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Help .....Year old Granddaughter fights sleep!!

(35 Posts)
phoenix Sat 13-Feb-16 17:25:31

Yes, anya rod for own back indeed at nearly 3! With ds1, I made the mistake of breastfeeding until he fell asleep, with the result that he wasn't used to being put in the cot awake.

Didn't make the same mistake with ds2!

Nonnie Sat 13-Feb-16 17:07:10

I understand that those who go to nursery always go to sleep when put in a cot but don't always oblige for their parents. Seems to me they learn from a very early age that rules are different depending where they are.

thatbags Sat 13-Feb-16 16:58:30

Sounds normal to me, nannyliz. Babies do fight sleep. My take on it is that they don't know what the tiredness feeling is and they don't like it so they cry and need someone to be with them, rocking them to sleep or whatever. I used to bung mine in a sling or, when they were older, in a proper baby backpack and do the housework. I got quite skilled at tipping them into their cot once they'd conked.

That said, DD3 was the easiest. I flatter myself I'd got better at imposing a routine by then (which I had) but the plain truth is probably that she sucked her thumb and that helped.

NanaandGrampy Sat 13-Feb-16 16:03:39

NannyLiz what a pickle .

I see where you're coming from and see no reason why you couldn't work something out . We have 4 grandchildren and bedtime and nap routines are very much more structured here than in their own homes but it seems to work .

We find our daughters spend a lot longer settling a child than we do but we're totally consistent whereas they're parents are a lot more hit and miss .

We nap till about the age of 2 . That's usually a short nap in the buggy after some fresh air and a longer after lunch nap .

We did find the travel cot didn't work for us . It was too dark and too different to the cot at home . So we actually bought a cot and have used it with all 4 with new mattresses .

We never stay in the room with the little one . We have some quiet time rocking or singing , then quietly into bed - minimum fuss and leave the room . If they cry - then we wait 5 mins to settle . If they don't settle I go back in , no lights , settle them down again , but no talking . And I keep doing that till they're asleep .

Takes a little while but they do settle and then it's routine . Good luck :-)

joannapiano Sat 13-Feb-16 15:59:29

He was fine with his parents and going to sleep in the evening, I must add!

joannapiano Sat 13-Feb-16 15:58:09

Of all the DGC we have looked after, our Grandson was the hardest to get down for a nap after lunch, no matter how active he had been during the morning. I resorted to putting him in our pushchair in the lie-back position, with a blanket over him, and walking round the block (sometimes further!) He liked to be out and gradually relaxed into sleep. I would push him into a quiet room when we got home. If I attempted to get him out, he would wake up.
With weather like today, I used to put the rain-covers on the pushchair and brave the elements.
Luckily I like to walk.

Anya Sat 13-Feb-16 15:38:23

I've heard of several parents, mostly dads, who have this problem. My nephew is one of these fathers and his son is almost three and still has to be rocked to sleep in his arms.

Rod for own back springs to mind.

Could you change this? Quite possibly if you had sole charge of this infant for about two weeks. Otherwise ...I'd say doubtful hmm

Nannyliz Sat 13-Feb-16 14:51:36

She is 11 months old, Synonymous. Her parents are fine with it, it is normal for them. Her Daddy often comments that he has spent 10 minutes walking the floor with her screaming until she finally gives in. It just seem so alien to me, I suppose we did things differently when our babies were tiny.

Synonymous Sat 13-Feb-16 14:34:00

How old is your DGD? Are her parents concerned about the situation and have they mentioned it to you?

Nannyliz Sat 13-Feb-16 14:30:00

W look after our little granddaughter two days every other week. No matter how tired she is, will scream and scream rather than give in to much needed sleep. Even if she is falling asleep when playing with her toys on the floor and I pick her up and try and rock her to sleep she will not give in, only after she has cried herself to sleep after about five or ten minutes. She has no routine at home and her Mummy and Daddy usually walk the floor with her screaming, until she finally falls asleep in their arms. I should add that Mummy works full time and Daddy looks after her for 3 days a week.

I would so dearly love to get her into a routine of having a nap either in the morning or afternoon (or both if needed) while she is with us because I can't bear the tears. This worked with our children when they were babies. We have a travel cot here so it wouldn't be a problem. Is it possible that we could get her into a routine when she is with us despite the lack of routine at home?

At the moment we have the travel cot in our bedroom and my OH takes her up for a nap and puts her in the cot and lays on the bed until she finally give in and falls asleep and stays with her until she wakes up. He get to have a nap as well!! Any ideas?