Hello everyone! So sorry if this turns out long!

So... about 3 weeks ago my little bundle of joy finally perfected being able to sit himself up from a lying down position and then pulling himself up in his cot to walk around and around the rails while he is supposed to be going to sleep! He has been an excellent sleeper until now! I'm hoping it is just a phase he is going through since he has just learnt this new skill. With his hypermobility issues making everything a huge milestone, he is extremely proud of himself that he can get around on his own in a new way.

The only way I can finally get him to sleep is to let him absolutely exhaust himself out and make his room as pitch black as possible so he can't see to sit or stand up. Day time naps have pretty much completely gone out the window, simply because it isn't dark enough, and I can't make it any darker than I already have. He is so exausted, but just won't lay or stay down! I have even caught him asleep sitting up a couple of nights!

Does anyone have any tips? It's tiring! Lol. He doesn't cry or anything (usually) so if I just leave him he just stays up, I didn't check on him for two hours one night (thinking he was asleep), and he was still sitting up in the dark when I went to head off to bed myself, but didn't hear a peep from him the whole time!

Any ideas appreciated

I'm not a mom yet, but I've heard this works for a lot of people-mix up some milk (lowfat or 2%; whatever you want) and honey, then warm it up in the microwave. After, add some vanilla extract. It's supposed to make you more tired at night and get you to sleep the whole night, and you feel refreshed when you wake up. I've never tried it but I heard it works really well. However, the amount of alcohol in vanilla differs from where it is made, so make sure there is not any alcohol in the vanilla before you give it to Noah if you decide to try this. Also I'm not sure if babies can even have vanilla, but you could probably ask his doctor or look it up online. Good luck!!!!!!!!

-Adele XOXO

You could try going on errands or just go for a walk or something just before his naptime so he's tired enough to lay down when you get home. Also, if you put tin foil over the windows it'll make the room dark enough during the day so as to trick him into sleeping during naptimes. It may not look the prettiest, but it works.

If you can't put foil on your windows as Meaghan suggested try tacking up a blanket over the curtains you already have. Keep him up during the day (no naps), and give him some warm milk just before you put him down. Good luck!

Benadryl...Oh, no wait....

Routine, routine, routine. Have a set of steps that you go through every night right before bed. Bath, drink, lay down, story, lights out, and sleep.

Is he more irritatable during the day? Is he tired and fighting sleep during his former nap times?

Adele - I might try this when he is a bit older, he drinks a bottle before bed so I'm worried if I put honey and vanilla in it he might not drink plain milk anymore but thanks! Might even try this myself sometime, sounds nice!

Meaghan - The foil trick sounds like a great idea, if only the window was a bit smaller! The window in his room is about 4m x 2m. Thanks for the tip! Taking him out before his nap might be a key ingredient, too. Thnk you

Angel - The blanket over the window might be the way to go, given the size of the window, thanks! I've tried no naps, but he just gets too upset in the afternoon if he doesn't have at least an hour nap, unfortunately! He always has a warm bottle before he sleeps (or is supposed to sleep) at night, but I might even try giving him some warm milk before a nap, thanks!

Reena - Hahahahahaha! If only it were that easy! *jokes*. Well he's always had a routine which has seemed to work until now, which was just dinner, bath, quick play with toys and then he helps pack them away, then a story if he isn't too tired, bottle, then sleep. Usually he gets quite irritated by about 3pm if he hasn't had a nap, and he is generally always tired and needing a nap around 1pm. I know he is still tired enough to sleep like he was 3 weeks ago, but his new found skill is currently winning!



I actually didn't have much trouble getting him to sleep last night after I posted this! I was amazed. We've been away for four nights at Port Arthur and Noah really didn't sleep very well there. Last night was our first night back home and he was in bed at 8pm, I left him in there until about 9pm then I checked on him and found him asleep sitting up again, so I layed him back down and from then he slept right through until 10.30am this morning! It was amazing! Lol. I got a long sleep in, too!

Thank you everyone for your advice and tips! I really appreciate you taking the time to respond