Bed Time for 14 Month Old

That is SUCH a hard age. Honestly I think you are expecting a bit much from him right now. He's in the midst of seperation anxiety, gaining new skills, exploring, and being a toddler who doesn't WANT to go to sleep no matter how tired he is.

He's only a baby for so long...enjoy the rocking and the cuddling him to sleep. We put way too much emphasis on small children being independant sleepers way too young. This is a stage that all babies go through...don't make it into a battle of wills that will only end up making your life miserable and your baby sad.

I know this will be hard at first- but I think you have to let your child cry it out a few nights. He's obviously learned that he will get his way (you coming in to rescue him) if he cries long and hard enough. :( Do the regular bedtime routine to get him emotionally/mentally ready- it allows him to know what's coming. Then, put him in his bed and leave him there. It will be hardest the first few nights, but I really believe he just needs to break the habit of depending on Mom to rock him to sleep. He did it before! He'll do it again. :) Good luck!

As hard as cry it out is.... you have to do it. If you can't take the crying and your hubby is home go for a walk or go to a different part of the house so you can't hear it. I hate the cry it out method but it works.

Try putting him to bed earlier. If he is over tired it is harder for him to comfort himself to sleep.

Maybe you could cut down on his naps. This way, he'll be more tired at bedtime. Also, try letting him cry it out. When he stands up, calmly lay him back down without talking to him or saying anything. He'll get back in the swing of things before you know it.

Good luck,
R.

Please take the advice about letting him cry it out. My son is two and we're going through it right now, I always rocked him to sleep before but then he was falling asleep until after 11 and then if he woke up in the night I'd have to get up a rock him back to sleep--not fun! It's true they are only little for so long but you won't be able to enjoy him during the day if you're too tired and worn out from the night--trust me I'm talking from experience! Just follow your routine and there is a suppernanny technique you could use if you don't want to leave him crying by himself. It does work I did it about a year ago but then on the weekends my husband would want to rock him cuz he missed him and well then you know what happened I was back to having to rock him every night! That's the thing with this stuff you have to be consistent or it doesn't work. Anyway I found it at www.suppernanny.com there is a clip you can watch and I'll warn you it is not easy. After you do your routine, put your child in bed and then you sit on the floor by his bed but don't make any eye contact or talk to him or respond to him in any way, that's what he wants and will try hard to get you to do it. You just sit there until he falls asleep and then you can leave. Each night you do this you sit further away from his bed until you are in the doorway. After about 5 days you should be able to just put him to bed and leave! Good Luck!