hysterical and upset - and then immediately as soon as she sees us it's fine. Last week was so bad I had to sleep on her floor to get her to sleep at all
So... Sorry I'm not more helpful. just letting you know that you're not alone
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
Until he falls asleep..... I will go in after 5-10 and shhhh and rub his back but that's it. Bed time is bed time! He was protesting bedtime a lot lately and we just have him a pillow and he is so much better now! He thinks it's special :). He is 23 mos
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@pinkcupcake: they are so smart at this age! He knows I'm out here and he just cries, "mama! mama!" I mean, seriously kid, whyyyyy. Like he knows what he's doing to me!
I didn't realize our LO's are so close in age, J is 25 months as well.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@winniebee: haha! that's so cute. We had been planning to hold off on a pillow until we transitioned to a toddler bed, but he does love pillows (he likes to pretend sleep with them during the day). I do agree about bedtime is bedtime... and this age is one for testing boundaries... it's hard to know though, when is the right time to comfort/soothe/give in and when to be firm.
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
We had this for a little while, and the only thing that eventually helped was a rock solid routine (plus warnings about the number of books & songs he would get). If it's closer to whining I'd let it go on for a while, maybe try to offer him self soothing alternatives (nightlight? music or sleep turtle thing? or a special pillow like @winniebee: suggested?)
If you've done all this I apologize. I hope it gets better. I wouldn't count whine/crying as real crying.. just turn the volume down on the monitor 
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@Mrs. Pen: it's hard to hear him cry!! We have started bedtime earlier and that way if he cries he won't be up all hours. T has always been a cry to put on Jammie's but ok after books kind of kid. But the past 3 weeks he has cried more frequently at bedtime. It's heartbreaking but I know I'm not doing him any favors by dragging it out!
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@beaker: it's one huge bummer about small apartment living - I can't get away from it He does have white noise he sleeps with... but I haven't tried music. He LOVES music, so maybe I should try that... I'll consider the pillow too - maybe he is ready for it and it will be just the thing to get him to calm down and sleep 
thanks!!
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@Mrs. Pen: or have u tried a special toy? Like if I give T a little musical toy or train or book he is happy. He might not fall asleep for awhile but there are no tears.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@winniebee: well, he does sleep with two stuffed animals. They aren't his loveys though and he doesn't seem all that into them. I wonder if I should tell him to pick out a toy to take to bed?
pineapple / 12234 posts
@winniebee: I do the same, every 5-10 for a back rub and eventually she gets it (unless she's sick)
hostess / wonderful grape / 20803 posts
@Mrs. Pen: he might like that! Ts crib is overcrowded with stuffed toys it's insane! But he loves his entourage
hostess / papaya / 10540 posts
@Mrs. Pen: Mine is a year older than yours, but he did the same thing and we just let him cry until he slept because he was testing boundaries. It was rough, but he eventually figured it out. And when we figured out a distraction like getting to pick something special to bed made him happier to go to bed, it made life so much better for all.
bananas / 9118 posts
It depends on the type of cry- freaked out and we get him immediately, just fussing and we give him 10-15 minutes.
During that stage, I sat in his doorway for about 30 minutes until he fell asleep. Not long after we figured out that giving him a book and his Scout doll or his interactive Jake (& Neverland Pirates) doll was super useful since he would read or play quietly until he fell asleep. After that discovery we have next to no crying and he doesn't need us to stay close.
pomegranate / 3759 posts
Until she sleeps! Going in the room only makes it way worse. LO had this at the same time too!
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
At 18 months she's also sleeping with an entourage, she has to put each of them to sleep and kisses them when we put her in. She has puppy, baby, Mickey, and then her lovey (blanket) that she sleeps on. I think each week she adds another member to the night time routine, but it helps with the tears.
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 0 | 0 |
| Posts | 1 | 0 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
25 comments