Hello!

I have a 20 month old and it’s a nightmare to get him to sleep at night, he refuses to sleep yet he will be so tired, the other night my hubby and I didn’t get to sleep until 5am because of this issue I’m having, we were then back up at 9…any ideas on how I can stop this from happening, I’m 28 weeks pregnant also which makes it harder for myself… please help!!

Posted by anon, 05/12/13

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  • there are some good comments here


  • maybe take him to a sleep doctorr


  • MYbe set up a bedtime routine, bath time, teeth, book, night time song and then try and adopt some of the super nannies techniques as they have really helped for me. I hope he is sleeping better now


  • Have you tried finding out why he is having nightmares? From a movie or something happened that scared him? When i was young I had nightmares frequently and the only way to stop it was holding my grandma’s hand while sleeping. Then I would tell myself that grandma will be in my dreams with me hence no more nightmares. Sound troublesome but it stopped after a few times…


  • Some good advice down below.


  • i hope the advice worked


  • Hope some of the advice below has helped. Good luck!


  • Try to establish the reasons he might be waking. Has he always been like this?
    Have you tried putting a lamp or nightlight on in his room? Playing soft music? Try putting him to bed with a shirt that may smell like Mum/Dad- like a shirt you may have been wearing for a few hours.
    There could be a number of reasons. Try not making a big deal of it- routine. Dinner, bath, quiet time- minimise sound and light. Go to bed and read him a book. Stay in his room, backed turn and don’t talk or make eye contact with him. If he gets outing bed just pick him up and back to bed.
    If you have tried am everything I’ve mentioned I recommend consulting professional help. We took my then 15 month old to Tresillian- a sleep school that can help train your child to sleep. It’s hard work but worth it. They can also help with eating and behavioural problems.
    Stay strong mummy.


  • He could be teething or need something to eat. goodluck


  • I would get a sleep whisper in. This is someone who puts your child to bed and gets them to sleep. (you and hubby disappear) They train the baby or child good sleeping habits and then you take over. This does take some time and costs. Also another option is set a routine and follow it. A few tears wont hurt and he will learn that this is what happens. Bath, milk story, bed. Keep returning him to bed, no speaking after the first time he gets up and just keep doing it. Even if you have to hold the door shut. Stubborn but you have to be more stubborn to win.


  • I would be looking at medical/physical reasons, this does not seem normal. The idea of the ‘manipulative’ child doesn’t sit well with me.


  • Sleep therapist/psychologist! As this isn’t normal night time behaviour… Also consistency, just keep putting them back to bed and don’t get up and cuddle or play! They won’t bother when they know they won’t get any attention!


  • Is he still in a cot??? If you know he is OK, ie, not too hot, isn’t unwell then leave him in there, after a few nights he will soon realize that mummy and daddy won’t fall for his tricks.


  • you might need to start controlled crying and hopefully he will realise if you dont come the more he crys he will stop. talk to your midwife or gp and they will have some info for you.


  • Has this always been the way with Him or is this something new?

    I would suggest that you talk to your local GP and see if they know of a sleep therapist who could help you out.
    Its important that you get it sorted asap so you can cope with the new baby.

    Good luck


  • Routine make one an stick to it mine is tea bath story bed introduced this to them at 8weeks old an I didn’t very from it for 6months they Lerner when its time to sleep an play if lo wakes up say no time for sleep put her back to bed be consistent an it will work good luck :-)


  • My one year old has pretty much been an awesome sleeper but once in a while she has her nights where she fights sleep like mad! I have a little blue turtle that runs for 20 mins at a time and it projects blue waves onto the ceiling and makes soothing wave noises. My daughter will still fight but maybe for a quarter of the time and then this thing lulls her right to sleep!


  • continously put baby to bed. What I do is walk around with my son saying good night to the dogs, fish etc and turn the lights off and works a treat. Does bub have a comfort toy or blanket that may help? could be 2nd year molaurs and are painful.


  • I had this, although not as severely with my 18mt old. I ended up repeatedly putting her back in to bed, saying ‘it’s bedtime’. I did at one stage put up a baby gate to stop her escaping, that was out if pure exhaustion though. Each night got easier and less involved. She got the point. You have to be consistent and not fall for tears or cuddles and kisses or you will go backwards. She will still get out a couple if times some nights but i still use the same approach and usually telling her to go to bed while pointing toward her room does it. Still cries a little but puts herself to sleep.


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