I'm starting to really lose it!!

For the past 2 or 3 weeks Rylan hasn't gone to bed before 2:00am. I just can't take it anymore. I'm so mad...annoyed...frustrated and it's so hard to not take it out on him. He always went to bed late...usually it was around 11:00pm...which was doable for me. He always takes a nap between 7:30 and 8:30...there's no way around it...if I don't let him sleep he is a nightmare. He fell asleep during a bottle around 11:30 but as soon as the bottle was done he woke up...I mean WIDE awake. Last night I had enough and just layed on the couch...sat him in between me and the back of the couch and just went to sleep. Right now he's on my lap yelling and talking like it was the middle of the day...I just don't know what to do anymore

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Is he still hungry? I know DD wont go to sleep until her tummy is full

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

No...I always try to give him another bottle and he won't take it. He's just not tired. He's wide awake in a great mood...he just wants to play. I don't know how many more nights I can take like this.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Besides sleeping in the car he really only takes 2...maybe 3 naps during the day and then the one in the early evening. they can run anywhere from 30 min to maybe an hour and half. I'm going to have to try and cut out the night nap but that won't be easy...he's miserable when tired!!!

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

I know they definately get cranky when you dont let them sleep !! Does he at least sleep late? I hope so ! I really hope it gets better for you !!

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

I have to go to bed now ,Im sorry my kids have to get up at 7 for school (I so hate getting up early) !! I hope he lets you go to bed soon too G-night and sorry I couldnt help

Message edited 10/14/2008 1:19:19 AM.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Posted by vmystique33

I have to go to bed now ,Im sorry my kids have to get up at 7 for school (I so hate getting up early) !! I hope he lets you go to bed soon too G-night and sorry I couldnt help

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Ryan is the worst napper during the day. But I noticed if I let him sleep any later than 5:30 at night then bedtime is a disaster.

Personally, I'd rather deal with a cranky baby at 7pm then be stuck up till 2am.

I have always kept a schedule at night for Ryan to try to teach him bedtime. 7:30 bathtime. 8pm he nurses and goes to sleep. He never sleeps the night but will typically sleep straight from 9:30-4. And then back to sleep till 7.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

You poor thing. I hope he starts getting into a better routine soon

ETA: Have you tried making the house nice & calm & dark when you want him to start winding down? With DD, I shut off most of the lights, get her bottles out, and she knows it's bedtime, not playtime. We've done that for a long time, because she just wouldn't wind down if all the lights were still on (and she could still see all her toys )

Message edited 10/14/2008 8:16:15 AM.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

It honestly sounds to me like you need to have him on more of a set schedule. Decide how many naps you want him to have each day, and at what times. Decide when you want his bedtime to be.

Write it all down ad post it to the fridge or his bedroom door so that it is always on your mind, and then try your best to stick to it.

Even if he doesn't seem ready to sleep at those times, put him in his crib. Tuck him in, give him whatever lovie/teddybear he has, if he has one, close the curtains as best as you can to not let light come in, do whatever is part of his going to sleep routine. Say night night go out and shut the door.

And stick to your GUNS! Even if he cries, he is old enough that he can cry for a little while. It might mean that for the first week, you have to stick to a tight schedule and not leave the house too much, but he should fall into a schedule. Babies really need that structure and schedule.

It sounds like he's getting his way --- getting to sleep on the couch with you, take lots of little cat naps here and there, and you need to show him that you set the schedule.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh but it sounds like you are at your wits end.

Message edited 10/14/2008 3:39:49 PM.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

What if you just made that 7:30 nap his actual bedtime and put him down for the night then instead of just a nap? For a few weeks we noticed that Zach was getting tired aroiund 6:00 and would take a nap for about 30 minutes then would be up late. I decided to try and see if I put him down what would happen. He now goes to bed around 6:30 for the night. Gibe it a try, ya never know.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

How old is he? We went through a phase like this with Claire when she was around 12 months. She would wake up and think it was play time. We would feed her, change her diaper and put her in her crib. Even though she seemed wide awake, she would actually fall asleep pretty quickly. I will say we had to let her cry for a few minutes though-which is tough. I don't know how old Rylan is, but if he is old enough and you have the strength, you might try it.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Rather than 7PM being his nap time, make that bed time. Maybe cut out one of his cat naps.
ITA with a schedule. I have DS and the baby I sit for on one and it makes my life so much easier. The parents of the baby I sit for have her in bed the same time DS goes to bed (it just happened to work out that way and it's been great).
Once you have a routine down, your DS will "catch on".
I had a class of 8 infants (ages 8 months--walking) and by the second or third week of school they were all eating and napping together.
Routine works wonders. I promise.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Posted by Melbernai

It honestly sounds to me like you need to have him on more of a set schedule. Decide how many naps you want him to have each day, and at what times. Decide when you want his bedtime to be.

Write it all down ad post it to the fridge or his bedroom door so that it is always on your mind, and then try your best to stick to it.

Even if he doesn't seem ready to sleep at those times, put him in his crib. Tuck him in, give him whatever lovie/teddybear he has, if he has one, close the curtains as best as you can to not let music come in, do whatever is part of his going to sleep routine. Say night night go out and shut the door.

And stick to your GUNS! Even if he cries, he is old enough that he can cry for a little while. It might mean that for the first week, you have to stick to a tight schedule and not leave the house too much, but he should fall into a schedule. Babies really need that structure and schedule.

It sounds like he's getting his way --- getting to sleep on the couch with you, take lots of little cat naps here and there, and you need to show him that you set the schedule.

I am sorry if this sounds harsh but it sounds like you are at your wits end.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

I agree with cutting out that late nap. Do you have a routine at bedtime? This was key for us. It may take awhile to kick in if you start one now, but it really helped us. I wish I had started doing it sooner with DD.

I hope it gets better.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

ITA with Melissa. Having a routine has been extremely important. My son is pretty easy-going and seems to fall in line with whatever is going on but the reality is that it's all because of having a routine....a few breaks here and there are fine so long as we get back on track.

I think that the advice that Melissa offered is great - definitely something to consider.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

How old is he?

I agree with everyone else - that 7:30 nap should absolutely be his bedtime. Set up a bedtime routine and start it for when he goes down then.

ETA: Babies THRIVE on routine - and if you do the same thing with him every night before bed it will eventually become second nature to him.

Message edited 10/14/2008 8:54:13 AM.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

DD is almost 6 months, I NEVER EVER let her nap any later than 6:30pm and I mean up by then. Yes, she is cranky from dinner time on, but that is the witching hour for most kids. I make her bath and bed routine drago out(she loves the bath) and give her her last bottle at 7:45-8:30 and she goes to bed for the night. She wakes between 7-8am

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

I completely and totally agree with everyone else.

Kristina wakes at 830 give or take. She takes a 2-3 hour nap at around 1030. If it's 2, and she gets tired around 2-3ish I will allow her to take a nap, but if it's a 3 hour nap, then she's to stay awake.

She gets witchy during the 6pm hour, but at 7 pm.... it's bedtime. She goes down by the LATEST at 730, and she is down until the following morning.

I used to make the mistake of allowing her a nap around 5pm, and she wouldn't go to sleep depending on what time she woke from it at the latest.... 1030 or 11.... NO MORE!!!!!!!!

Good Luck Dawn!

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Rylan is 6 months old for all who asked. You are all right...we have no routine what so ever...none!!

I wish I could make the late nap his bedtime but he never sleeps through. If he was to go to bed any earlier than 10 he was up for a few hours at some point. If he fell asleep at 7 he would be up by 8:30-9 and be up until about 11. This is the way it always was with him but it just keeps getting later. For the most part he sleeps through the night. He will wake up sometimes but a few pats on the back or rocking for a minute would do the trick. Sometimes he needs a bottle but not usually if it before 6am.

We need to set a routine. I don't know how but I need to at least try. Luckily i'm not working but if I had to get up in the morning I would be in big trouble.

My boyfriend called a little while ago and one of his customer recommended The Sleep Lady . Anyone ever heard of this? I'm going to look into the book Alison recommended...Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. Any other suggestions as far as books or sites?

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Dawn... What does his day look like in terms of waking/eating/napping?

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!

Just wanted to give you some hugs.

Re: I'm starting to really lose it!!