Too late to change bad sleep habits?

I could explain my reasons/excuses but there's no point really. Bottom line is dd1 just turned 2 and has always gone to bed at 10pm or (usually) later (much later). I can't handle it anymore and want her to go to bed much earlier and on her own (not with one of us sitting in bed with her until she falls asleep.) Any suggestions how to do this?

Too late to change bad sleep habits?

I would start putting her to bed 15m earlier each night until you hit the time you want her going down. What time does she normally wake in the am? Also does she nap?

Too late to change bad sleep habits?

Not too late - it just may take time to change. Last summer DS got in the habit of going to bed very late, like 10/1030 and it was torture. So we started moving it up early and got back to 9pm bedtime. I would move it up 15-20 minutes for a week, then the following week move up again until you get to the time you want. Do you have a bedtime routine? You can start a new routine with your DD so she realizes its bed time.

Re: Too late to change bad sleep habits?

We have a bedtime "routine" but she doesn't seem to respond to it. She wakes up anywhere between 7am and 10am in the morning. Since I'm on maternity leave right now she'll often come into bed with me around 7am and sleep for another hour or so. That will end in two weeks when I'm back to work. She still takes a nap each day. I've tried to keep her up or cut the nap short but she literally can't keep her eyes open in the afternoon. Meanwhile at night she doesn't even seem drowsy. Fights the whole process. She won't let us leave the room and sometimes it takes an hour or even more to get her to fall asleep. Anytime I've tried to move bedtime up a bit she falls asleep at the same time so it just extends the amount of time that one of us is in there with her.

I've already got my 1 month old going to sleep on her own at a decent time to avoid this in the future.

Too late to change bad sleep habits?

Maybe try to keep her awake at 7 when first she wakes up. Then she'll probably be tired sooner and you can try giving her a nap earlier and make sure she doesn't sleep to late in the afternoon. No matter what time DD falls asleep for her nap, I make sure she's up by 4:30 so I don't have issues at bedtime. Hopefully if you're consistent she'll get onto a new schedule within a week or so.

Too late to change bad sleep habits?

My twins are 2 1/2. If your daughter is waking up at 7am.......then you have to wake up to. Dont let her get comfy & sleep another hour. Get her tired during the day so she will take nap or go to bed earlier.

My twins wake around 630am Nap 12-2 & bedtime never later then 8pm. We did the CIO phase at 8 months. It was super hard but we made it through. I know you said your 2nd child is only 1 month....good to start early but as they get bigger & become more aware you have to hold your guns. Best Wishes to you.

Too late to change bad sleep habits?

Does she go to daycare? Who will watch her during day???
Def dont let her take a nap...as hard as it is & as tired as she is.....she will adjust to routine

Too late to change bad sleep habits?

We can move up DD's bed time by getting up earlier. It's definitely not "too late". She will adjust.

Re: Too late to change bad sleep habits?

Message edited 5/24/2014 6:04:41 PM.

Too late to change bad sleep habits?

How strict is your bedtime routine? We do tub at 630, Mickey and a cup of milk at 7, and then 730 stories and bed. He's out by 745. He knows what to expect so doesn't fight it.

Is DD still in a crib? I think you probably need to let her CIO for a few days.

Too late to change bad sleep habits?

We were out today also. My boys were crying at 7:30pm....so we left. They fell aslep in car. They also know the routine. The woke when we got home, we put right in crib AWAKE & they fell asleep again.

Stay STRICT whether you are home on leave or working. Who ever watches child has to be on same page

Re: Too late to change bad sleep habits?

She's in a toddler bed and has been for months (always hated the crib). We aren't strict with her routine. It's bath, pjs (getting dressed is a fight), books, then usually dh sits and rubs her back until she's out. Not helping that we're smack in the middle of tantrum mode, just moved to a new house, and had a new baby. She was always a night owl, even as an infant, but it kind of worked for us so we went with it.

Going to try getting up earlier and moving everything up to see if that helps. Thanks to all who have replied!

Re: Too late to change bad sleep habits?

I agree with the 15 minute moves.

Every 2nd day, put to sleep 15 minutes earlier & wake 15 minutes earlier.

As for the putting to sleep, there are lots of ways to do it. Best is to tell a story in bed (2 minutes), finish, give kids goodnight & walk out. Kid will cry & go to sleep. Not sure how to do it if she can walk out of room. Maybe a gate? We didn't convert the kids out of cribs til they stayed in their cribs all night & not wake.