Gettin my 15 month old daughter on a bed time routine.

Jessica - posted on 01/05/2010

Again, only a few weeks ago did it start to get easier-and the first several nights, after a few min of quiet she would fuss. So instead of going into her room immediately, I said to her from the next room it's ok, time to go nightnight (we also have her give daddy a kiss nightnight, and say nightnight to the dog and cats-seems silly, but she likes it even when cranky). It's so hard to be consistant and firm when exhausted

Jessica - posted on 01/05/2010

It has been hard to get a consistant routine for Jordan (16mo) too. One of our problems is that I held or nursed her to sleep in the beginning. Then she got more clingy and stubborn so refused to go to sleep on her own after doing fine for a few weeks when I started working more (since I was away more during the day she seemed to want to be held by me more at night). We tried the CIO method, we tried just about every method and suggestion made, but only over the last few weeks has she started going to sleep easier, quicker, and with less assistance. After dinner, cleanup, play, change into jammies, and cuddle time on couch, we go to her dark room (only dim nightlight in hall) and rock for a couple min to have a couple ounces of milk, I ask her if she wants to hug momma some more or go to bed with Sponge Bob pillow (the ONLY "lovey" she has gotten attached to, and only within last few weeks). When she lets me know she wants bed, she will put herself to sleep (typically within 5 min).

Elizabeth - posted on 01/04/2010

When it comes to my daughter (15 months) i do the same thing every night. I get her changed for bed around 6:30-7:00 ( work early shift) and then we play for a bit then around 8:15-8:30 i give her a warm bottle of milk and hold her after she finishs i put her down with her fake bottle (it has the cap in it so she doesn't get any air) and she sleeps through the night. If that doesn't work I just take her in with me until she falls asleep and then I put her in her room and she never knows the difference.



I know that she doesn't like being away from me so when I get home she wants to spend as much time as she can with me. I dont mind taking her in to my bed it makes the best memories later when you don't have that oppertunity anymore.

Melissa - posted on 01/03/2010

Well for my 15 month old she has bath at 7pm till about 7:30pm , then I get her dressed and we go downstairs and read a few books and by 8pm I lay her in her crib awake and she goes to sleep all on her own. She usually sleeps until 6 or 7 am. I started the cry it out method at 10 months and after about 1 week she was going to sleep without making any noise.

Suzanne - posted on 01/01/2010

Be careful not to keep your child up for your sake. Read Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child. She should be in bed by 6 - 8 pm. Follow the same plan everynight, we do bath, bottle then bedtime. If you have a sitter, have them do it.

Nickie - posted on 12/29/2009

By the way if you have a sitter like I do because you work late, you have to go through your routines with the sitter so they do everything exactly the way you do. If the child has consistancy no matter who is feeding them or putting them to bed then you won't have too many problems. Hope that helps!

Nickie - posted on 12/29/2009

My problem is similar but different! lol My 15 mo old goes to sleep just fine at about 8:30pm but usually wakes at about 12am and wants to come into my bed or play. I have only indulged her a few times, but I guess thats all it takes because it became a bad habit. I am now in the middle of trying to get back into that wonderful routine of having her sleeping through the night again. I have to listen to her cry for a little bit and it breaks my heart, but I know she's safe and nothing is wrong with her. Soon I should have a soundly sleeping babe and I can get back to getting enough sleep at night. I believe that whatever you need your child to do can be remedied with consistancy and routine. Just keep at it and hopefully everything works out the way you need it to.

Leleat - posted on 12/28/2009

thanks ladies dis really helps me out a lot da nites im home but what about the nites i wrk late and she at a sitter

Tanya - posted on 12/24/2009

I think the most important thing is to have a routine, my daughter is 15 months old also and is in bed by 7:30-8, we have supper, then she plays while I clean up the kitchen and get things put away, and then its bath time, play, read a book and then my husband and I tuck her in about the same time every night, hugs kisses, lay her down, cover her up, give her monkey and she is out. Of course there are some nights that don't go so smooth and it just took repitiion to get it down. But after a couple rough we had to get it to go that way, it was worth it!

Alisha - posted on 12/22/2009

I've been having the same problem. I thought it was just me. I just graduated from GVSU, but will be starting grad school next semester. I need to get my daughter to bed at an earlier time, because both my husband and I need our sleep. She's even starting to get dark circles around her eyes. I just don't know what to do. We eat dinner, and give her a bath, but it seems like the bath rejuvenates her and shes ready for another few hours of play time. Just restless. Any ideas would be great!

Sunrise - posted on 12/22/2009

We do dinner, playtime, bath, then she helps to tuck in our older two - she LOVES to say goodnight using the sleep sign with them. Kiera likes to be rocked, I usually nurse her if I'm rocking her until she's groggy but not sleeping then put her in her bed, she will roll onto her tummy and wait to be covered. Sometimes she lets out the cutest sigh.

Amy - posted on 12/20/2009

hi... i sit with my daughter for about half an hour reading books or watching tv, this is her wind down time. she then goes in the bath at 6.45pm when out the bath i get her dressed for bed and give her a warm bottle of milk, she does not come back downstairs as she thinks then she can stay up. when she is ready i put her straight in her cot awake, and she goes to sleep. she never used to i did the controlled crying where you leave them to cry and check them every 10minutes settling them n lying therm down then walking back out the room without talking to them . it is hard hearing your little one cry but it is worth it as they soon realise what you want from them and they will go to sleep, it could take a few weeks but perservere it does work. good luck!