lots of bedtime routine questions...

What's DCs bedtime routine like?
How long does it take?
Do they go in their crib or bed awake & fall asleep on their own?
Does DC ever cry when you put them in?
How old is DC?
Has anyone had a child who fought bedtime every night & just miraculously got better & goes to sleep peacefully?
Ok I guess that's a long shot but I'm really hoping for a miracle here

DDs 22 months, always fought naps & bedtime.
After almost 2 months of CIO she was finally going in her crib without crying but it only lasted 2 weeks the last few nights she's been crying again.

I thought if I heard other routines, I could get some ideas so I can change it up because it's obviously not working. Any bedtime tips or advice would help.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

DS will be 2.5 in May ( so 29 months old). knock on wood he is a really great sleeper for naps and at night and goes down easy for us. He sleeps in his own room in a crib (he hasn't tried to climb out yet, so we're keeping him contained as long as possible! LOL
His routine for bed usually takes about 30 minutes total. He gets a bath every night, then brushes his teeth. Then we go into his room and read 2-3 books (he picks them, so it depends on which ones LOL) Hes really likes it, and i think it settles him down.
Then, I say good night and lay him in his crib awake. We watch him on the monitor and he usually is fine. Some nights he passes right out, other nights we'll hear him talking to himself for a few minutes But he rarely cries.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

Posted by ml110

DS will be 2.5 in May ( so 29 months old). knock on wood he is a really great sleeper for naps and at night and goes down easy for us. He sleeps in his own room in a crib (he hasn't tried to climb out yet, so we're keeping him contained as long as possible! LOL
His routine for bed usually takes about 30 minutes total. He gets a bath every night, then brushes his teeth. Then we go into his room and read 2-3 books (he picks them, so it depends on which ones LOL) Hes really likes it, and i think it settles him down.
Then, I say good night and lay him in his crib awake. We watch him on the monitor and he usually is fine. Some nights he passes right out, other nights we'll hear him talking to himself for a few minutes But he rarely cries.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

What's DCs bedtime routine like?
Brush teeth, bath every other night, PJs, blow dry her hair if it's bath night, she picks out 2 books to read, I sing 4 quick little songs to her while snuggling in the glider, kisses, she says night night to her books and shoes and then in her crib she goes. I turn on her crib soothers for her and her DreamLite pillow.

How long does it take?
20 minutes or so, depending on if it's bath night.

Do they go in their crib or bed awake & fall asleep on their own?
She goes in awake and falls asleep on her own. Some nights she fallas asleep quickly. Others she'll hang out for 30 minutes or more before falling asleep.

Does DC ever cry when you put them in?
She does go through phases. She'll scream and cry and carry on for like 2 weeks and then go down without any problems for a while, and then have another phase. I don't know if it's related to teething or what.

How old is DC?
21 months.

Has anyone had a child who fought bedtime every night & just miraculously got better & goes to sleep peacefully?
DD has always been fairly good about bedtime. What is your routine like? Have you tried a calming lotion before bed? Wind down time like turning the lights low, reading a book or two, quiet snuggle time? How long does your DD cry for?

lots of bedtime routine questions...

DS is 15 months and we do nothave a strict routine and never have had one.

He goes to sleep between 8-9. At about 730 he gets jammies and then some milk. Then plays and he will usually put himself to sleep around 830ish. No fighting. I don't think forcing them to sleep does anyone any good.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

dd almost 3, gices us a hard time t bedtime. Well she's on and off with it.

We start at 7. We go and brush teeth, potty, pj's, feed her fish, sit down read some books, then in her crib. I stay and rub her back a little. She recently gave up naps, so sometimes she passed out in 5 mins. Other times she's up but not for long. I rub her back for maybe 10 mins while she talks to me and settles down. then I leave. I'm usually out of there, or try to be, by 7:30.

I cannot give her bath right before bed. It makes her hyper. I just had dc #2 so i do baths right now whenever I can. Yesterday I did it at 5:30. And only every other night.

I have to say, even now, at almost 3, when have to revisit CIO of sorts. We don't just leave her anymore. She only wants me to do it, but some nights when she's freaking out like a looney, my husband takes over and finishes up. She hates it, but needs to realize what she's doing.

Also, CIO topped working for us around 2. They are to smart and know exactly what's going on.

IS she over tired? Is bedtime to early? Something bothering her? These are the things I ask when we go through a rough patch

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

What's DCs bedtime routine like?
1. We go in her room, I put on her nighttime diaper and pjs. I have a lil song i sing to her before I put her pjs on. If its bath night, then she gets a bath first THEN I do the above.
2. I make her a bottle in the kitchen which is darkened with just a small dim light on.
3. We go into my bedroom which has a nightlight on (my dh puts it on before I bring her in)
4. Give her a bottle, she falls asleep drinking it on me
5. I bring her into her room and put her in her crib

How long does it take?
About 30 minutes

Do they go in their crib or bed awake & fall asleep on their own?
When I do put her in awake she cries and I have done the Ferber method with her until she falls asleep. Most times shes already asleep.

Does DC ever cry when you put them in?
No

How old is DC?
9 Months and Ive done with routine with her since shes 2 months.

Has anyone had a child who fought bedtime every night & just miraculously got better & goes to sleep peacefully?
No I havent encountered that.

Now I know I dont do this properly because your supposed to put them in their crib still awake, but my dd has NEVER drank a nighttime bottle without falling asleep EVER. Even when she was an infant. So I never forced her. This method has worked for me.

When I give her a bath at night I use California Baby Calming Bubble Bath and I find it helps. I also use the Calming lotion on her if she feels particularly dry at night with her routine, but its not every night that I use it.

Im sorry this is all new to me as well so I dont really have advice. All I can say is just keep trying it may take awhile but keep doing your routine and after awhile I THINK your DC will get it. Read Ferbers book if you havent already I found some helpful information in there besides just using his method.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

What's DCs bedtime routine like?
Bath every other night, sometimes I'll blow dry her hair if I have the energy, Milk with a book, one episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, say goodnight to daddy (usually in bed before her bc he wakes up very early), brush teeth, check the thermostats (we count how long it takes for the light to turn off), give kisses and hugs, say "good night, sweet dreams, i love you, see you in the morning"

How long does it take? Usually an hour from bath to closing her bedroom door, but I don't mind bc I WFT and it's our special time together..

Do they go in their crib or bed awake & fall asleep on their own? She goes to bed awake and falls asleep within a half hour. Sometimes she talks, sings, tells stories to her Minnies. Sometimes she falls right out when she hits the pillow.

Does DC ever cry when you put them in? Sometimes for naps. I can count on one hand for bedtime.

How old is DC? DD is 26 months

Has anyone had a child who fought bedtime every night & just miraculously got better & goes to sleep peacefully? She never fought bedtime

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

So sorry you are dealing with this, must be so hard on BOTH of you.

I don't have much advice except have you tried having her Daddy do bedtime routine? I know when we did CIO and once in a while now if she gets up, I find sending DH in ends it more quickly then if it is me. Almost like she is looking for me and whne she doesn't see me gives in more easily.
I know you mentioned a sleep coach and it might not be a bad idea at this point in time...I feel bad for you guys!!
Good luck

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

DD will be 3 in July

What's DCs bedtime routine like?

brush teeth, pajamas, prayers, lullabies, crib.

How long does it take?

15 minutes


Do they go in their crib or bed awake & fall asleep on their own?

Goes to bed awake, falls asleep on her own.

Does DC ever cry when you put them in?

Nope.

How old is DC?

Almost 3


Has anyone had a child who fought bedtime every night & just miraculously got better & goes to sleep peacefully?

DD was always a good sleeper, we had a rough time around one year old but after 3 nights of CIO she has been good.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

No real advice but wanted to offer you because I can sort of relate. DS is almost 1yr old and he is horrible to get to sleep. He naps fine during the day but when it comes to sleep time hes impossible. All he wants to do is jump on the bed and play. He also doesnt go to sleep until really late. My routine is as follows:

-Quick bath, brush his teeth-
-get in PJs thats pretty much it lol then I lay him in the bed with me and put the bottle in his mouth. He finishes the bottle and then wants to play lol. Sometimes it takes an hour for him to finally knock out.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

Posted by ItsaJoya19

What's DCs bedtime routine like?
Bath every other night, sometimes I'll blow dry her hair if I have the energy, Milk with a book, one episode of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, say goodnight to daddy (usually in bed before her bc he wakes up very early), brush teeth, check the thermostats (we count how long it takes for the light to turn off), give kisses and hugs, say "good night, sweet dreams, i love you, see you in the morning"

How long does it take? Usually an hour from bath to closing her bedroom door, but I don't mind bc I WFT and it's our special time together..

Do they go in their crib or bed awake & fall asleep on their own? She goes to bed awake and falls asleep within a half hour. Sometimes she talks, sings, tells stories to her Minnies. Sometimes she falls right out when she hits the pillow.

Does DC ever cry when you put them in? Sometimes for naps. I can count on one hand for bedtime.

How old is DC? DD is 26 months

Has anyone had a child who fought bedtime every night & just miraculously got better & goes to sleep peacefully? She never fought bedtime

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

Posted by Beck

Posted by JenMarie

What is your routine like? Have you tried a calming lotion before bed? Wind down time like turning the lights low, reading a book or two, quiet snuggle time? How long does your DD cry for?

Our routine starts around 7:30 (I've tried earlier & later but nothing helps)
We say goodnight to everything downstairs & go upstairs with dim lights.
Wash up, PJs on, soft music, sippy of milk (we just started that because she was waking up in the middle of the night asking for it so I thought I'd try & it worked)
3 or 4 books, quick prayer, rock her for 5mins & in crib & that's where the nightmare beguines!
She'll cry for a 40 mins - an hour & it's heartbreaking.
We did CIO twice before & it worked in a couple weeks but this time, it was over a month & it never got any shorter. I started extending our routine & it worked, for 2 weeks she went in without crying & put herself to sleep but last week it started going down hill again. When I put her down she just cries
OP suggested having DH do it but he usually works nights or double shifts so he's never around.
Sorry this got so long, thanks for listening to my complaining!

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

That might be a good idea. I always thought I wanted to keep her in her crib as long as I could so she couldn't escape but maybe she would be more willing to go to sleep if it's in a big girl bed.
Thanks for the suggestion

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

lots of bedtime routine questions...

Do you watch tv right before you start your routine?

I ask b/c dd gave us a really hard time and when finally decided tv was on to late. It was one show then bed but it stimulates her to much. So if she watches we try and turn off about hour or more before we start. We clean up play whatever to distract her

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

I have 18 month old b/g twins that are the total opposite when it comes to bedtime.

I give them a bath, play a little and then read 2-3 books in their bedroom.

My DD really never fought going to bed. The first few days she cried for about 5-10 minutes. After that she tells us when she is ready by laying down or now at 18 months she says night-night. I usually put her in around 7:30/8.

My DS is another story. He never liked his crib, so he would sleep on one of those toddler portable beds/couch, but still wouldn't nap or want to go to bed, so my aunt decided to covert his crib into a toddler bed last month and now he doesn't fight with me at all. It's seriously a miracle. He stays in bed after reading and actually wants to go to sleep. We made a pretty big deal about him being a big boy in his big boy bed and I think that worked for him.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

lots of bedtime routine questions...

We put her in her crib and she goes to sleep say 10-15 min.
No routine. Bedtime is around 10pm

Eta she is 4.5 months old so still little...

Message edited 4/18/2013 11:41:02 PM.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

What's DCs bedtime routine like?
Ds goes to bed between 7-8 pm. We give him a bath, put on his pj's, he brushes his teeth, we read him a few books and then he goes to bed

How long does it take?
30 minutes

Do they go in their crib or bed awake & fall asleep on their own?
He goes to bed awake. I had made the mistake early on by nursing him to sleep. That habit took a while to break but I found it necessary for him in terms of being able to self soothe.

Does DC ever cry when you put them in?
Yes, occasionally he does. He does it with naps more than bed time. Doesn't last long though.

How old is DC?
17 months

Has anyone had a child who fought bedtime every night & just miraculously got better & goes to sleep peacefully?
YES! Sleep has been a major battle with my ds. For the first several months he would only take 30 minute naps and bedtime was horrible. He now does really well with going to bed and sleeping through the night. Sometimes he goes through phases where he will fight sleep but overall he goes to bed peacefully.

One thing that has really been so helpful to us is the stuffed animal "Scout" we programed a bunch of lullaby songs, ds's name, etc. Whenever ds is being put down to sleep be click the dogs hand to play lullabies for 5-10 minutes. Ds likes to play with it in his crib and we find that it helps him get to sleep.

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

Re: lots of bedtime routine questions...

MY DS gets a bath every other night before bed...
Jammies, milk, brushes his teeth and then a book. We give kisses, put his music and night light on and hes off to sleep. We start at 730-hes sleeping by 8.

Hes 19 months old.