21 Month Old WILL NOT Go to Bed at Night...

Phew! Poor thing. You sound stressed! My son started doing this too, right around when he could trust the nighttime sequence of events. You have to be a little proud that they start the protest at the bath, even if it is annoying. :)

I'd just stick to my guns. She will eventually give in to the fact that every night, for many years to come, she will go to bed (even if she "doesn't feel sleepy") and you will be staying awake. What worked best for me was just putting my son down to sleep and then letting him cry and tantrum etc. If I try to go in and talk him down or cuddle with him I either have to stay until he falls asleep or endure an even worse tantrum when I leave. I felt better consoling him, but for him it's like I'd renewed his hope that throwing a fit would work. In the long run, I didn't want every night to be like this so I had to firm up. If I felt bad I just remind myself that what he's actually crying about - he doesn't want to go to bed right now. That's it. I'm not hurting his feelings or making him feel like he's unimportant or that I didn't care that he was crying. He wants to see if having a tantrum will make me change my mind and I have to show him that no it won't. I've found that since I starting sticking to my guns the phases (and yes they will always be in and out of good phases) are much shorter lived and less frequent. It was hard and I often felt guilty but it's worth it.

I hope whatever you do works for you and remember to try things for at least 3 days before moving onto another. Sometimes all the "changing" is what is causing the meltdowns.

Best,
T.

I would say that it is a phase and she is testing boundaries. I you are adamantly against cry it out, you may not agree with my post. I believe that CIO works at this age as long as they aren't crying for an hour or more. Stick with your routine, lay her down in bed, say "night, night" and walk away. If she gets up place her back in bed with out talking to her, repeat as needed without giving in. If she is laying in bed an crying without getting up, go in every 10-15 minutes (if crying is the same or getting worse) pat her back, say "I love you, night night" walk away. Repeat. If crying is lessening, stay away because she is most likely falling asleep. If you start laying with her now, it will be one more habit to break later on down the road which will lead to more crying then.

Ouch. I feel your pain girlfreind!

I don't know if this will help but it is worth a try. There is a product called Babycalm you can get online. It is a magnesium supplement. Magnesium deficiency increases adrenaline, so adding extra magnesium can calm nerves, and even impart some sleepiness. Give it at night, not in daytime.

Other things to support the nervous system is vit b complex- you can find it in liquid. Walmart carries it in liquid.

Cod liver oil is also safe and it can impart calmness- definitely works for me to increase a feeling of well being.

Other things to consider- a change in bowel can be a sign of infection of some sort- not saying it is. But parasite, like a pinworm infection, will cause aggitation or aggression, insomnia, bowl changes, etc.
Bacterias can also cause bowel changes, some cause aggitation.
Insomnia seems to be something aggitating the nervous ststem- toxins including worms, bacteria, fungus and heavy metals, can all mess with the nervous system.

Hello,
I have a 22 month old son and we are experiencing the same thing as far as drastic changes in sleeping. I am expecting very soon and not sure if that has something to do with it, but it is very frustrating. On most days he has given up on naps, even when I lay down with him. At bedtime it's hit and miss, sometimes it's so easy and he sleeps through the night. Other nights it's a struggle to put him down and we usually let him stay up until he can't stay awake (he is in a bed and can get out of his room). Some nights he falls asleep and then in the middle of the night he is at my bedside. Again hit or miss, when I'm lucky he'll go back to bed other times I'm up for 2 hrs trying to get him back to bed. I feel your frustration, he has always been such a good sleeper and I just don't know what to do. I hate to lay with him because I don't want to create a bad habit and being pregnant it's so uncomfortable. I know this offers no help, but I did want to let you know that you are not alone. Something a nurse told me when I first had my son and we were dealing with nb issues- This too shall pass- hopefully sooner than later.

Is she in a crib or bed? If she's still in a crib, it could be a sign that she's ready for a bed.

Do you have a night-light in her room? This is an age that their imaginations are running wild and fears develop. A night-light may help to ease any fears of the dark.

In general, its completely 100% normal toddler behavior.