At bed-time Charlotte used to be asleep in about 20 mins or so, even earlier on a good night. Recently it's 2 hours before she's asleep and last night I predicted exactly what would happen to OH - she would wind herself up then get over-tired and scream the house down - I was correct on all accounts!! Can read my daughter like a book at times.

I don't know why it's taking her this long now. I know it's quite light at nights (she has a blackout blind though), and has been hot but she's active in the day and only has 1 nap for up to 2 hours and I don't let her nap past 3pm.

It's starting to frustrate me as I have this on my own all week and I just want to put her to bed and have some quiet free time but all I hear is babbling and the worst is her kicking her cot. When OH at home at weekends it's not so bad but still a nuisance tbh.

What can I do? I don't really want to put her to bed any later. She goes down at 7.30, and I want it to stay at this time for a while so she doesn't get over-tired and I can have a few hours to myself.

The good news is she's walking with aid a lot more now and walks more flat footed instead of tiptoes when her shoes are on. My back is killing me from walking her up & down our road. She used to flop to her knees after a few steps but now she goes much further. She is also standing up in the house againt a lot more furniture and getting brave with reaching for things so she must be gaining confidence. Just waiting for the first unaided steps now. I let go of her today and she just fell flat down so obviously not ready yet. I'm just hoping she can walk a bit by her christening (6th Sept).

Anyway, any advice on my problem would be much appreciated, thanks

Hi there. Sounds like you're having a bit of a frustrating time at the moment.My first suggestion is could she be too warm in this heat? My lo is going to bed in a shorts and tshirt set and is more than comfortable so could it be that she's uncomfortable and overdressed? Next question would be whether she has a reliable bedtime routine? We do bath, dressed, drink with story, kisses and cuddles then bed.We try to keep it all quite calm (not always sucsessfully!) and tell James every step of the way that we're getting ready for bed / last story before bed etc. These are just things to consider really. At the very least she is in a cot and not running round tearing her room apart. As long as she's not getting upset I'd be tempted to push the living room door to and let her tire herself out. This way, if it's an attention thing, she'll soon catch on that you're not going to come running whenever she makes a noise.

Hi there, I hate to say it might be a phase as I know thats not helpful, but it might be! We've had the same with Daniel. it started when the weather got warmer, and so I have been putting him to bed in a sleepsuit or a vest i.e. no grobag. I think he just doesn't get that it is now bedtiome as he associates his grobag with bedtime. He can be awake for up to an hour, and just will not settle himself. He goes nuts if i leave him alone, but when I am with him, he plays peepo tyhrough the bars, gets up and walks around the cot or jumps up and down and talks to every cuddly toy in his bedroom. I ahve to tell him at least 50 times to lay down and sleepy byes. And last night he just lay down (in the end) and moved his arms up and down like the woman in the Tales of the Unexpected theme music (do you remember that?!) for about half an hour. It is just exhausting!! I hope my evenings are not lost forever.

It does seem to have coincided with her walking a lot more (with support) so maybe that's why?

She has a very good routine, has had for a while.

I think I'll just have to persevere with it. I have a VERY big pile of ironing to do tonite to take my mind off it........!

my lo has been doing the same. Takes him 1 hour at least to drop off. He has 1 nap during the day about 1.30-3.30. I tried cutting his nap, but he was so tired he was worse, so went back to normal after a couple of weeks!

I think it is a phase, It's good she's not getting too distressed. My lo bangs his feet too, although against the wall as he's in a bed now, my neighbours popped round one night to check all was ok! whoops. He then just babbles, normally dada, but last night it was mama! I was so chuffed. He doesn't speak yet and it was the 1st time I'd heard it.

So sorry I am really babbling now. I think it is the heat if you haven't changed anything to do with her routine and you're not alone!

Lo 20m and 28+1
xxx

Hi
I dont know how old your daughter is, but my stopped having a daytime nap at 2 yrs, As I found that if she did she wouldnt sleep at night she would still be awake at 9 or 10.00. She sometimes dozes off in the car for 20 mins but if she sleeps longer that 1 hour I have trouble, She goes to bed around 7 - 7.30 and sleeps through until 6.00 so I can have some peace. If she gets tired during the day she has a sit down and watches Cbeebies to recharge then she's off again. x