18 month old bedtime

So I don't know whats going on here but at 12 months my son was sleeping 7pm - 7am on average. Then at 15 months, he suddenly was having trouble going to bed at that time, and his bedtime basically got pushed to 8, which was still doable for us and still early enough for him to get enough sleep. Now all of a sudden, the same thing is happening except he refuses to go to bed before 9. I will try 3-4 times. I start bedtime routine a little after 7. Sit with him, give him milk, then say its time for bed. Hug him, put him down in the crib. In the past I would then walk out, and he would put himself to sleep. Now, he immediately starts crying, stands up, asks to be picked up, asks to watch his favorite show, asks for more baba, etc. This goes on 3 times and then for some reason, as soon as its around 9, he knows to give in.

Is this some sort of stage or should I be more firm with keeping bedtime at 8? I feel like 9 is too late for him especially when he has daycare in the morning.

Re: 18 month old bedtime

I'd stay firm at 8 and just not go back in. He'll learn quickly not to bother making a fuss if he gets no reaction from you.

Re: 18 month old bedtime

How is he in the morning? He may just not need that much sleep. DS has never gone to bed early. He's always been good on 10 hours. The only time he sleeps more than that is if he's sick.

18 month old bedtime

At that age, he's was in bed by 7:30. He's now 3 and still in bed at 7:30, but now he'll call for us between 7:30-8 with demands (more water, more huggies, more book, etc)

Re: 18 month old bedtime

My 18 mo old goes down at 645 and sleeps through til about 7AM. She takes one afternoon nap for approximately 2 hours. I will say that I have an amazing sleeper and I've had zero problems with her.

IMO I do think 9PM is too late as a normal routine. Hopefully its just a phase but I'd stick to 8 as the absolute latest.
GL!

Re: 18 month old bedtime

All my kids go up at 8:30 and sleep at 9:00.
They all wake at 7 (even on the weekend). It's a solid 10 hours.

The 20 month old does not nap and is not tired or cranky. If she falls asleep earlier, she wakes earlier.

I honestly don't think all kids need so much sleep.

18 month old bedtime

My 15 month old goes to sleep between 8:30 and 9 (these days its been closer to 9) and gets up anywhere between 6:30 and 8. She still takes two naps most days -- usually about 2 hours a piece during the day. We have a nanny so it works for us if she wakes up later and goes to bed later because this way I get to see her for at least a bit each day (I work in the city 4 days a week and get home about 7 most days) -- this way I get at least 2 hours with her and sometimes a small amount of time in the morning. But again, its fine for us because I dont have to wake her too early to go to daycare in the morning since the nanny comes instead and she can wake up natrually. I guess my point is it depends on what time you have to wake DS up for daycare and if he's also getting sufficient naps at daycare....

18 month old bedtime

My kids range in age from 11 months- 6 yrs. They are all in bed between 7:30-8:30 (we stagger bedtimes), and they all wake up between 6:30-7:30. Only my 11 month old naps. My 2 yr old twins do not. They only need 11 hours- they do 8-7.

Re: 18 month old bedtime

DS2 is 21 months and goes to bed between 7 to 730 and wakes around 730am. Sometimes he cries more than others but we stuck to it because he needs the sleep. And we need the time to ourselves after he goes to bed. DS1 is 3 and goes to bed between 8 and 830. They need their sleep even if the fight it.

18 month old bedtime

Thanks for all the replies, I put him to bed at 8 last week... he started crying. Normally I would take him out, let him stay up a little longer, etc. but I kept him there. He cried for literally 2 minutes and was asleep in another 2 minutes. So clearly he needs the sleep and was just testing his limits a bit. :)