My LO is normally a great little sleeper but since she has a been a bit run down and "off" the past 2 weeks with a cold and also a night time cough keeping her up sometimes for an hour at a time she's getting really overtired and grumpy and needing more sleeping than usual but she absolutely refuses to sleep anymore than her usual.

LO can't handle being tired and turns into the devils child... screaming, refusing to eat, biting and hitting in a rage, tantrums etc. but when she is well rested she's a little angel!

So this morning she woke around 6.30am (11.5hours sleep with 3 wakings in between) and has been in a horrendous mood and spent all morning rubbing her eyes, whinging and throwing tantrums! The final straw came at 8.20am when I told her off for something and she screamed and hit me in the eye in her tantrum!

So I got her into sleeping bag etc. and put her to bed which she didn't seem to protest about. She whinged and let out a few angry squeals right up until 5 mins ago (I think she's sleeping now!). It's a miracle that's she's fallen asleep, normally I would just leave her in the cot for 30mins-1hour of quiet time with her teddy etc. and when I let her up she'd be in a bit of a better mood. I have done it before late in the afternoon or before dinner too even though I know she won't sleep.

Would you have done the same? OH thinks I put her to bed sometimes because I can't be bothered with her being a little devil so I feel guilty. I worry that part of that is true as I guess I do put her to bed knowing she won't sleep but I'll get 30mins peace and she'll be in a better mood :-S

She hasn't slept in the car or pushchair since she was about 7/8months? Unless she's completely missed a nap she might doze off for half an hour. So I don't see much point in taking her out (plus it's frosty and cold haha).

I do similar with Nim - for instance today she was late napping in the morning so woke late but tired half way through the afternoon so I put her to bed with her lullabys, she didn't sleep but 'relaxed' with her lovey and bunny for 30 mins. As soon as she got upset (after about 35 mins) I went and got her and she was much better and cruised through to bedtime.

As long as they aren't unhappy there's nothing wrong with quiet time.

Id do exactly the same hun! It doesn't sound like you can't be bothered with her at all, it sounds like you know exactly what is up with her because you know her so well. & the only cure for being tired is to have a rest/sleep. It's just a shame that you know that but dd doesn't

What else can you do? If oh thinks he can do better, leave the overtired devil version of your lo with him for an hour & see how quickly he puts her to bed!!!

Hope she catches up with her sleep soon. My dd is sensitive to getting OT too & it's so frustrating when they won't sleep but really need to

I'd do exactly the same but only if it's before 2.30pm. I don't let Freya sleep after that as she will then refuse bed at 7 and it'll just be a snowball effect.

just to reassure you we have just been through this. zakk wouldnt go to bed. found every way possible to stay awake even if his eyes were rolling into his head.

i found it very stressful as he was grumpy as sin all the time and i wasnt getting any rest in the evenings.

we had one horredous night and it just stopped.

(touch wood)

we basically let him get exhausted in the evenings and only started a bedtime routine when he was really really hanging. i let him play in his room until he asked to get on my lap and into his sleeping bag. and not before.

that way i had stopped trying to fight him with the time of bedtime and relaxed a bit myself as i just thought "lets see what happens".

i think its to do with them developing mentally (too busy for bed) and maybe that realisation that they can make choices. ie to stay up. and my god zakk can find ways to keep his eyes open! he can go hours.

since giving him a bit more choice about when we start reading a book or have milk he has calmed right down at bedtime.

i always say to people.... "this will pass!!!" and i didnt believe it this time. but im starting to think it might have.


it will pass.

xx